With their thrilling win over the Houston Rockets, the Portland Trail Blazers have now won six of their last seven games. Given their hot play as of late and Deni Avdija's star ascension, it's suddenly become much easier to justify their position as buyers leading up to the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
ESPN's Kevin Pelton recently suggested this, noting Portland should buy at the deadline. The direction is clear, but who or what the Blazers need isn't as obvious for a roster that hasn't been at full strength this entire season, particularly in the backcourt.
"Any question of whether Portland might look to trade away key pieces at the deadline has been extinguished by five wins in its past six games, a run that had moved the Blazers into ninth in the West. If anything, they will attempt to add, though evaluating the roster is complicated until or unless they get a look at their full backcourt," Pelton writes.
Trail Blazers could buy at the trade deadline
The 2025-26 season has not always been pretty for the Blazers, as several injuries have lingered into the new year. But to Portland's credit, they've been able to overcome that adversity relatively well.
The Blazers are still right where many expected them to be heading into the season, sitting 9th in the Western Conference with a 18-20 record. Avdija continues to carry this team, making a first-ever All-Star appearance more likely by the day.
What's also surprising is that the West isn't as deep as it was initially perceived to be. It's easy to point out flaws in every team behind Portland, suggesting that this 9th-place standing is no fluke. In fact, you can make a case that they're better than the 7th-place Phoenix Suns and 8th-place Golden State Warriors. We haven't even seen the Blazers at full strength yet, and they've already beaten Golden State three times this season!
The Blazers are trending upwards both in terms of players getting healthier and the development of their young core. Building blocks such as Deni Avdija and Donovan Clingan are simply playing too well for this team to embrace a tank, as this team continues to find ways to win with whatever combination of healthy players they throw out there.
Portland has already endured four long rebuilding seasons, and both the fans and the front office are aligned in their eagerness to return to playoff relevance. Incoming owner Tom Dundon could also indirectly influence that decision, as it would make more sense for general manager Joe Cronin to prove to Dundon that he's found a working formula that doesn't need to change (get fired).
This is not to say the Blazers should put all their chips on the table. But Portland had a unique rebuilding roster that consisted of both youth and veterans, leaving many to wonder whether they'd be buyers or sellers at the deadline. Now, they've picked a direction.
And in some ways, they weren't even the ones to have to make that decision. Deni Avdija made it for them.