The Portland Trail Blazers have unexpectedly become the hottest team in the NBA, winning nine of their last ten games. Portland's most recent victory was a convincing 112-89 win over the Indiana Pacers. Their next game is scheduled against the new-look Sacramento Kings on Thursday, Feb. 6, at 7:00 PM PST, seven hours after the trade deadline.
There's a possibility that the Blazers will make a trade before the deadline, as multiple players make sense as trade candidates, given their rebuilding situation. Despite the Blazers' recent hot streak, they still should trade players that don't fit their timeline to improve their lottery odds and clear the path for their young core.
The Blazers have several veterans who are still on their roster that you could make a strong case for trading, including Anfernee Simons, Jerami Grant, Robert Williams III, Matisse Thybulle, and Deandre Ayton.
You could make a case for keeping Simons on the roster as he still fits the timeline at 25 years old and helps Portland's playmaking and shooting, two areas they rank amongst the worst in the league.
Despite their center logjam, they reportedly value Williams highly, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him remain on Rip City's roster after the deadline.
Thybulle has not seen the floor in 2024-25 after suffering an ankle sprain while recovering from a knee injury. We'll see if a team is willing to risk trading for him despite not yet returning to the court.
Ayton has been playing much better lately and has been a huge part of the Blazers' turnaround. Still, it would still be in Portland's best interest to move on from their starting center. He's their highest-paid player, and the impact on winning doesn't justify the contract, especially when Donovan Clingan and Williams remain on the roster under more reasonable contracts.
The Blazers need to trade Jerami Grant before the Feb. 6 deadline
The one player we can't justify keeping around is Grant, who is the most obvious piece for the Blazers to trade before the deadline. He's 30 years old, under a five-year, $160 million contract, and having a down year. Grant was originally signed with the intention of Portland being in a win-now mode, not knowing that Damian Lillard would request a trade just one day after.
He can still be a valuable starting piece on a contending team due to his length, versatility, and three-point shooting at the coveted wing position. But it shouldn't be for the Blazers. They are still a few years away from making a deep playoff run and need to get off Grant's contract, which doesn't expire until after the 2027-28 season (player option), to give themselves more financial flexibility in the future as a team that isn't ready to contend.
It remains to be seen whether the Blazers can find a team willing to take on Grant's massive contract before the deadline. It's much easier to take on that hefty of a contract in the summer when teams have more flexibility and can add up to 20 players to their roster.
Sean Highkin of Rose Garden Report mentions that the salary cap could also increase by 10 percent thanks to the new TV deal. Those factors, as well as Portland's unexpected hot stretch, could lead to the Blazers keeping Grant around past the deadline.
There was a lot of talk about the new CBA making trades much more difficult and the possibility of the deadline being quieter as a result. However, if the recent trades are any indication, the NBA is still as active as ever.
The Blazers may not receive a haul for Grant due to his age, declining play, and contract, but it's still possible that they trade him a contender before Feb. 6. Hopefully, that is the case for Portland's sake. At this point, they need to get off his contract and open up minutes for their young core.