The Portland Trail Blazers missed out on the Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster, but GM Joe Cronin's quest to add more star power continues. NBA insider Jake Fischer previously reported that should Portland miss out on Antetokounmpo, they could pivot to targeting Anthony Davis.
"Portland, to our understanding, as they have been floating around and poking around in Giannis trade conversations, we've been told that they would look to pivot to Anthony Davis on the trade market," Fischer said. "They obviously have Jaylen Brown interest as well."
Blazers could pivot to Anthony Davis after missing out on Giannis Antetokounmpo
Jaylen Brown is another interesting target for Portland, which should be monitoring any potential fallout after Boston dangled its 2024 Finals MVP in a failed attempt to acquire Antetokounmpo.
It remains to be seen whether the Celtics or Wizards are ready to make their respective stars available (for a non-Giannis package in Boston's case). However, Davis would likely be the more realistic and attainable trade target for Portland.
For one, Fischer also reported that Davis and his camp are seeking a max extension. Given his durability concerns and questionable fit with the Wizards' rebuilding timeline, it makes sense for them to proactively get ahead of that extension by securing future assets. Now that Portland has officially missed out on Antetokounmpo, it sounds like they're already waiting in line for Davis.
"We've been told that Portland will be waiting there, with open arms, potentially, to trade for Anthony Davis in that event [that he becomes available]," Fischer said.
Should Portland pursue Anthony Davis?
There are certainly more pros and cons for the Blazers to weigh with the injury-prone big man, which is why Davis was always a backup plan. He's not a perfect fit by any means, especially for a roster where shooting is considered the top offseason priority.
Still, Davis fits well with the two-timeline approach that has surprisingly emerged in Portland. Cronin doesn't want to sacrifice Portland's future for an all-in move, and Davis would be relatively cheap to acquire compared to other stars around the league.
Adding him would bolster their defensive identity, especially since Davis positional versatility allows him to play the five in situations where Donovan Clingan's drop coverage gets exposed.
It's a polarizing trade target that will likely divide the Blazers fanbase. But ultimately, it could be a low-risk move that gives Damian Lillard a puncher's chance at his first ring while Portland continues to prioritize the future.
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