Trail Blazers bet on new French stars! Lüper s team option is executed, and the G League breaks out as key

On June 29, the Portland Trail Blazers officially announced the implementation of the 2025-26 season team options in the French young wing Lüper's contract. The decision was first disclosed by well-known reporter Sean Highkin, and the team then issued a press release to confirm it.

The 1.98-meter-high French forward was picked by the Trail Blazers with the 43rd overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. In the past two seasons, he has played a total of 91 regular season games for the team, but his role is relatively marginal, averaging only 12 minutes of playing time, contributing 3.4 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists, shooting percentage of 37.0%, shooting percentage of 32.1% from three-pointers and shooting percentage of 76.4%.

What is interesting is the salary details: Lüper's salary of $2.22 million next season will remain unsecured for several days on the technical level. However, as long as he is still on the Trail Blazers lineup before July 1 (Tuesday), US time, this salary will automatically be transferred to full protection - judging by the current situation, protection is a foregone conclusion.

Lupper's real highlights bloom in the development league arena. When he put on the Trail Blazers' jersey, the 21-year-old gained the core-level ball rights and trust. In the 11 G League games he played last season alone, he delivered a comprehensive data single with 18.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists, and his shooting percentage increased to 49.7% (although the three-point shooting percentage was 22.9% still had room for improvement). This offensive output when taking on greater responsibilities is undoubtedly an important basis for management to decide to retain observations.

With the implementation of the team's options, Lüper has been eligible to renew his contract with the Trail Blazers in advance since July. But league sources generally believe that unless he successfully entered the team's main rotation in the 2025-26 season and gained a chance of stable performance, the chances of the two sides reaching a new contract are low. If the performance of the existing contract is completed, Lüper will become a restricted free agent in the summer of 2026.

The Trail Blazers in the reconstruction channel still have major variables in lineup rotation. The performance in the new season's training camp and preseason will directly determine whether Lüper can seize the precious opportunity and enter the stable rotation camp from the edge. For the 21-year-old French forward, the next few months will undoubtedly be a crucial turning point in his career.