Rip City Project
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Solving the Trail Blazers’ 4 biggest trade deadline question marks

By Austin Carroll

PORTLAND, OR - JANUARY 23: Trevor Ariza #8 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on before the game against the Dallas Mavericks on January 23, 2020 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. 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 2020 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - JANUARY 23: Trevor Ariza #8 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on before the game against the Dallas Mavericks on January 23, 2020 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. 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 2020 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers General Manager Neil Olshey talks with Damian Lillard (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /

How should Portland approach the trade deadline?

  • Make a genuine playoff push now — 3 votes
  • Reload for next season — 2 votes
  • Stand pat and not make any moves — 1 vote
  • Blow it up and begin the rebuild — 0 votes

Mandel: Damian Lillard isn’t getting any younger, and Jusuf Nurkic and Zach Collins appear to be coming back soon. We can’t waste a year of Dame’s prime. We won’t likely have Carmelo Anthony back next year either, and you never know if AD/LeBron will be healthy come playoff time.

Carroll: The 2020-21 season marks the last year before Dame and CJ’s mega extensions kick in. It is also the last year the Trail Blazers will have Collins, Gary Trent Jr., and (presumably) Rodney Hood under cheap team control. This means it’ll be Portland’s last opportunity to have an excellent supporting cast surrounding their core stars. Any moves made at the deadline should be made with making a serious run at the title next season as the overriding priority.

Brown: They have the pieces as long as nobody gets injured. Just play it safe and be ready for next year.

Baker: With Nurk and Collins coming back soon, and the Blazers being close to the eighth seed, the Trail Blazers are still title contenders.

Gaskin: The Blazers should be doing nothing else but reloading for next year. A playoff push is doable, but they won’t get past any of the top two teams — it feels slightly pointless. Blowing it up is also not an option, simply because of Damian Lillard. If you have a top 10 player in his prime, you do not blow up your team, especially after last year’s WCF appearance. Understand injuries have taken their toll, learn your lessons, and go again. The Blazers need to use their expiring contracts to trade for a starting-caliber wing and bolster their bench. Dame, CJ, a new forward, Collins, and Nurk, with a fresh bench, is a contender. That must become Portland’s new outlook.

Cozens: They have the core pieces to be good and they need to use their expiring salaries to make trades. If they do this they will end up with better players on the roster so will naturally win more games.