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Ranking the Portland Trail Blazers best trade assets going into the deadline

By Stevie Cozens

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - FEBRUARY 04: Rodney Hood #5 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts to a call during the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on February 04, 2021 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. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - FEBRUARY 04: Rodney Hood #5 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts to a call during the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on February 04, 2021 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. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /

Portland Trail Blazers best trade assets: #4 – Rodney Hood

Rodney Hood is the Blazers’ best player asset in the 2020 season. He has a team-friendly contract with a second non-guaranteed year. This season and next season are just $10 million and $10.8 million. Because of this contract’s size and the flexibility that this could provide a team, Hood could be an attractive option at the deadline.

Similar to Collins, a team could get off future money by trading for Hood and then cutting him before the next season so they got off his 2022 money.

Though Hood hasn’t had a great year as he recovers from a bad injury suffered in 2019, if he was to improve after being traded, he could potentially be a difference-maker as a bench shooter for a contender, or as an offensive guy on a lottery team.

Portland Trail Blazers best trade assets: #5 – 2023 first-round pick

Neil Olshey treats his first-round picks like gold, and hates to trade them. This season, was the first time since 2015 that he has given away one of his selections for a player in trade.

In making a deal for Robert Covington, Olshey moved the Blazers pick for the 2020 Draft and the 2021 draft.

Because of the Stepien rule that stops teams from trading first-round picks in consecutive years, the next selection that the Blazers can trade then, is their 2023 pick.

Regardless of if Olshey wants to move it or not, this pick has a lot of value. As I said earlier, the Blazers’ future selections have value because of McCollum and Lillard’s age in 2 or 3 years.

If the Blazers wanted to bring in an upgrade on the bench, or at the big man position, then this first-round pick is the best asset. It could be attached to any current player, and would give the team a legitimate upgrade. A bench player could be upgraded to a role player, and a role player to a starter.

Though the Blazers may not make a deal at the deadline, the above five assets are their best available that will realistic to move. The deadline is in March.

Next. 3 players that the Portland Trail Blazers should hope get bought out. dark