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What Exactly Is Branden Carlson's Role With Trail Blazers in 2026-27?
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- What Exactly Is Branden Carlson's Role With Trail Blazers in 2026-27?
(Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images)
Branden Carlson spent most of last season waiting for an opportunity in Oklahoma City .
When one finally arrived, he made quite the closing argument.
Carlson started the Thunder's final two games and responded with consecutive double-doubles, posting 23 points and 12 rebounds against Denver before finishing with 26 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks against Phoenix. He also knocked down eight 3-pointers across the two games.
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Four months later, the 7-footer finds himself in Portland with a different problem:
Where exactly are those minutes going to come from?
The Trail Blazers signed Carlson in July after he spent his first two NBA seasons with Oklahoma City. He appeared in 42 games last season, averaging 5.8 points and 3.0 rebounds in 11.6 minutes while shooting 52.7 percent from the field and 36 percent from behind the arc.
Those numbers are encouraging ... but Portland's depth chart is less inviting.
Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams III remain in the frontcourt, with the Blazers committing another three years and $44 million to Williams this summer. Yang Hansen is entering his second NBA season after Portland selected him in the first round last year, and the Blazers added another center by claiming Micah Potter off waivers in July.
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So penciling Carlson in as Portland's backup center would require quite the assumption.
His shooting offers a more logical path onto the floor.
Carlson attempted 86 3-pointers in only 488 minutes last season and made 36 percent of them. He was particularly willing to let it fly when his playing time expanded, attempting 20 triples across those final two starts.
That's a legitimate wrinkle for Micah Nori to have available.
It doesn't make Carlson Portland's only floor-spacing option at center, especially with Potter on the roster. Nor does it mean Nori will regularly alter his rotation simply to accommodate him.
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But Carlson doesn't necessarily need a guaranteed nightly role to provide value.
Portland now has five players listed at center on its official roster, and Carlson gives Nori another option when injuries create minutes, a matchup calls for additional shooting or the Blazers simply want a different look from their frontcourt.
Actually earning those opportunities may be the biggest challenge.
Carlson spent two seasons in Oklahoma City without establishing a consistent rotation role, starting just four of his 74 regular-season appearances. His final weekend showed what he could do when extended minutes became available.
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Portland isn't exactly overflowing with those minutes right now.
So Carlson's role entering 2026-27 is probably less complicated than the crowded depth chart makes it appear: compete for whatever opportunities emerge and give Nori a reason to use him when they do.
If his shooting can consistently provide something different, those opportunities become considerably easier to justify.
