Trade season is finally underway! The following two months will be essential for the Portland Trail Blazers as they look to enhance their rebuild. Hopefully, they acquire future assets and gain more clarity surrounding their unfinished roster, trading veterans to clear paths for their young core to further develop. We know who the Blazers should trade amongst their veterans, but there are also certain players they must avoid trading for, whether due to age, contract, roster fit, or asking price.
There are other trade candidates that Portland should avoid at the trade deadline, such as Chicago's Zach LaVine and Miami's Terry Rozier. Anything can happen in the unpredictable NBA, which is part of what makes the trade deadline so entertaining. Still, it would be surprising if the Blazers traded for either player. We narrowed it down to more realistic targets that the Blazers could potentially acquire.
1. Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards
It makes sense for certain teams to be interested in Kyle Kuzma, but the Blazers shouldn't be one of them. On a contender, Kuzma could be a valuable third or fourth scoring option with his 6-foot-9 frame, ability to attack the paint, and versatile skillset. While the Blazers could use that type of player to bolster their wing rotation, Kuzma isn't an ideal fit for their rebuilding timeline.
At 29 years old, he would be the Blazers' second oldest player, behind only Jerami Grant. The Blazers need to be trading away these veteran players, not giving up future assets to acquire more.
It was one thing when they gave up two first-round picks for Deni Avdija, as he's 23 and on a better contract. Portland also needed to move Malcolm Brogdon to get under the luxury tax. However, a move to acquire Kuzma would be a step in the wrong direction, getting them closer to a .500 team stuck in limbo with no chance of a deep playoff run and minimal chance of landing a top draft pick.
2. D'Angelo Russell (and Gabe Vincent), Los Angeles Lakers
At 13-12, it's apparent the Lakers have several roster holes to fill. Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer previously reported their interest in Robert Williams III. Still, several other of Portland's veterans also make sense if LA wants to give 39-year-old LeBron James a more realistic shot at a playoff run during his closing window.
If the Blazers make a deal with the Lakers, the main priority in a package should be their future draft capital and Rui Hachimura, not their backcourt players. The good news is that the Blazers weren't interested in D'Angelo Russell in a potential Jerami Grant deal this offseason. Hopefully, that remains the case as the deadline approaches.
D-Lo had a great game when they played against the Blazers, with 28 points and 14 assists. But he has struggled overall this season, averaging 12.6 points, 5.0 assists, and 2.7 rebounds on 41/33/87 shooting splits. He even lost a starting role to Gabe Vincent, another player Portland should avoid.
Russell's contract expires at the end of the season, and he's not a player that the Blazers should pay a hefty price tag to retain long-term. Meanwhile, Vincent is owed roughly $22 million over the next two seasons and should be viewed as a negative asset, as that price tag doesn't reflect his play since joining the Lakers. This season, Vincent is averaging just 3.9 points this season on inefficient 35/28/50 shooting splits.
D-Lo and Vincent are 28 and in the middle of down years. Unless the draft capital attached is too enticing for GM Joe Cronin to pass up, which seems unlikely at this point, the Blazers shouldn't add another inconsistent guard into the mix.
3. Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic
The Blazers were involved in several mock proposals this past offseason that sent Anfernee Simons to the Orlando Magic, as it makes sense as a landing spot for Portland's combo guard. To be clear, we haven't read anything from a reliable source that actually links Simons to Orlando. But if a Blazers-Magic trade were to materialize, Simons makes sense as a potential trade target, given that the guard position and shooting are areas of need for the Magic.
The reasons Portland should avoid D-Lo and Vincent in trade talks with the Lakers are similar to why they shouldn't have an interest in Cole Anthony with the Magic.
Sure, Anthony fits their timeline better at 24 years old and has ties to Portland, being born there while Greg Anthony was playing with the Blazers. But Anthony is owed $26 million for the next two seasons, with a $13.1 million team option in 2026-27. That contract doesn't justify his production as an undersized guard who is averaging 5.2 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.8 assists on 38/32/72 shooting splits.
The Blazers would be better off taking a flier on someone like Anthony Black, who has improved in his second season, showing flashes of his two-way potential with his 6-foot-7 frame.