3 buyout candidates for the Portland Trail Blazers to monitor
By Andy Quach
Buyout candidate the Portland Trail Blazers should monitor: Tristan Thompson
Like Favors, Tristan Thompson found himself amidst a rebuild by way of trade, as he was shipped to the Sacramento Kings in a three-team deal that netted his old squad, the Boston Celtics, Kris Dunn, Bruno Fernando, and a future second-rounder.
The Kings also have 15 players on deck for next season, and as currently constructed, would likely play Thompson as their first big off the bench to backup Richaun Holmes. Despite their admirable but naive attempts to earn a play-in slot, it’d be much wiser for Sacramento to lean into a full rebuild and continue to stack assets and young cornerstones.
TT is certainly a veteran useful enough to negatively impact the Kings lottery chances. With only next season remaining on his contract, contenders are more likely to wait for him to enter free agency or Sacramento to buy him out than give up an asset to rent him for the remainder of his deal.
He would be a perfect reserve big for Portland, who would provide all of the rebounding that Enes Kanter did last year, while also playing above-average defense—something the Blazers backup last season avoided like a plague.
While either Favors or Thompson would be a great third-string (possibly second) center, Thompson gets the edge here for his “switchability.” Favors may be stronger battling in the trenches, but TT’s capabilities to guard on the perimeter is a much more desirable asset in this era and ultimately gives him the edge.