Portland Trail Blazers: 5 trades to cover for the injured Jusuf Nurkic

Trade #2 – Rodney Hood for Aron Baynes and Stanley Johnson

Aron Baynes signed a two-year $14 million deal with the Toronto Raptors in this off-season after having a career year with the Phoenix Suns in 2020.

Baynes has unfortunately been stuck behind breakout Raptors big Chris Boucher, though. Boucher has had a career year, confining Baynes to back up or third big man minutes.

Baynes is a rock-solid backup big man, who has championship experience with the San Antonio Spurs, and significant playoff experience with other teams too.

He is a great defender, who uses smarts and positioning to protect the rim. He draws charges often, and has that old school tough guy game where he does all the dirty work you want of your big.

Baynes has also stretched his game out to three and shoots a career rate of 32 percent on makes that have been mainly the last few years of his career. The Raptors also have Pascal Siakam and

The Blazers could absorb Baynes salary and a salary dump of a player like Stanley Johnson, if they sent out Hood.

Johnson could be cut, or he could help as a defensive piece for the Blazers.

Hood is the salary filler in some of these trades because of his contract and slow start to the season, but if his play comes on this season, he could help any of these teams.

A second round-pick would also need to be attached in this deal.