The Portland Trail Blazers may have to pivot their search for star power, as it's unlikely they can get a long-term commitment from Giannis Antetokounmpo. While they've been linked to Anthony Davis as a potential backup plan, the ideal trade target is actually Trey Murphy III.
The New Orleans Pelicans forward is arguably the best fit on the market, given his age, floor spacing, and two-way impact. He would be a seamless addition as a co-star for Deni Avdija.
Blazers should pay full price for a perfect fit in Trey Murphy III
Of course, that would come at a premium compared to more short-term solutions such as Davis or even Kevin Durant. The Pelicans maintained a high asking price for Murphy at February's deadline, intended to deter teams.
However, general manager Joe Cronin has a proven track record of including future draft capital to land a more established player who fits the timeline of their young core. That was the case in the Avdija deal with the Wizards, and it's possible Murphy is the next move up Cronin's sleeve. At least, it should be.
Cronin has been consistent in his approach, remaining open to adding a star but prioritizing the long-term outlook. At the exit interview, he added that he wouldn't sacrifice the future for an all-in move. But with Murphy at 25, this would be a move that adds to Portland's youth rather than sacrifices it. The exact type of addition to straddle their two-timeline approach, giving them a chance to win with Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday's closing windows while continuing to grow with their youth.
Landing Giannis would be one thing, as it increases the Blazers' chances of genuinely contending. A short-term rental of a lower-tier star like Davis or Durant (at this point in his career) may not raise their ceiling enough, not to mention the contract and injury concerns.
Blazers are ready to go star hunting this summer
With Tom Dundon's arrival, the Blazers could finally pull the trigger on a star as soon as this summer. Portland's front office was surprisingly quiet at the trade deadline, despite expectations that it would be a buyer to make a playoff push. It turned out for the best, as they ended their postseason drought without having to sacrifice any assets in the process. That said, Dundon did mention the Blazers had an offer lined up at the deadline that would've made a major splash, and if given the opportunity again, he'd look to be more aggressive.
Everything is aligning for the Blazers to at least pursue the trade market for a star this summer, well beyond Giannis.
The easiest path to acquire said star would be to facilitate a Giannis trade to a more preferred landing spot, such as the New York Knicks. But Giannis's preference to stay in the Eastern Conference complicates Portland's plans to facilitate a deal, as just about every contender in that conference has flawed stars who aren't a perfect match. Evan Mobley, Karl-Anthony Towns, and even Jaylen Brown don't quite move the needle enough and aren't perfect fits either, given their respective lack of shooting, defense, or timeline fit.
Murphy is the one star potentially available this summer who checks all the boxes of what Portland should be looking for. Now it's a matter of logistics: what acquiring him would ultimately look like. Could they further expand a Giannis blockbuster that's expected to happen before the draft? The Blazers also have stockpiled assets throughout this rebuild and have more than enough to land Murphy directly.
The exact path to a trade remains to be seen, but it's great that Portland has put itself in a flexible position this summer. Now it's a matter of pulling the trigger on the perfect star to add to their young core that only continues to get better.
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