The Portland Trail Blazers have been a quiet team in terms of trade rumors as we get closer to the Feb. 6 deadline. But that doesn't mean an out-of-the-blue deal won't get done. After all, people were surprised by the Deni Avdija deal this past offseason, including Avdija himself.
As is typically the case with sellers at the deadline, Portland should be taking the best available offer to help improve their long-term outlook. While we don't know who the Blazers will trade for, we have a clearer sense of who Portland should trade away. There are several players who aren't ideal fits for Rip City's rebuilding plans, whether that's due to their age, contract, market value, or the fact they are cutting into the development of their youth.
Deandre Ayton comes to mind, but Ayton is much more likely to be moved over the summer when teams have more roster flexibility and can figure out a deal that works, as Rose Garden Report's Sean Highkin has noted. Instead, we identified four players that could more realistically be moved before the deadline that GM Joe Cronin should strongly consider trading.
1. Anfernee Simons
The decision to keep or trade Anfernee Simons could go either way, as keeping their combo guard past the deadline has several pros and cons. Despite his improved and consistent play as of late, we lean towards trading Simons.
It frees up a starting spot for Scoot Henderson, but more importantly, it allows Portland to get ahead of the curve on Simons' contract. With his contract expiring at the end of the 2025-26 season, Simons is due for a significant payday. And the Blazers shouldn't be the team to give it to him, as his numbers don't entirely reflect his impact on winning.
2. Jerami Grant
The Blazers waited too long on a Jerami Grant deal and should have moved him in the offseason. They are unlikely to receive the two first-round picks that Cronin was asking for in the summer. But that doesn't mean they shouldn't try to trade him for whatever value they can find at the deadline.
Simply put, the Blazers must get off Grant's contract by almost any means necessary. As a rebuilding team, they don't want to limit their financial flexibility by paying a 30-year-old forward for years to come, as Grant has a $36.4 million player option in 2027-28.
3. Duop Reath
Duop Reath is an underutilized center that just doesn't fit into Portland's plans. He's already 28 years old, and Portland has four centers on their roster (five if you include Jabari Walker, who has been used as a small-ball center). Chauncey Billups has only played Reath 6.5 minutes per game this season.
A stretch five in today's NBA is extremely valuable. Reath is also on a minimum contract, which makes him a valuable asset under the new CBA. The fact that he's buried at the end of Portland's bench and has a market at the deadline makes it clear that Cronin should move him.
4. Robert Williams III
Another polarizing player Portland will have to decide on at the deadline is Robert Williams III. Last we heard, the Blazers "really don't want to move him unless someone blows them away with an offer," according to Highkin. There's always a possibility that a team comes around with an offer that is too good for Portland to pass up. Highkin rated Williams' chance to be traded before Feb. 6 a four out of ten.
But that should be closer to ten out of ten. The Blazers accomplished what they set out to do with Williams, proving to teams that he is healthy and boosting his trade value as a result. But if they keep him around longer, they risk Williams suffering another injury and significantly hurting his value.
It would be one thing if the Blazers wanted to win now, as Williams is an exceptional talent and one of the best defensive big men in the league when healthy. But they remain years away from being legitimate contenders and already have their long-term starting center in Donovan Clingan, who they just invested in as a top-ten pick. It seems like an unnecessary gamble for Portland to carry on with their Williams dilemma, especially since he's such a coveted asset around the league.