Recently, John Hollinger, a former NBA executive and columnist at The Athletic, wrote an article about the operation of the Trail Blazers.
He wrote: "Lillard was a 'dead money' spot in the 2025-26 season, and after Anthony Simmons was traded, the Trail Blazers' backcourt became very weak; some speculated that the Trail Blazers would use the final roster to sign a veteran point guard (the Trail Blazers can sign a veteran's basic salary contract while maintaining a few cents below the luxury tax line). Lillard will return in the fall of 2026 to prove that he is still the same Damian Lillard, which could cause problems if Henderson made his mark in 2025-26; coupled with Lillard's position in Portland, it might be reminiscent of the 2016 Kobe atmosphere."