Limping into the final stretch of the season, the Portland Trail Blazers will have one final opportunity to add talent in the buyout market.
Entering the All-Star Break, the Portland Trail Blazers hold a disappointing record of 25-31 and sit four games behind the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies. If Rip City hopes to make another postseason push, it’s clear some changes need to be made.
Accomplishing that task seems all the more insurmountable when you factor in Damian Lillard‘s groin injury will have him sidelined for one-to-two weeks as every game holds increasing significance.
With the All-Star Break commencing, Portland will finally receive an opportunity to rest up and mend their battle wounds. There does appear to be a potential light at the end of the tunnel for this team however, as the buyout market looks to heat up in the coming days.
The deadline for a player to be released and still be eligible to participate with another playoff-bound team is March 1. That means we’ll see plenty of quality veterans negotiating buyouts with their team and hitting the open market for contenders to pick up any last second additions.
We’ve already witnessed Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Marvin Williams get bought out by the Hornets, where they went on to sign with the Mavericks and Bucks respectively. Similarly, The Blazers have seen the positive impact last-second additions can have with the likes of Carmelo Anthony and Trevor Ariza becoming big difference makers on this team.
Here’s a look at five players who have a significant chance of getting bought out that could certainly help this battered Trail Blazers team reach the playoffs.