Trying to upgrade the roster for their upcoming playoff run, the Portland Trail Blazers are thought to be players for a trade deadline move.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reported that the Trail Blazers have made Will Barton, Thomas Robinson, and a first-round pick available, and they are considering a move that could bring Arron Afflalo or Wilson Chandler to Portland.
The Trail Blazers are thought to prefer Chandler. He fills a position of need, especially with Nicolas Batum‘s injury problems, and Chandler is under contract for one more year after this one. Afflalo has a player option after this season.
As I’ve mentioned before, making a desperate move at the trade deadline is not what Portland needs. This isn’t NBA 2K15– chemistry matters in the NBA, especially to a team like the Trail Blazers.
Remember what happened to the Indiana Pacers after they traded their locker room leader Danny Granger last season for Evan Turner and LaVoy Allen?
I, personally, think Robinson and Barton, although they don’t play all the time, have a role on this team, and that means more to the Trail Blazers than what a player like Chandler or Afflalo could bring from Denver.
With that said, Portland should still consider a trade like this while keeping their eye on players about to be bought out of their contracts, like Tayshaun Prince in Boston.
After being dealt from Memphis in the deal that helped the Grizzlies acquire Jeff Green, Prince has played well for the Celtics. In only 22.0 minutes per game with the Celtics, Prince is averaging 8.4 points, and he’s scored in double-figures in three of the nine games, including a 19-point breakout performance against the Utah Jazz.
Say what you will about Prince, but Portland needs help at the wing behind Batum, and Prince could be Portland’s best option, should he become available.
Prince is well past his prime, but I remember the days where Prince was, arguably, the best defensive small forward in the league with the Detroit Pistons. He’ll never get back to that point, but is it foolish to think he could give the Trail Blazers 10 minutes of solid defense and a 3-pointer or two in the playoffs?
Currently, Boston is still trying to package Prince and move him before the deadline; however, if they are unable to find a team, the Celtics will buy-out Prince, making him available to sign with whoever he wants after he clears waivers.
Portland will have competition for Prince, as there are many teams who could use help on the wing, the Los Angeles Clippers in particular.
The Clippers need Prince more than the Trail Blazers; that’s for sure. While many players would sign with the team in the larger market with greater need, Prince could easily look at the Trail Blazers’ forward situation and decide that it is a much better fit for him.
Consider that if the Trail Blazers move two players for one at the trade deadline, they will have room on the roster to pick up a free agent afterward. Taking on Afflalo or Chandler, although not my ideal situation, could amount to a deal with Prince for the remainder of the season as well if the cards fall right.
Looking at it objectively, the Trail Blazers may be the best fit for Prince because they probably need him the least of any team looking for small forward help. The Clippers would look at Prince to play 20+ minutes per game. As we saw in Memphis, that situation doesn’t work all that well.