3 Questions Trail Blazers must answer by 2025 trade deadline
By Reese Kunz
The Portland Trail Blazers are a team to watch leading up to training camp. Portland could still move Anfernee Simons, Jerami Grant, or another established player. But they achieved their main offseason goals, adding Donovan Clingan and Deni Avdija to their rebuilding roster while getting under the luxury tax.
While GM Joe Cronin should listen to offers for other players, they don't need to make another move if they don't receive good value in return. Cronin has shown patience in negotiations, and many of these trade talks could play out into the season. However, there are still a few questions the Blazers must answer before February's trade deadline.
1. Is Deandre Ayton a part of the Blazers' future core?
Deandre Ayton's contract expires at the end of the 2025-26 season. He's on the books for $35.6 million next season and is the highest-paid player on the Blazers' roster for the next two years. Technically, the Blazers could wait until the 2026 trade deadline before deciding whether or not to keep one of their best players.
Keeping Ayton around at the beginning of the upcoming season makes sense if they can't find the correct trade value for their big man. However, it could be difficult because of his contract and the fact that many NBA teams already have an established starting center on their team.
Additionally, incoming rookie Donovan Clingan could benefit from not starting immediately in the NBA, as he only averaged 22.6 minutes per game his sophomore season at UConn and needs time to improve his conditioning to get consistent NBA starter-level minutes.
But the Blazers shouldn't wait too long to decide on Ayton. If they choose to keep him, Portland can focus on moving Robert Williams III or Duop Reath. Four centers are on their roster, and at least one needs to be moved eventually. Waiting until the deadline can allow them to assess what they have in Clingan and boost Williams' trade value if he can prove he's healthy and consistently able to stay on the court.
Then, the Blazers can decide what to do with Ayton based on those factors, how he plays in his second season in Portland, and his trade value around the league at that point.