Thu Jun 26 01:20:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summarized news article based on the provided text:
**Trail Blazers Seek Star Power Through Draft, Trades, and Player Development**
**Portland, OR (April 13, 2025)** – The Portland Trail Blazers are actively searching for the next All-Star caliber player to lead their resurgence in the post-Damian Lillard era. General Manager Joe Cronin and Head Coach Chauncey Billups are exploring all avenues, including the upcoming NBA draft, trades, and internal player development, to acquire or cultivate such a star.
With the 11th pick in the upcoming draft, the Blazers are looking to strike gold. History shows that drafting All-Stars is difficult. Historically, the draft has proven the most reliable route, with the team drafting or acquiring through draft-day trades 11 of their 16 All-Stars in franchise history.
The team also will explore trade options. Trades have brought five All-Stars to Portland. With young players like Shaedon Sharpe, Scoot Henderson, Donovan Clingan, Deni Avdija, and Toumani Camara showing promise, Coach Billups believes the next star may already be on the roster. Development and patience are key, Billups said, emphasizing that many current NBA stars took time to fully blossom. Cronin echoed this sentiment, stating that he wouldn’t “write them off to becoming those star-level guys.”
Free agency has historically been unfruitful for Portland in acquiring All-Star talent. So while the team may not be able to sign a star right away, they could position themselves in the trade market by moving contracts and acquiring assets.