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Portland Trail Blazers 2023-24 preseason schedule starts October 10

The Portland Trail Blazers have announced a four-game 2023-24 preseason schedule, featuring two home games at Moda Center on Oct. 10 and Oct. 12, followed by two road games on Oct. 14 and Oct. 16.

The Trail Blazers will tip off the preseason at home on Tuesday, Oct. 10, when they host the New Zealand Breakers of the National Basketball League at 7 p.m. PT. The team’s home slate will continue with a matchup against the Phoenix Suns at Moda Center on Thursday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. PT.

Portland will complete the preseason on the road, visiting Utah on Oct. 14 to take on the Jazz at 7 p.m. MT and heading to Phoenix on Oct. 16 for a rematch with the Suns at 7 p.m. MT.

Trail Blazers re-sign Matisse Thybulle

The Portland Trail Blazers have re-signed guard/forward Matisse Thybulle.

Per multiple reports, the team matched the three-year, $33 million offer sheet Thybulle had signed with the Dallas Mavericks.

Thybulle, 26, was originally acquired by the Trail Blazers on Feb. 9, 2023. In 22 games (22 starts) with Portland last season, he recorded 7.4 points (43.8% FG, 38.8% 3-PT), 3.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.8 blocks in 27.7 minutes per game. The two-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team selection (2022, 2021) ranked first in the NBA in steals per 36 minutes (2.5), steals per 100 possessions (3.4) and steals to turnover ratio (3.46) during the 2022-23 regular season.

A Washington alum, Thybulle has accrued NBA career averages of 4.6 points (44.7% FG, 33.4% 3-PT), 2.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.8 blocks and 20.5 minutes per game in 267 games (100 starts) for Philadelphia (2019-23) and Portland.

Trail Blazers sign Scoot Henderson to his rookie contract

The Portland Trail Blazers yesterday signed rookie guard Scoot Henderson and forward Kris Murray.

Henderson, 19, spent the past two seasons with NBA G League Ignite and accrued averages of 16.1 points (44.5% FG, 76.2% FT), 5.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.4 blocks in 46 games (28 starts). During the 2022-23 season, Henderson averaged 17.6 points (44.4% FG, 32.4% 3-PT, 75.0% FT), 5.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.2 steals in 25 games (24 starts). A native of Marietta, Ga., Henderson competed in the Rising Stars game at NBA All-Star Weekend in both 2022 and 2023.

In three seasons at Iowa, Murray, 22, averaged 12.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.9 blocks and 0.8 steals in 77 games (29 starts). Murray was a 2022-23 All-Big Ten First Team honoree and consensus All-America Third Team selection, while also being named a finalist for the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year, and a semifinalist for the John R. Wooden, Naismith Trophy and Lute Olson National Player of the Year awards. The Cedar Rapids, Ia., native was the only NCAA Division I player to average at least 20.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks while making at least 65 three-pointers during the 2022-23 season.

Henderson and Murray will participate for the Trail Blazers at the NBA 2K24 NBA Summer League 2023 in Las Vegas.

Trail Blazers extend qualifying offers to Ibou Badji and John Butler Jr.

The Portland Trail Blazers have extended qualifying offers to center Ibou Badji and forward John Butler Jr., making both players restricted free agents, General Manager Joe Cronin announced today.

By extending qualifying offers to Badji and Butler, Portland obtains the Right of First Refusal on any offer sheet they may sign with another team.

Badji originally signed a two-way contract with the Trail Blazers on November 18, 2022. Butler appeared in 19 games (1 start) during his rookie campaign for Portland and averaged 2.4 points (32.1% FG, 75.0% FT), 0.9 rebounds and 11.6 minutes per game as a two-way player.

Trail Blazers extend a qualifying offer to Matisse Thybulle

The Portland Trail Blazers have extended a qualifying offer to guard/forward Matisse Thybulle, making him a restricted free agent, General Manager Joe Cronin announced yesterday.

By extending a qualifying offer to Thybulle, Portland obtains the Right of First Refusal on any offer sheet he may sign with another team.

Acquired by the Trail Blazers on February 9, 2023, Thybulle averaged 7.4 points (43.8% FG, 38.8% 3-PT), 3.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.7 steals and 27.7 minutes per game in 22 games (22 starts) for Portland. A Washington alum, Thybulle has accrued career averages of 4.6 points (44.7% FG, 33.4% 3-PT), 2.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.5 steals and 20.5 minutes per game in 267 games (100 starts) for Philadelphia (2019-23) and Portland.

Name of new Portland G League team revealed: The Rip City Remix

The Portland G League team, the official NBA G League affiliate of the Portland Trail Blazers, announced today the franchise’s team name, logo, and branding at a community event at the University of Portland.

