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

2. Blazers make an aggresive move for Brandon Ingram

The Blazers are rumored to be positioning themselves to have another losing season, with their sights set on the 2025 NBA Draft. In that sense, a somewhat aggressive trade for Brandon Ingram doesn't match their timeline objectives. However, the draft lottery is unpredictable, as evidenced by the Atlanta Hawks landing the No. 1 overall pick this summer despite their three percent odds of doing so.

Additionally, the Blazers' roster with Ingram and without Ayton and Thybulle likely would still be at the bottom of the Western Conference, potentially pushing them ahead of only the Utah Jazz.

Portland desperately needs a go-to star on its roster. They aren't going to find another player like Ingram, who, at 26 years old, fits their timeline and comes at a relatively low price due to his expiring contract. It's risky, but the Blazers eventually need to make a splashy move to become legitimate threats in the West. Ayton and Thybulle shouldn't be considered long-term pieces of their rebuilding core, and they can quickly recoup a first-round pick in any potential trade involving Anfernee Simons or Jerami Grant.

If the Blazers land a top pick such as Cooper Flagg in the 2025 NBA Draft and re-sign Ingram, they will have a plethora of versatile, lengthy forwards between Flagg, Ingram, and Deni Avidja. Combine that with Clingan's rim protection and the athletic backcourt of Scoot and Sharpe, and the Blazers would have one of the best young cores in the league.