The Trail Blazers are exploring the trade market in search of veterans who can help Damian Lillard get the team back into the playoffs, according to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, who observes that Portland has a handful of assets in hand to offer up in possible deals.
Besides the No. 7 overall pick in this year’s draft, the Blazers also have a trade exception worth nearly $21MM, Josh Hart and his team-friendly contract, Eric Bledsoe‘s expiring deal (Bledsoe’s partial guarantee could be increased as needed for salary-matching purposes), future draft picks, and possibly Jusuf Nurkic as a sign-and-trade candidate.
Here’s more from O’Connor on the players Portland could go after this summer:
- Sources tell The Ringer that free-agents-to-be Bradley Beal and Zach LaVine are potential Blazers targets, though it’s unclear if they’ll be willing to leave the Wizards and Bulls, respectively, for Portland. Lillard and Beal are friends who played together for Team USA, O’Connor notes.
- Hornets restricted free agent forward Miles Bridges is a player worth keeping an eye on for the Blazers, sources tell O’Connor. The team is in the market for a big wing who can help on defense and be a secondary offensive play-maker, and Bridges fits the bill. Again though, it remains to be seen if Portland will be able to pry away Bridges from his current team, especially since Charlotte will be able to match any offer sheet.
- Pistons forward Jerami Grant is another two-way wing frequently mentioned as a target for Portland, as O’Connor observes. In his latest Substack article, Marc Stein writes that the Hawks continue to register interest in Grant, but the Blazers would likely be able to outbid Atlanta and other Grant suitors if they’re willing to include the No. 7 pick in their offer.
- Hawks big man John Collins is also frequently cited as a player on the Blazers’ radar, according to O’Connor, who suggests Collins would be more of a lob threat – and more versatile defensively – than Nurkic.
MJ needs to match whatever deal is thrown at Bridges.
Or, in summary… Report: Blazers interested in signing good players who may or may not even be available.
You’re right pc01! Of course this is no different than all the likewise mindless speculation that goes on here; the male version of a soap opera if ever there was one. As The Shot Clock Turns.
Wood should be an easier target. And should also cost lest. Rockets probably throw in Porter. Maybe in Portland with Dame there. He will finally grow up. And become a professional. That 7th pick is worth a lot to Rockets. They could potentially draft 3 starters this yr.
Rockets are high on porter no way he’s just a throw in
Right. Not that I agree with the Rockets but I agree with you.
Portland is hand string under ownership problems. It will be interesting to see how much money they will take on.
Hand Strung & dumb is a bad combination
It’s “hamstrung”, even here in “soap opera” land, and when Phil Knight wants to buy you, the only problem you have is a problem of riches. There is the option of being in Detroit and at the end of the day you’d be … that’s right, in Detroit!!
Beal and Lavine are barely upgrades over McCollum defensively. Paired with an older Lillard, this is going backwards. Doesn’t matter how much defense they put around the backcourt, they will get picked on
Hamstrung or emboldened by the uncertainty of the future ownership? The deadline deals suggested the former, and in a normal estate/ testamentary trust situation that would likely be the end of it. However, the details here suggest that many of the practical restraints on fiduciary management aren’t present. The legal ones are, of course. Still, it’s at least a possibility that Sis (short of putting the team back in the red) will run the team quite aggressively, in terms of both current spending and long term contract obligations.
Interesting the top two names are … LaVine and Beal?
Beal’s DBPM the last 3 years: -2.4, -1.4, -1.2 (his 19-20 -2.4 was 2nd worst in the entire league after Garland. Yes, even worse than Trae.)
LaVine’s DBPM the last 3 years: -0.8, -0.8, -1.5
I could have sworn the Blazers *just* blew up a team built around two guards who play bad defense…
Even if the Blazers are fortunate enough to get one of those guys I don’t see how it’s not just spinning their wheels and Damian Lillard gets a year older? Must trade him now before it’s too late. Seriously.
But the other side of the coin is with the team for sale, sort of, you don’t trade away a marquee name. You also don’t go over the salary cap to acquire players. Hamstrung is absolutely correct in this case at this time. Hope they get it straightened out.
The headliners here are absurd. Grant, Collins, and Bridges are interesting. But why immediately comment on going back to trading Lillard? He has the potential to lead a team to a championship.
Lillard
Simons
Hart/Ingles/Winslow or Little
Obvious Gap; defense is a must
Nurkic
They will trade to fill the gap and have different combinations to facilitate a preferred transaction with young talent, expiring contracts, trade exceptions, and the #7 pick. As far as I can tell, they are in decent shape.
But really, tho, if they weren’t trading Lillard a month ago and six months ago and last playoffs, how has the equation changed?
In my opinion it’s what they have to do unless they want to spin their wheels the next three years. If the subject is the Portland Trail Blazers I think it’s okay to bring up trading or keeping any of their players or even any outside player on any other team in the NBA as a potential. I’m not here to ruffle anyone’s feathers just giving opinion on the best path to take.
I know I’m in the minority but I think I’m right. In fact as an example I was calling for the trade of Mookie Betts as soon as I realized he would not resign with the Red Sox. I was lambasted left and right but they got something back for him instead of him walking away for nothing like Kevin Durant Oklahoma City or so many other guys.
I guess for me the biggest reason is that I’m not okay with being decent or pretty good. For me it’s Championship or bust every single attempt.
If the Blazers add pieces here and there maybe even two great players then they are back to what they were three years ago when they were real good but Lillard will be 3 years older or four years older by next playoffs. Pretty good or decent doesn’t fly in my eyes but I guess I’m different.
Shooting for the sixth seed doesn’t fly in my eyes. Running it back with the Utah Jazz exact same Squad doesn’t fly in my eyes and it doesn’t fly in Quin Snyder’s eyes.
And before you say it’s a process and there’s steps to take, you’re not a championship team right away, I realize that. But if you keep Damian Lillard and his contract and don’t trade him your ceiling because of being handicapped with the salary cap etc is the sixth seed. That does not fly. Just my opinion not saying I’m right.
btw, I agree completely on the championship or bust mentality. And I also acknowledge that this team is at serious risk of getting right back to where they were before the trade deadline. But, two things I’ll point out:
1) although championships are won with team ball… it almost always takes someone special to get it actually done. Lillard looks like he could be that guy. Only a handful of NBA players actually have “it”, so POR needs to hold on and get the other 4 playing team ball under an NBA champ coach (also new). 2) If Simons delivers 75% of what CJ delivered, then it is going to be fairly easy to upgrade on Roco. He’s good, but they will likely get a massive upgrade here given POR’s trade chips.
.. also Norm wasn’t that valuable in my opinion. Hart already matches him in his own way and even he has stiff competition for the starting role.
Good post, agree with your statements here. And yes, Its tuff to find that Mamba guy and Lillard is definitely one of those.
Portland should have just kept Powell. Going to be a disappointing offseason for blazers fans