3 Former Trail Blazers who are struggling elsewhere this season

The Portland Trail Blazers have had their fair share of franchise blunders, whether via draft, trades, or free agency. But they've also made some wise decisions as well, especially when it comes to who not to keep around longer. These three players stand out as ones that the Blazers sold high on at the right time, as their value is currently deflating given their play with their current teams.

No. 1: Jusuf Nurkic, Suns

The Blazers got rid of Nurkic at peak value, as his past two seasons as a member of the Phoenix Suns have been relatively disappointing. So far in 2024-25, the Suns' big man is averaging 9.1 points per game, a number he surpassed each year he was a Blazer beginning in 2016-17.

Even more concerningly, Nurkic is shooting just 40.9 percent from the field, which is highly inefficient for a center and, unsurprisingly, the lowest of his entire career. Nurkic is still getting it done on the glass, averaging over ten boards a game. But his offensive inefficiencies, combined with his lack of rim protection (0.7 blocks per game), have to be frustrating for Phoenix.

No. 2: Gary Trent Jr., Bucks

Gary Trent Jr. was selected No. 37 overall by the Sacramento Kings in the 2018 NBA Draft and was traded to the Blazers, where he played three seasons. After a successful stint with the Raptors, Trent Jr. signed with the Milwaukee Bucks this offseason, reuniting with fellow former Blazer Damian Lillard. The Bucks, who desperately needed more bench depth, seemed to have landed a steal at the time, signing Trent Jr. to a minimum deal.

The idea was to have the chance to play for a contender while also rebuilding his market value on a one-year contract. But that plan has yet to work out well for him in either aspect. The Bucks are currently just 9-9, and Trent Jr. is averaging just 8.6 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game. His points and assists averages have been at their lowest since his rookie season, and his 38.3 percent shooting from the field has also been his lowest since then.

No. 3: Gary Payton II, Warriors

Gary Payton II has had an unusual career path as a journeyman. He recently went from the Warriors to the Blazers and is now back in Golden State for his third consecutive season. In the deal for Payton, the Blazers received five second-round draft picks, which is looking like a win for Portland, given his play lately. GP2 is averaging 4.7 points and shooting just 18.8 percent from beyond the arc, the second-lowest mark in his career.

Payton is more of a defensive-minded guard who impacts that end of the court. However, at some point, it's hard to remain on the court if you are an offensive liability and shrink the floor that much. Especially in Steve Kerr's system, which is predicated on getting shooters open.