Miami and Boston are the two landing spots currently most appealing to Giannis Antetokounmpo, NBA insider Marc Stein recently reported on The Stein Line. That's a significant league-wide development, but particularly for the Portland Trail Blazers, given their unique leverage in the Giannis sweepstakes.
We recently discussed the possibility of Portland facilitating a multi-team trade that would see Giannis wearing Celtics green and coming away with Jaylen Brown. Stein adds that Giannis prefers to remain in the Eastern Conference, and it's easier to see where Portland fits into the picture if he goes to a team like Boston. They could more straightforwardly give Milwaukee back its draft picks and get a star of their own in the process, solving major problems for all teams involved.
Where do Blazers fit into the picture if Giannis goes to the Heat?
It's not as clear-cut where Portland fits into the picture if Giannis is the next superstar headed to the Miami Heat. After all, Blazers GM Joe Cronin ultimately sent Damian Lillard to the Bucks rather than to his preferred landing spot, the Heat, because he didn't value the Heat's assets as highly.
That bet against Milwaukee is aging like fine wine with a Giannis trade seemingly more likely than ever to materialize this summer. The Bucks would like to decide on their superstar's future before the June 23rd NBA Draft, which is perfect timing for the Blazers.
For one, it gives Portland the chance to somehow explore avenues to buy into the draft, as they currently find themselves without a pick after making the postseason. But perhaps more importantly, it allows them to pursue trades to potentially replace veterans like Robert Williams III or Matisse Thybulle, who are eligible for extension up until June 30.
Cronin may still not value that "Heat package" as much, and rightfully so. We're seeing Tyler Herro's value decline year over year as the league shifts away from these offensive-minded, score-first guards. However, one Heat player that the Blazers should target is Kel'el Ware.
Kel'el Ware could be the missing piece in Portland's frontcourt
Cronin tends to trade for young players over picks, and Ware could be the next up-and-coming player added to Portland's core. He's just 22 years old, coming off a promising second season, averaging 11.1 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game on 53/40/74 shooting splits.
The rim protection would be valuable to spell Clingan, but Ware's floor spacing ability even gives him the ability to play alongside Clingan for stretches. Double-big lineups are making a surprising comeback in the modern NBA, and Portland's frontcourt currently lacks the versatility to have that as an option.
Ware's positional versatility would also be valuable for Portland as they need insurance on their Yang Hansen selection. There's a real risk of Williams walking in free agency, as his market value has increased following a relatively healthy and impactful season. Despite the consecutive first-round investments at the position, this leaves Portland's frontcourt depth incredibly vulnerable.
Ware checks every box from a positional, roster, and timeline fit standpoint. He's only going to keep getting better and would be a great piece to grow alongside the rest of the Blazers' core. That would be the final missing piece in their frontcourt, allowing for the Blazers to finally turn all their attention to adding more two-way wings and solve their backcourt uncertainty.
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