The Portland Trail Blazers are one of the most intriguing teams in the league right now. They got off to a red-hot start this season, and it seems like they are primed to be a legitimate playoff contender. But do they have the juice to win a championship? Do they have enough talent to make a deep playoff run? Maybe they could get it. What about a trade for Franz Wagner?
So far this year, the Orlando Magic have been wholly disappointing. They are 2-5 and look uninspiring. Again. For what feels like the millionth consecutive season, they’re dealing with major injuries. Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs are missing significant time. Perhaps it’s time for them to reset again. Trading Wagner to the Blazers would help them do that.
Meanwhile, Portland would form a core of Damian Lillard, Ja Morant, Deni Avdija, Donovan Clingan, and Wagner. What a starting lineup that would be.
Blazers should consider a Franz Wagner trade
Wagner is a great player, and he’s having a solid start to the year. He can defend, he can handle the ball, he can drive, he can playmaker, and he can create for himself.
Though his three-point shot isn’t incredible, he seems like a guy who could slot in amongst the rest of Portland’s starting group pretty well, should the Blazers decide to pursue a trade.
This season, Wagner is averaging 20.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 7.6 assists while shooting 41.9% from the field but just 20.0% from deep on 5.0 three-point attempts per contest.
Luckily, the Blazers have good three-point shooters to make up for Wagner’s lack of floor spacing. Lillard is elite from range. Morant has shot well this year. So has Avdija. Then, there’s Jrue Holiday and Toumani Camar off the bench.
Perhaps Holiday would be thrown into a potential Wagner trade. But if the Magic want to get younger, what if the Blazers offered up Shaedon Sharpe, Scoot Henderson, and draft picks? Could they build a good enough package to get a deal done?
The Magic would have to commit to a rebuild. That doesn’t seem super likely right now, but realistically speaking, it might be what’s best for them in the long run.
As for Portland, adding an All-Star like Wagner to the mix would only strengthen the team’s depth. It would give them another great playmaker, scorer, and creator.
And maybe, just maybe, it would be enough to help them truly compete with the best in the West come playoff time.
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