Plotting the dream offseason for the Portland Trail Blazers
By Will Eudy
Find a wing or big in the draft
In order to supplant Ayton's production, the Trail Blazers will have to do their due diligence when the draft rolls around in June. Deandre has been Portland's starter at center all season long, and while he has not necessarily been the best influence, his production will still be missed if and when the team opts to trade him elsewhere.
If they are not able to acquire an immediate answer for Ayton's lost value via trade, the Blazers will be turning to the draft to help them find an answer. One school of thought says that they would simply look for a standout prospect at center to directly replace Ayton.
But they could also opt to pursue a wing player, especially if a wing is the best player available when their name flashes across the screen at the draft. In this case, they would likely look to fill the center spot with either a player currently on the roster, or they would hope to find a suitable replacement in free agency.
Some of the best wing and center prospects that could be in the Blazers' range in this upcoming draft are Cody Williams, Ron Holland, and Kyle Filipowski. Any one of these guys would be likely to be an excellent fit in Portland.