2. The Blazers are already in line for a top draft pick
Unlike the last few seasons, it's pointless for Portland to trade away established veterans and come up with mysterious injuries to lose more games at the end of the year and increase draft lottery odds.
As of Jan. 26, the Trail Blazers have the fifth-worst record in the NBA at 13-31, and there's no evidence to show that the team will go on some sort of run and win eight out of 10 games to launch themselves from the fifth-best lottery odds to eighth. It's clear that Portland is already one of the league's lousiest teams.
And the 2024 draft class is underwhelming anyway, to say the least. There's no Victor Wembanyama or even Brandon Miller or Henderson. The highest-rated prospects will likely be in the eye of the beholder. Landing the No. 5 pick rather than the first pick won't be drastically disappointing like it might be in other years.
The Blazers are already bad. They don't have to rush to get any worse.