Rip City Project
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4 players who should be on the Trail Blazers trade deadline wishlist

By Stevie Cozens

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 13: JJ Redick #4 of the New Orleans Pelicans looks on during a game against the Philadelphia 76ers on December 13, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 13: JJ Redick #4 of the New Orleans Pelicans looks on during a game against the Philadelphia 76ers on December 13, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Danilo Gallinari

Italian power forward Danilo Gallinari is at the top of most team’s wish lists at the deadline. Gallinari’s expiring contract combined with his shooting and rebounding makes him an intriguing prospect for teams that need a forward to push them into the playoffs.

Gallinari is on the last year of a three-year deal, paying him $22,615,559 this year. He has improved with age and has actually shot his highest percentages from three-point land in the last few years. Gallinari is 31 and is probably still an injury risk, but he has had good health over the last 18 months of his career.

His defensive rebounding combined with a three point percentage of 40.3 over the last three seasons makes him a prime target for the Blazers especially. They still have defensive rebounding issues and even though they have great shooters on the team in Damian Lillard, Carmelo Anthony and CJ McCollum, the drop off after these three is significant.

Up to the middle of December no one outside of these three was shooting more than 34 percent from three. This combined with not having other big bodies available on the defensive glass means the Blazers aren’t really being taken serious as a playoff team.

As far as matching contracts go, Kent Bazemore could be moved to bring in Gallinari. The main thing the Blazers have to decide is whether they want to give up assets for a player like him. They would obtain his bird rights in this trade, meaning they could go over the cap to re-sign him. If he is purely going to be a six month rental then giving up a first round pick or a young player isn’t a good idea.

The Thunder will want something in return, so the Blazers need to balance this seasons expectations with their long-term vision.