3 Trades to clear the Portland Trail Blazers’ big man logjam

The Portland Trail Blazers' roster is off balance yet again. They did a great job fixing their guard logjam problem by moving Malcolm Brogdon for Deni Avdija, clearing the way for increased roles and minutes for their young guards, Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe. But they have a new roster problem: having four centers after landing Donovan Clingan in the 2024 NBA Draft.

It's an excellent problem that doesn't need immediate attention. The Blazers essentially needed to move Brogdon to get under the luxury tax. And while it seems like only a matter of time before Clingan takes over the starting center position, they don't need to rush into a trade for Deandre Ayton, who is under contract until after the 2025-26 season.

Another center they should consider trading is Robert Williams III. But it's difficult to gauge his trade value this summer as teams will likely want to see him healthy and consistent on the court before investing significant trade assets into acquiring him.

Although the Blazers can afford to be patient with their center logjam, there are a few teams in dire need of a big man who could give the Blazers an offer that's too tempting to pass up.

1. Sacramento Kings get more size to help Sabonis

GM Joe Cronin has been known to receive a combination of players and picks in previous trades. In this proposed trade, the two second-round picks are in 2026 and 2029. The premise of this deal is both teams balance out their roster, with the Blazers getting much-needed shooting and the Kings getting an elite defensive center when healthy.

Admittedly, Williams is a more enticing player to have than Huerter. But he can't consistently stay on the court, having played more than 35 games in only two of his six seasons so far in his career. The Blazers get a more reliable player in Huerter, who is a solid role player to add to their rebuild as a 25-year-old guard shooting 38.2 percent from three so far in his career. The Blazers were last in the league in three-point percentage and need more floor spacing to play to Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe's strengths of attacking the paint.

The Kings did an excellent job of acquiring DeMar DeRozan in a three-team sign-and-trade deal this offseason but still find themselves a tier below the elite teams in the competitive West. Trading for an injury-prone big man like RW3 is risky, but it could be a move that puts them over the top if it works out.

If there's one knock on All-Star Domantas Sabonis' game, it's his lack of rim protection. That weakness could become magnified in a potential playoff matchup against teams like the Nuggets or Timberwolves. They need to prepare for the Western Conference playoffs, justifying a move for Williams to bolster their defensive paint presence.