Portland Trail Blazers looking to trade for 2nd round pick in 2021 NBA Draft

The Portland Trail Blazers don’t own a selection in this year’s 2021 NBA Draft, but between Neil Olshey’s draft history, as well as a report from The Athletic’s Oregon beat writer Jason Quick, it looks like the Blazers will look to move into the second round and get a selection.

Olshey loves his second-round picks. You can say what you like about his record in free agency or at the trade deadline, but Olshey has arguably got more value in the second round than he has in the first.

A recent record of rotation players picked in the second round includes Pat Connaughton, Gary Trent Jr, Will Barton and Allen Crabbe. If Olshey sees a guy he likes, he will try and get him, even if he doesn’t have a selection in the draft that year.

With this year’s first-round pick traded to the Houston Rockets last year for Robert Covington, and the second-round pick used to bring in Rodney Hood back in 2019, they would have to use cash or a future pick to buy one this year. With the salary situation being very tight, and no player that the Blazers would likely give up for a first-round pick, a cheap second-rounder is likely.

In an article last week, Jason Quick reported a potential draft-night trade for a pick. ( article behind paywall. )

The Blazers biggest need in terms of youth is a power forward / centre. It wouldn’t surprise me if Olshey looked to bring in big with some size who could be part of the next great Blazers team.

The big man rotation has been rough for the Blazers the last few years, so maybe finding someone who can come in help right away, is a smart idea when the Blazers are strapped for cash.