The Phoenix Suns are off to a 1-4 start and may not even reach the play-in at this rate in a deeper Western Conference than last season. Phoenix's future looks bleak after new-owner syndrome got the best of Mat Ishbia, who recently even admitted the Kevin Durant blockbuster was a mistake.
The Portland Trail Blazers have different things to worry about with their new owner, Tom Dundon. He's, by his own admission, more aggressive than most owners when it comes to pulling the trigger on blockbuster trades. But fortunately, the star power Portland acquired in his first offseason was Ja Morant -- a far cheaper trade price compared to what it took for Phoenix to land Durant.
Even better, before injury, Morant appeared to be a surprisingly good fit in Portland. With the two teams now trending in opposite directions thanks to their contrasting trades by new owners, they suddenly makes sense as potential trade partners.
Blazers should target Dillon Brooks at trade deadline
We previously mentioned Scoot Henderson as a potential trade target for the Suns to solve their growing point guard frustrations. But what about Dillon Brooks as a trade target for the Blazers to solve their lack of wing depth?
Brooks is one of those players you love when he's on your team and hate when he's not. Maybe the Blazers should get on the right side of that, because they could use another two-way wing who has Brooks' mentality come playoff time.
Sidy Cissoko has been exceptional to start the season for Portland, filling some of the void left by Jerami Grant, Kris Murray, and Matisse Thybulle. But that's a lot to ask of a 22-year-old wing who is just a season removed from being a two-way signing for this team.
Plus, injuries unfortunately have already affected teams around the NBA, including Portland, with players like Morant and Shaedon Sharpe sidelined. What happens if it's a wing/forward? This team can't afford a single injury, especially given how Vit Krejci has struggled to start the season.
Dillon Brooks would give Blazers the villain mentality they’re missing
It could be beneficial to bring in Brooks, as controversial a player as he is. The Blazers need some of that polarizing, and sometimes even annoying, villain mentality on this roster.
They have that to an extent with two-way wing Toumani Camara, who gets under opponents' skin in other ways, like drawing offensive fouls. Adding another piece like Brooks could go a long way toward restoring some of the defensive identity the Blazers lost in their offseason moves.
Especially in the postseason, teams will constantly hunt for mismatches against the undersized- Morant-Lillard backcourt. The Blazers have still been able to rank top ten in defensive efficiency to start the season because they have the infrastructure in place to cover, with pieces like Donovan Clingan, Toumani Camara, and Jrue Holiday. They should monitor the situation in Phoenix to see if Brooks is someone they could bring in to keep building on that defensive foundation.
Brooks signed a three-year, $73 million contract extension through 2029-30 and currently isn't trade-eligible. But he did sign before August 11, meaning he would be eligible to be traded at the February 11 deadline.
Ishbia has held a firm trade stance on Brooks up until this point, responding on X to a trade idea involving Austin Reaves: “Don’t bother calling... Suns aren’t interested. Dillon’s not going anywhere.” But Ishbia's Suns need a brutal reality check this season after their disastrous start.
They'd be wise to at least explore the market for veterans like Brooks at the deadline if the losing continues. And if they do, the Blazers should be calling for wing depth to carry them further into the postseason.
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