The Portland Trail Blazers are expected to be sellers rather than buyers at the deadline, and rightfully so. However, GM Joe Cronin has shown that a rebuilding team doesn’t always need to prioritize draft capital in a trade. Sometimes, landing the right fit for your young core takes precedence. That was precisely the case in the Deni Avdija deal.
As the Blazers approach the February 6 trade deadline, offloading veterans and acquiring draft capital should be the primary focus. But as the Avdija trade has shown, exceptions can be made when the right player comes along -- that could very well be Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker.
Walker was an excellent collegiate player for the Houston Cougars, which led him to being the No. 8 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. But he hasn't gotten much opportunity in Indiana, stuck behind Siakam and Obi Toppin, and is averaging just 16.8 minutes this season. Now is the perfect time for the Blazers to pursue a trade for him.
Multi-team trade proposal that lands the Blazers Jarace Walker
Here is the multi-team deal:
Detroit Pistons receive:
- Anfernee Simons
- Christian Wood
Indiana Pacers receive:
- Rui Hachimura
- Robert Williams III
- 2026 first-round pick (via Lakers)
- 2028 first-round pick (via Pistons)
Los Angeles Lakers receive:
- Myles Turner
Portland Trail Blazers receive:
- Jarace Walker
- Isaiah Stewart
The Detroit Pistons are a .500 team on the brink of making the playoffs. If they want to be aggressive and try to make a playoff push to provide their young core with valuable playoff experience, then Anfernee Simons makes sense as someone they could go after.
The Pistons' offense is at its best when they surround Cade Cunningham with shooters, and Simons, a career 38.4 percent three-point shooter, would help in that department. His combo guard abilities make him a seamless fit in the backcourt next to Cunningham or Jaden Ivey when he returns from injury (whether this season or next).
If they make the playoffs, the Pistons surrender their first-round pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves. But as of now, Detroit has a 71.8 percent chance to make the playoffs, according to Basketball Reference. So if they're likely going to make it regardless, they might as well add a piece like Simons to bolster their roster and get Cunningham more help.
In this trade, the Indiana Pacers downgrade from Myles Turner to Robert Williams III and Jarace Walker to Rui Hachimura. That's not ideal; however, Jovan Buha of The Athletic brings up that the Pacers could be more inclined to trade Turner since he is set to be an unrestricted free agent, and there are questions surrounding whether they want to pay him.
"He's going to want $30-plus million, and I've heard Indiana is not sure if they want to give him $30-plus million," said Buha.
Hachimura has less upside than Walker, as they are five years apart, but the idea here is that two first-round picks would compensate for any downgrades in RW3 and Hachimura.
Indiana has a solid team, but they're also dangerously close to approaching the dreaded "no man's land." They're not a true contender, but they have a 30-year-old Pascal Siakam and Turner, who they may have to overpay to keep around. This deal allows them to retool their roster while maintaining its balance.
The Los Angeles Lakers and Anthony Davis have made it clear that they are seeking an upgrade at the center position. If Turner is truly available, he's the perfect addition to pair alongside Davis in the frontcourt. Turner's rim-protecting ability would take some of the defensive burden off of AD, and his three-point shooting threat would complement LeBron James' playmaking.
If Los Angeles can find a way to add Turner, they should do it, even if it means sacrificing one of their coveted first-round picks.
Out of all the potential trade candidates on the Trail Blazers roster, Portland loses arguably their two most valuable assets -- Anfernee Simons and Robert Williams III -- in this deal. That's a lot to give up, but it becomes easier when considering Williams' injury history and that the Blazers will have to sign Simons to a more significant contract after next year.
Walker is a 21-year-old wing shooting 38.9 percent from beyond the arc this season. He has a high floor with his 3-and-D skillset, but there's also untapped potential here that the Blazers should take a flier on.
Portland already has solidified their wing positions going forward with Avdija and Toumani Camara, and adding Walker would be a perfect addition to provide them with more depth. Teams can always use more wings, and there will be plenty of minutes to go around if Portland trades Jerami Grant in a separate deal.
Detroit big man Isaiah Stewart also fits into Portland's timeline at 23 years old. He'd be the clear-cut backup center for Donovan Clingan, assuming Deandre Ayton is eventually out of the picture.