Moore: ‘High likelihood’ Jarred Vanderbilt ends up in Portland

Jarred Vanderbilt has been heavily linked with the Trail Blazers in the days leading up to this year’s NBA trade deadline, and new intel from Action Network’s Matt Moore has seemingly taken that interest a step further.

According to Moore, “league sources confirmed a high likelihood of Vanderbilt winding up in Portland.”

This comes one day after The Athletic’s Tony Jones reported Vanderbilt is the most likely member of the Jazz to be dealt. Coincidence or not, the 23-year-old forward then missed Utah’s game with a back injury and is questionable for his team’s matchup with Minnesota, a game that comes fewer than 24 hours before the deadline.

To add even more fuel to the Vando-to-Portland fire, Moore added that the Jazz may be willing to lower their asking price. Utah originally wanted “the equivalent of a first-round pick” for Vanderbilt, but Danny Ainge, Justin Zanik and the Jazz front office may be willing to let him go for less.

Jarred Vanderbilt would be an ideal fit for the Portland Trail Blazers

If they’re going to make any kind of postseason run, the Blazers will need to acquire some additional bench scoring (any bench scoring, really) and size by 3 p.m. ET on Feb. 9.

The latter is arguably the most important of the two. Starting center Jusuf Nurkic is expected to be out until after the all-star break with a calf injury. In his stead, head coach Chauncey Billups has been forced to roll with the 6-foot-9 Drew Eubanks and the 6-8 Trendon Watford.

Eubanks’ ceiling as an NBA player is a backup that can bring some energy and hustle off the bench. Watford is a forward that’s been forced to play center because Portland only has one player on the roster taller than 6-9, and he’s injured.

Both have played well given their limitations, but the Blazers are a half-game out of the play-in tournament the day before the trade deadline. If they have any hope of making the postseason, let alone making any sort of run, they need size and athleticism up front.

Nurkic may not be the right fit for the Blazers anymore, even when he is healthy. He’s looked lethargic and clunky, and although they’re getting bullied by bigger teams, Billups’ offense and defense hum with more athleticism on the floor.

That makes it even more critical for Portland General Manager Joe Cronin to land a player like Vanderbilt.

He won’t solve any of those Blazers bench-scoring woes, but the former Kentucky Wildcat will help a team that’s 25th in the league in rebounding. He’s also uber athletic, long, and a versatile defender who’s able to guard either forward position, as well as certain centers in small-ball lineups.

He’ll provide Billups with what he prefers on defense, especially around smaller guards like Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons – energy and switchability.

If he can land Vanderbilt, Cronin would take one more step toward his stated goal: re-tool Portland’s roster around Lillard while remaining competitive.