The Portland Trail Blazers' front office is open to the idea of acquiring a star this summer, but has also made it clear they aren't going to sacrifice their future. In other words, Portland needs to pursue a star who is a relatively cheap, short-term solution to align with the closing windows of Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday.
While they've been linked to Anthony Davis, it's actually Kevin Durant who makes the most sense for Portland.
Sam Quinn of CBS Sports even recently proposed a deal on X that would see Durant land in the Pacific Northwest at a reasonable price, benefiting both sides.
Here is the deal in full:
"It's a very 'new owner' sort of move. It's also a good basketball fit, at least," Quinn added.
Tom Dundon's arrival makes Portland a very interesting team to keep an eye on this summer. He's somehow already developed a reputation as a cheap owner, but the one aspect that won't be a problem is his willingness to spend on players. That goes a long way in acquiring a superstar like Durant, who is on the books for $43.9 million next season with a $46 million player option in 2027-28. That's significantly cheaper than Davis, who is owed roughly $60 million over the next two years.
Kevin Durant is the missing piece in Blazers' inconsistent offense
Perhaps most importantly, it's the ideal fit for a Blazers offense that desperately needs an upgrade in shooting and shot creation. Grant was actually one of the lone options to address that this season, but Durant would be an immediate offensive upgrade. Even at 37 years old, he's the exact type of piece this Blazers offense is missing.
They don't necessarily need to rely on him to generate offense, as Deni Avdija took major strides in his All-Star season, emerging as their go-to option. But when Avdija does get downhill, he essentially has no reliable options to kick the ball out to, making it very easy to gameplan against.
Adding Durant would give Portland a much higher ceiling without sacrificing its entire future, fitting the exact criteria for the move Joe Cronin is looking for.
His time in Phoenix and, more recently, in Houston hasn't gone according to plan, raising serious concerns about his locker-room presence. However, the Blazers are well-equipped to address those potential problems, given they have two veteran stars in Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday.
For Portland, the more significant reason to hesitate on pulling the trigger is the ceiling after acquiring a Durant well past his prime. The Rockets' young core got drastically exposed in their first-round playoff exit to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Blazers have similar questions surrounding their young core, as the majority of them didn't show up in their series loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
That said, Portland has a much better blend of youth and veterans than Houston. They could find a way to land Durant while still maintaining their depth.
Additionally, Sharpe's surprising playoff disappearance makes him more expendable despite his star ceiling. At his exit interview, Sharpe made it clear that he was fully healthy, making it more puzzling as to why he largely fell out of Tiago Splitter's rotation.
The Blazers should absolutely try to get off Grant's contract this summer. And due to recent developments, the assets of Sharpe and a 2028 first-round pick via an up-and-coming Orlando Magic team don't seem quite as appealing as they once were.
This trade certainly comes with risk, given Durant's looming retirement and Sharpe's high ceiling. But it does accomplish exactly what the Blazers seem to be pursuing this summer: a deal that gives Lillard a chance at his first ring without significantly sacrificing their long-term outlook.
Grade: B
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