The Portland Trail Blazers have a clear hole in their roster that has only widened after Vit Krejci's injury. They lacked wing depth even with Krejci, but with Portland's reserve now sidelined with a lower-left-leg fracture, it's imperative that general manager Joe Cronin make a move.
If there's one team I'm using my phone call on to fix Portland's wing problem, it's the Los Angeles Clippers.
The good news is the Blazers have plenty of roster flexibility to address the issue before February's trade deadline. Portland is $16.9 million below the first apron and still has a final spot on its 15-man roster open after waiving Jeremy Sochan before the season. That makes them an ideal trade partner for the Clippers, a team that should be open to moving wings like Derrick Jones Jr., Max Strus, and Rui Hachimura.
Struggling Clippers have just the wings Blazers need
Los Angeles is off to a horrid 1-7, which is even worse given how bleak their future looks after the NBA's punishment for the Kawhi Leonard situation. Portland can afford to sacrifice a future draft pick for one or even two of these wings, taking a win-now approach after their 6-1 start.
Hachimura or Strus would be instant replacements as far as shooting goes, or at least what Cronin envisioned Krejci to be when they acquired him from the Atlanta Hawks at last year's deadline. Jason Quick of The Athletic pointed out that Krejci has been dealing with injuries that have affected his shot, and the statistics support that since he arrived in Portland.
From a reliable floor-spacing standpoint, Hachimura or Strus could even be an offensive upgrade for Portland off the bench. Hachimura is quietly one of the league's most efficient three-point shooters, eclipsing 40 percent in his last three seasons with the Lakers. That's why we highlighted him as an offseason target for Portland, but with the two teams trending in opposite directions to start the season, now would be a great time to re-explore Hachimura as an option.
Why Derrick Jones Jr. may be Portland's best option
But between the three Clippers wings, it actually might make the most sense to bring in Jones. He has the length and athleticism Cronin covets, and he'd be a better overall replacement given how many wings the Blazers have lost beyond just Krejci. Jones would not only replace Krejci but also some traits lost from guys like Kris Murray, Jerami Grant, and Matisse Thybulle.
The shooting isn't as ideal a fit, but Jones' two-way game is a better match for the roster and identity Cronin has established. Plus, he's on an expiring $10.5 million contract. That's the cheapest contract of the three, and the expiring deal should also make the Clippers more open to parting ways given their lost season.
Ultimately, it comes down to how much Los Angeles values each player, but whether it's Strus, Jones, or Hachimura, this is a roster in need of a rebuild that has veteran wings who should be viewed as expendable. That's the ideal situation Portland needs to solve a problem that has only gotten worse without Krejci.
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