4 Portland Trail Blazers that could be traded this season
By Tyler Watts
The Portland Trail Blazers snapped their eight-game losing streak, but have won just four of their first 15 contests to open the 2023-24 season. They knew it would be a long campaign after Damian Lillard requested a trade in the offseason. Portland is in the early stages of a rebuild and watching their former talent have success elsewhere.
The Blazers are not focused on this season. They need to develop Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, Anfernee Simons, and their other young talents. Portland should also be determining who is a long-term piece for their franchise. Is Deandre Ayton their center? What other young talents are standing out?
The Blazers have a ton of crucial decisions to make over the next four years if they want to return to title contention. They start before trade deadline, and these four players could have new addresses after Feb. 8.
4. Matisse Thybulle
Thybulle signed a three-year $33 million offer sheet with the Mavericks as a restricted free agent this summer that the Blazers matched. They knew Lillard would not be returning, but the franchise did not want to lose Thybulle.
He began the year as the starter but was demoted to the bench after nine games. He has twice made second-team All-Defense but is averaging just 21.3 minutes per game on the rebuilding Blazers. The 26-year-old is producing the best numbers of his career, including shooting 40 percent from 3-point range on limited attempts, but his minutes are inconsistent.
The Blazers should look to trade Matisse Thybulle before the deadline for draft capital and young talent. It will be at least three years before Portland is back in the playoff mix. Thybulle will be over 30 and his limited offensive game will always make it challenging to find him significant minutes. The Portland Trail Blazers should take the best offer available before the deadline.