The Portland Trail Blazers are the worst shooting team in the league from a three-point efficiency standpoint. They desperately need to address this glaring roster problem by the Feb. 5 trade deadline. One potential trade target who makes perfect sense for Portland to pursue is Boston Celtics sharpshooter Sam Hauser.
The Virginia product has proven to be one of the most reliable floor spacers. He's a career 41.7% shooter from three-point land on a high volume of 5.1 attempts in just 19.1 minutes per game. Offensively, Hauser has proven to be a perfect fit under head coach Joe Mazzulla. The Celtics attempt the second most threes in the association (42.4), with only Steve Kerr's Golden State Warriors launching more (44.5).
Surprisingly, Portland's shooting woes haven't stopped them from trying to be a three-point shooting team; they rank fourth at 41.7 attempts per game. Something's gotta give.
The Blazers either need to change their playstyle to fit their current roster or change their roster to fit their playstyle. Given the analytical importance of the three-ball in the modern NBA, we lean towards the latter.
That's why someone like Hauser would be the perfect addition at the deadline.
Blazers should trade for Sam Hauser to make a playoff push
Portland has the best record in January and suddenly finds itself right in the playoff picture at 23-22, especially after the unfortunate ACL injury suffered by Golden State's Jimmy Butler. Now that they have a legitimate All-Star in Deni Avdija, these recent developments should only be further confirmation that Portland needs to upgrade its roster by the deadline.
While some may be eager for them to make an aggressive splash to improve their chances at a deep playoff run, the Blazers are in a prime position in their rebuild and don't need to force the issue unless the right fit and deal come along. A more practical move could be targeting a role player like Hauser. Although it's a seemingly minor addition, that drastic an upgrade in the shooting department alone could be the thing that determines whether the Blazers successfully end an active four-year playoff drought.
For what it's worth, a Sam Hauser-Robert Williams III swap works financially. Boston has reportedly been interested in frontcourt upgrades at the deadline, and a Time Lord reunion has been mentioned as a possibility. Draft capital may have to be included given Williams' injury history, but this framework could be a good starting point in negotiations.
Both Portland and Boston can address their most significant roster weaknesses relatively cheaply. Given how they're trending upward, Portland could be just a Sam Hauser away from the postseason. And while the 3-point heavy Celtics may be reluctant to part ways with their sharpshooter, it's a deal worth exploring for both sides.