There has been no bigger story in Portland sports this year than Damian Lillard’s stunning return to the Trail Blazers less than two years after being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. Though out for the next year with a torn Achilles tendon, Lillard’s homecoming raises all sorts of questions about the trajectory of the franchise with an otherwise young roster.

Among them, will Lillard be the same player he was before the injury? And given the style of play the team has adopted under coach Chauncey Billups, is there even room for him to be the same player?

These questions and many more are discussed on this week’s episode of the Oregonian Sports Podcast by hosts Bill Oram and Brenna Greene.

Also discussed on this week’s episode:

• A programming update and a very fond farewell

• What Lillard’s presence could and should mean for Scoot Henderson

• Can Lillard adjust his style of play and will a year of watching help?

• A recap of the Portland Fire’s brand launch and rollout event at Moda Center

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The hosts of the Blazer Focused podcast‚ Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, discuss Trail Blazers rookie center Yang Hansen’s first two Summer League games and if Deandre Ayton can revive his career with the Los Angeles Lakers. Plus, is it a concern that Portland hasn’t done much this offseason?

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Before the NBA’s free agency period even began, the Portland Trail Blazers had already addressed two of their biggest offseason questions by jettisoning Deandre Ayton and trading away Anfernee Simons. By moving off the high-dollar contracts of two veteran players who no longer fit the team’s timeline or identity, general manager Joe Cronin has cleared the runway for the team’s young core to either sink or swim.
On this week’s episode of the Oregonian Sports Podcast, hosts Bill Oram and Brenna Greene react to the Blazers flurry of swift and decisive moves.

Also discussed on the episode:
• Can the Blazers complete the sweep and find a taker for Jerami Grant, as well?
• Is Jrue Holiday really unhappy about being traded to Portland?
• Why drafting Yang Hansen was either brilliant or brainless
• How Portland’s WNBA franchise turned a negative into a positive with its front-office shakeup
• Do the hosts like Texas State as the final addition to the reimagined Pac-12?

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The hosts of the Blazer Focused podcast‚ Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, discuss the Portland Trail Blazers trading back from the No. 11 pick in Wednesday night’s draft to select center Yang Hansen from China in a move that stunned the basketball world.

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The hosts of the Blazer Focused podcast‚ Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, dive into the Blazers trading Anfernee Simons for Jrue Holiday, and discuss what they believe the Blazers should do with the No. 11 pick during Wednesday night’s NBA draft.

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The revelation that Portland’s WNBA team seems to be moving toward resurrecting the ‘Fire’ — the name of the team’s predecessor from 2000-02 — has sparked much conversation and debate, that is as true on the Oregonian Sports Podcast as it is on social media.

Bill Oram argues that the Fire isn’t a good enough name to offset the various ways it is problematic, while Brenna Greene of KOIN argues that it’s a nostalgia play that resonates with fans.

Who is right? Listen to the episode to decide for yourself.

Also discussed on this week’s podcast:

• If not the Fire, what brand identity should the WNBA franchise have landed on?

• Brenna is home from Omaha, where the Beavers disappointed in the Men’s College World Series

• Why OSU’s season bodes well for the school’s future

• Does Indiana’s push for an NBA title give hope to the Blazers?

• Bill dishes on the $10 billion sale of the Lakers

• ... and much more.

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For a school that hasn’t caught much in the way of a break when it comes to sports lately, you have to say fortune is shining on Oregon State going into the College World Series.

Not only are the eighth-seeded Beavers riding tons of momentum after smashing Florida State in the third game of their Super Regional on Sunday, they enter the eight-team field in Omaha with perhaps the most favorable path to the championship series. They are the highest-seeded team in the top half of the bracket, while No. 3 overall seed Arkansas and 6-seeded LSU will have to duke it out in the bottom half of the bracket.

On this week’s episode of the Oregonian Sports Podcast, hosts Bill Oram and Brenna Greene break down the Beavers chances in Omaha, while also trying to prepare for the regional delicacies of the Great Plains.

Also discussed on this week’s episode:

• Takeaways from last weekend in Corvallis

• How Bill found himself watching the Beavers clinch their return to Omaha from the roof of a parking garage.

• Should the Beavers be wary of their opening-round opponent, Louisville?

• A detour into the greatest high school mascots, just because

• Will the Blazers use their lottery pick on a player who started his career at a local Division III school?

• ... and much more!

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Like Mike Tyson said, everybody has a plan until they get beaten in Game 1 of the NCAA baseball regional at home.

Oregon and Oregon State responded differently to getting punched in the mouth last week.

The Ducks went meekly into the offseason while the Beavers rallied in dominant fashion, winning four straight elimination games by a margin of 50-6 to set up this weekend’s Super Regional against Florida State.

Was the Beavers’ response more impressive than the Ducks’ was disappointing?

That’s the question Bill Oram and Brenna Greene consider on this week’s episode of the Oregonian Sports Podcast.

Also on this week’s show:

• The most joyful moment the state track meet provided

• Was the home plate ruling that went against the Ducks a just call?

• Other rule changes we need to see in college baseball

• How to plan an 85th birthday party

• Who has the more impressive collection of baseball alumni, OSU or Florida State?

• ... and much more

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The hosts of the Blazer Focused podcast‚ Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, discuss mock NBA drafts, Chris Paul being linked to the Trail Blazers and Craig’s New York Knicks taking a tumble in the NBA playoffs.

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The hosts of the Blazer Focused podcast‚ Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, discuss Donovan Clingan being named to the All-Rookie team, the Blazers seeking a buyer and what that means for Moda Center and they grade the guard position.

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