Trail Blazers add NBA champion, former Ute Branden Carlson for frontcourt depth
Jul 3, 2026, 4:16 PM
Former Utah Ute Branden Carlson agreed to a one-year free agent contract with the Portland Trail Blazers. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Former Utah big man Branden Carlson is trading Oklahoma City for the Pacific Northwest after agreeing to a free-agent deal with the Portland Trail Blazers.
The up-and-coming Blazers will pay the third-year forward $2.5 million on a one-year contract, adding a stretch-five option to their frontcourt after Carlson knocked down 36 percent of his three-point attempts in year two.
Welcome to Rip City, Branden Carlson! 👏 pic.twitter.com/6EfD97GWnB
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) July 1, 2026
Carlson averaged 5.8 points and three rebounds in 42 games for the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder last season.
Who is Branden Carlson?
The South Jordan, Utah, native has been on the state’s basketball radar for nearly a decade.
Carlson developed into a four-star recruit and the No. 1 prospect in Utah while starring at Bingham High School, where he capped his prep career by leading the Miners to a 24-2 record and the 2016 5A state championship.
After serving a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the seven-footer joined the Utah Utes for the 2019-20 season. He appeared in 29 of 30 games as a true freshman, averaging seven points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks while shooting 54.9 percent from the floor.
Carlson went on to become one of the most productive players in Utah history.
Over five seasons with the Utes, he became the program’s all-time leader in blocks with 241 and in games played with 146.
He earned All-Pac-12 First Team honors twice and was named the 2023 Utah State of Sports Male Collegiate Athlete of the Year.
Free agent 7-footer Branden Carlson has agreed to a one-year, $2.5 million deal to sign with the Portland Trail Blazers, sources tell ESPN. Portland picks up a big man who has developed in the OKC Thunder system over the last two seasons, finalizing a deal with @PrioritySports‘… pic.twitter.com/N1XunKYLW3
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2026
After going undrafted in 2024, Carlson signed a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors but was waived near the end of training camp.
He quickly landed with Oklahoma City, where he worked his way from a pair of 10-day contracts to a two-way deal in February 2025.
Carlson earned a championship ring with the Thunder as a rookie before returning for the 2025-26 season on a two-way contract.
Now, the former Ute gets his next opportunity in Portland, where his size, shooting touch, and rim protection give the Blazers another developmental frontcourt piece with NBA experience.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
