The Portland Trail Blazers were viewed as buyers heading into February's trade deadline of the 2025-26 season. They were right in the play-in picture and could've benefited from a push to get them over the top to end their playoff drought. While that ultimately happened with Portland sneaking into the seventh seed, it wasn't because of any bold trade GM Joe Cronin made at the deadline.
If anything, it was due to Tiago Splitter having a finally healthy Blazers roster peaking at the perfect time. That feat by Splitter was all the more impressive considering their move on the margins, adding sharpshooter Vit Krejci from the Atlanta Hawks at the deadline, never panned out.
Blazers' Vit Krejci trade hasn't panned out yet
It was a low-risk deal as Portland only packaged two future second-round picks and fourth-string center Duop Reath. Krejci's fit in a Blazers offense that desperately needed his floor spacing was never in question either.
But for whatever reason, that shooting never followed Krejci to the Pacific Northwest. He hovered around 40 percent from beyond the arc for three consecutive seasons in Atlanta, only to finish the season shooting 30.3 percent from deep in those 19 games played with the Blazers?
It's not the largest sample size compared to the shooting prowess Krejci displayed during his time with the Hawks. Hopefully, he settles into his change of environment and goes back to being the knockdown shooter the Blazers invested in to help address their fatal roster flaw.
If he's able to regain form, there's quietly a path towards Krejci getting legitimate minutes and carving out a rotation in a deep but lopsided Blazers roster.
Vit Krejci could still carve out a valuable role in Portland
Perhaps they bring in more wings on non-guaranteed deals to compete for a final roster spot in training camp. But right now, the Blazers have failed to replace Jerami Grant, Kris Murray, and Matisse Thybulle on the wings. They have become a team full of point guards and centers, ignoring modern NBA logic in a league where two-way wings are as valuable as ever.
Hidden gem Sidy Cissoko got his two-way contract converted to a standard one just last season, and could be relied on as another key contributor in 2026. Still, that's not much depth, or offensive production, behind Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara. That's where hopefully Krejci comes in to give Portland 20+ minutes a night.
It's reasonable to expect him to go back to his elite shooting ways. With how much getting downhill will be happening between Avdji and Ja Morant now running the show, Krejci has suddenly become an important role player following the Blazers' offseason moves. He could be the X-Factor in filling unaddressed roster holes in shooting and wing depth.
Cronin still has time to be proven right on the trade despite the concerning finish to Krejci's 2025-26 season. Hopefully that comes to fruition as the Blazers are running out of options on the wing.
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