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.
3. Robert Williams III
Williams is out for the season after undergoing right knee surgery. The 26-year-old has twice played more than 50 games in his first six NBA seasons and only appeared in more than 60 contests once. Injuries are an issue, but Williams can be an impactful defender and rebounder when healthy.
The 6’9 big man has two years and $25.7 million remaining on his contract after this season. Will some team look to acquire him for next year? That seems unlikely, but the Blazers may be able to use him as a salary-matcher in a larger deal. Portland wants to maximize their draft capital and young talent, so they may just look to deal him in the summer for a more significant return.
Teams will certainly want a full medical report before acquiring Williams. He has dealt with several injuries since coming to the NBA in 2018 and some organizations are likely wondering if he will ever stay healthy.
Expect general manager Joe Cronin and the Blazers front office to call around and explore Robert Williams III’s market. He was backing up Deandre Ayton this season and is not a pillar of their rebuild. That makes the 26-year-old expendable. Now it is all about the Blazers maximizing his value.
2. Malcolm Brogdon
Brogdon was in trade rumors all offseason. The Celtics finally traded him in the Jrue Holiday deal with Portland, and the trade talk about the reigning Sixth Man of the Year continues before even touched down in Rip City. The 30-year-old is playing well and mentoring the young Blazers, but Portland has zero reason to keep Brogdon beyond the trade deadline.
Multiple teams were interested in Brogdon during the offseason. The Clippers had a deal in place to acquire him before they had issues with his medicals. The 6’4 guard is averaging 17.7 points, 5.7 assists, and 4.3 rebounds in 27.1 minutes per game so far this season. He did miss five games with an injury, but is back and looks like he never missed a beat.
Any contender searching for another creator or scorer off the bench will have interest in Brogdon. He is making $22.5 million this season and is under contract for the 2024-25 campaign. It gives the team acquiring him the option to keep him for next year or trade his contract as part of a package for an upgrade in the 2024 offseason.
Malcolm Brogdon is the most likely Portland Trail Blazer to be traded before February’s deadline, but he is not the biggest name who figures to be available.
1. Jerami Grant
Grant fits on any contender because of his versatility. He was a key defender and shot-maker for the Nuggets in 2020 as they made a run to the conference finals. The 6’7 forward has since looked for opportunities to showcase his offensive game. He is averaging over 20 points per game for the third time in four years. Grant shot over 40 percent from 3-point range last season and can guard multiple options.
The Blazers signed the 29-year-old to a five-year $160 million contract this offseason. They hoped it would help convince Dame to stay in Rip City, but Portland went through with the deal even after Lillard requested a trade. The Trail Blazers have zero reasons to keep him as Grant will be past his prime by the time Portland is ready to return to the playoffs.
What can they get in return? Grant figures to draw interest from multiple contenders, and the Blazers will be looking for draft picks and young talent. These are the types of moves Portland should explore as they look to jump-start their rebuild.
Expect the Portland Trail Blazers to be active and aggressive before the Feb. 8 trade deadline. Rumors and talks will heat up as more players become eligible to be traded on Dec. 15. The Blazers have some young talent and hope to add more in the 2024 NBA Draft. They are just starting a rebuild, but Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, and Anfernee Simons are a strong core to be this early in the proceedings.