Rip City Remix is a team name and brand that reflects the city of Portland, community, and culture and draws on the inspiration of remixing what is already amazing to enhance, innovate and transform into something extraordinary.

“This is an exciting day for Rip City and the next chapter in Trail Blazers basketball,” said Portland Trail Blazers President of Business Operations Dewayne Hankins. “We are thrilled to launch this team in the North Portland community, with a name and brand inspired by our fans, culture and region. Rip City Remix games will be fun, family friendly, and accessible, and we look forward to seeing you on the court this upcoming season.”

Portland Trail Blazers select Scoot Henderson third overall in 2023 NBA Draft

The Portland Trail Blazers selected guard Scoot Henderson with the third overall pick in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft.

Henderson, 19, arrives in Portland after spending two seasons with NBA G League Ignite. During the 2022-23 season, Henderson averaged 17.6 points (44.4% FG, 32.4% 3-PT, 75.0% FT), 5.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.2 steals in 25 games (24 starts). Henderson (6-2, 196) competed in the Rising Stars game at NBA All-Star Weekend in both 2022 and 2023.

A native of Marietta, Ga., Henderson accrued averages of 16.1 points (44.5% FG, 76.2% FT), 5.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.4 blocks in 46 games (28 starts) in two seasons for NBA G League Ignite. In 2020-21, Henderson was named Class 6A Player of the Year by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as a junior at Kell High School.

Portland G League team hires Hannah Grauert as team President

The Portland G League team, the official NBA G League affiliate of the Portland Trail Blazers, has announced Hannah Grauert as the franchise’s President.

Grauert comes to the role with a ten-year history of working with the Portland Trail Blazers and the NBA, and most recently from roles in event planning and innovation at Nike and Microsoft.

“We are thrilled at Hannah’s return to our organization and are excited to see her lead our G League team in her new role as President,” said Dewayne Hankins, Portland Trail Blazers President of Business Operations. “Hannah’s innovative nature and dedication to our community combined with an expansive knowledge in project and event management are vital as we head into a new chapter of Rip City basketball.”

Grauert joined the Trail Blazers in 2007 as a Ticket Operations Coordinator and in her 10 seasons with the Trail Blazers, she touched almost every aspect of the business, from fan development and community programming to leading the youth basketball program. Grauert managed elaborate consumer-focused events as well as the creation of communication and brand plans to launch the innovative Community Player Ticket Program.

“From the start, Rip City has always held a special place in my heart as I grew up around the Trail Blazers and developed my early career here,” said Hannah Grauert, Portland G League President. “Returning to the excitement of fans and stepping into the role of President is an absolute honor and I look forward to leading this team to success as we enter a new era of development and expand basketball in our Portland community.”

Portland G League team names Danny Connors as GM, Pooh Jeter as assistant GM

The Portland G League team has announced Danny Connors has been named General Manager and Eugene “Pooh” Jeter named Assistant General Manager.

Connors becomes the General Manager of the Portland G League team after spending the previous seven seasons with the Trail Blazers organization. He most recently served as the team’s Personnel Analyst since January 2022 where he contributed to the talent evaluation of players at all levels through scouting and analytics. The Yardley, Pennsylvania native joined the team as a Basketball Operations Assistant in 2016 before serving as the team’s High School Scouting Coordinator (2018-21) and Scouting Coordinator (2021-22).

Prior to joining the Trail Blazers, Connors was a graduate assistant for the University of Massachusetts from 2014-16 while earning his Master’s in Sports Management. He also worked as a Basketball Operations Intern for the Philadelphia 76ers in the summer of 2013. Connors holds a degree in Newspaper and Online Journalism from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University, where he worked with former assistant coach Mike Hopkins in an analytics role.

A former standout of the University of Portland, Jeter joins the Portland G League team as the Assistant General Manager after spending the past two seasons with the G League Ignite and averaged 7.4 points (44.2% FG, 44.9% 3-PT, 92.9% FT), 1.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 17.3 minutes per game in 28 contests for the Ignite during the 2022-23 season. Jeter spent the 2010-11 NBA season with the Sacramento Kings where he appeared in 62 games and brings a wealth of international experience from a prolific career which includes time in Spain, Israel, China, France, Turkey and the Ukraine.

As a Portland Pilot, Jeter was a three-time All-West Coast Conference point guard (2004-06) and ranks No. 2 all-time in scoring with 1,708 career points. Jeter also ranks fourth in steals (160), three-pointers made (200), free throws made (408) and free throw percentage (.846), while his 346 assists is No. 7 all-time.