Veteran small forward Dorell Wright has lost his rotation spot in the Portland Trail Blazers’ lineup to the younger Allen Crabbe. Wright, who played in 68 games last season, has played in just seven of the Trail Blazers 19 games thus far, averaging a mere 6.7 minutes of court time, while Crabbe has played in twice the games and averaged more than twice the minutes. Though Wright has plenty left to contribute, his utility on this roster may be waning as rookies age into role players.
This is where we have to look at the business side of basketball and wonder if Wright would be a better fit elsewhere. While Portland may not have direct incentive to move him right this instant, they do not have tremendous incentive to keep him either, and it doesn’t hurt to think about the future of the team. If there is an opportunity for them to turn an idle player into draft picks and a trade exception, they should consider it.
Wright is still in his prime at 29 years-old. Owed $3.1M in this final year of his contract in Portland, he is probably Portland’s best legitimately tradable trade chip. He can help fill out the roster for a contender that is thinner at the wing (think Chicago, Cleveland) or he can lend an experienced hand to an inexperienced team pushing for playoff contention (think Charlotte, Milwaukee)—all without a multi-year commitment.
Apr 1, 2013; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Portland Trail Blazers small forward Victor Claver (18) shoots a free throw during the first half against the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena. The Jazz won 112-102. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Perhaps most importantly, Wright is a good “package piece” for the Trail Blazers to consider as they look to move Victor Claver. Neither player is playing meaningful minutes right now (or, in Claver’s case, any at all), so the Trail Blazers have little to lose by exploring their options. Teams in the market for such a bundle may find it more attractive with the veteran floor-spacer included.
In return, the Trail Blazers could possibly take on a contract or two that won’t interfere with team chemistry, but their primary target should be draft picks. As it stands the Trail Blazers owe a 2015 2nd round pick to Orlando, a 2015 2nd round pick to Denver, a 2016 2nd round pick to Chicago, a 2017 2nd round pick to Houston, and a 2018 2nd round pick to Denver. They have no incoming picks.
This is a problem that needs to be addressed sooner than later. Maintaining a steady stream of incoming, young talent is paramount for small/mid-market teams. The Trail Blazers’ stream has mostly dried up. Wright is their most viable option to get it flowing again, without losing any rotation players.
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I have no desire to kick Wright to the curb, but it could work out well for all concerned if he and the Trail Blazers discuss a move in the future. This is all just food for thought at this point. As December 15th approaches, NBA teams begin looking around the league for ways to tweak their lineup when trade restrictions drop. I would not fault Portland for capitalizing.
The bottom line here is that Wright needs to be put to good use. If he is no longer a pivotal component of Portland’s X’s and O’s, he can still be important to the debits and credits. By putting him on the table, the Trail Blazers could potentially start future construction with minimal risk to present stability.