Many Portland Trail Blazers fans are eager to see their team make a splash this summer, landing a co-star to pair with Deni Avdija. However, seeing as though they aren't just one piece away from true contention, it could be in Portland's best interest to take a step back in the short term.
The perception of new owner Tom Dundon is that he has a bit of new-owner syndrome, wanting to make an immediate blockbuster. While Dundon is, by his own admission, more aggresive than most owners, those risks during his time with the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes appear to be calculated.
Portland won't make an all-in move just for the sake of it. The clearest indication of the multiple directions they could take the roster came from Dundon's introductory press conference:
"I’m probably more aggressive than most," Dundon said. "If it doesn’t exist, then you’ve got to go about finding the pieces to continue to get better, and then decide if you can do good enough to win a championship or you have to take a step back. Joe and I have talked about this a lot. There’s no one way this is going to go for sure. If we get a star, we have a chance to win. If we can’t find a star, then we’ve got to add some pieces and hope some things develop. And if that doesn’t work, then we’ve got to try again with a new plan, and I think there’s equal chances for all those things to happen.”
Blazers must continue prioritizing the future
The Blazers seemed aligned, as it's similar to how GM Joe Cronin has approached this rebuild up until this point. Cronin has gradually built this roster from the ground up, prioritizing the future. He's also proven not afraid to make a bold trade if the opportunity presents itself and the value is right, as evidenced by the Deni Avdija and Jrue Holiday deals. Both trades were initially criticized, but, in retrospect, great value for Portland.
A blockbuster trade is certainly on the table this summer, with Portland already expressing interest in acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, that also depends on convincing Giannis to commit long-term to Portland. Even with Giannis in the picture, there are serious questions regarding whether the Blazers have enough to come out of a stacked Western Conference that will only be deeper next season.
If there's already a level of uncertainty with a top-five player in the world in Giannis, any other realistic star trade targets won't be enough to get them over the hump. That's why it could be in the Blazers' interest to take an all-or-nothing approach this summer. The last thing they want to do is sacrifice future assets for a secondary star, especially if it's an expensive and injury-prone one like Anthony Davis.
The Blazers' future is incredibly bright with a young core that has yet to reach its collective prime and valuable Bucks draft picks that have yet to be conveyed. Despite Dundon's arrival and Lillard's return, it could be in the team's best interest to continue playing the long game to raise their ceiling.
While they should at least explore pathways to stardom this summer, it wouldn't be surprising if Portland concludes it's not worth sacrificing that promising future.
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