PortlandTrail Blazers

Rip City has never looked like this. A 42-win surprise playoff team — one that survived the chaos of Chauncey Billups' exit days into last season and a first-round loss to San Antonio — now pairs a returning Damian Lillard with newly acquired Ja Morant in the same backcourt, under first-time head coach Micah Nori. Lillard, who missed all of last season rehabbing a torn Achilles, told reporters he expects to start alongside Morant and Deni Avdija; Nori, hired in June on an unconventional one-year deal after five seasons as Chris Finch's lead assistant in Minnesota, cautioned that "nothing is set in stone" — but the intent is clear: three 20-point scorers on the floor together, with Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson leading the second wave.

The stakes go beyond the roster. New owner Tom Dundon (who bought the team from the Paul Allen estate in March) and the city just locked the Blazers into the Moda Center through 2030 with a path to 2035, ending years of arena uncertainty. On the court, the preseason offers a historic curiosity — Oct. 12 brings the BC London Lions to the Moda Center, the first time a British club has ever faced an NBA team, coached by Tautvydas Sabonis, son of franchise legend Arvydas. The real opener comes Oct. 21 against Phoenix, the first of 11 nationally televised games (seven on NBC/Peacock, two on Amazon Prime Video, two on ESPN). Portland's offense could crack the top 10; its defense might finish in the bottom 10. Either way, it won't be boring.