The Portland Trail Blazers won four of their first 15 games and are rebuilding after trading Damian Lillard to Milwaukee. They have a strong young core of Scoot Henderson, Anfernee Simons, and Shaedon Sharpe, but the Blazers need to give them time as they continue to add talent. Portland will make their veterans available before the trade deadline, and general manager Joe Cronin should be busy.
Trades help the Blazers on two fronts. Without their veteran talent, wins will be hard to come by, which improves draft position. Portland should be looking for draft capital in return as well. They can then use it to add young talent to their roster or in a trade to acquire an established player.
Here are five trades the Trail Blazers should already be looking at to improve their lottery odds in 2024.
5. Heat give up 1st for Brogdon
The Miami Heat are looking for another star to pair with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, but they have not been able to acquire one. Damian Lillard wanted to go to South Beach, but the Blazers had no interest in a deal. Could the two sides complete a different trade?
The reigning Sixth Man of the Year is playing well in Portland but is not part of their long-term plans. Brogdon turns 31 in December and has a lengthy injury history. The Blazers would be wise to sell now, especially if they can get a first-round pick in return.
Portland would likely waive Kyle Lowry and let him explore the buyout market. They get a 2027 first-round pick from Miami with the hope that the Heat take a step backward in a few years. Butler is 34 years old, so he could be declining by the 2027 draft.
The Portland Trail Blazers have multiple veterans worth exploring, including one they just re-signed in restricted free agency.
4. Blazers part with Thybulle
Thybulle has been demoted from the starting lineup and is averaging just 21.3 minutes per game after signing a three-year $33 million contract this summer. The 6’5 wing is one of the best defenders in the league but struggles on the offensive end. He is barely playing while the Blazers rebuild. It is time to move on and take the best available offer.
The Hawks want to get back to the playoffs and make a run in 2024, but rank 25th in defensive rating. They need to be better if they want to win in the postseason. Atlanta is second in offensive rating and can afford to sacrifice some offense for defense in their rotation.
Atlanta gives up three end-of-the-bench options and three second-round picks to land Matisse Thybulle. The Blazers gave up two second-rounders to acquire him from Philadelphia at the 2023 deadline. Thybulle is no longer on an expiring contract and is now locked in for two seasons after this one, so the price goes up slightly.
This could be a win-win trade. Having a stockpile of second-round picks allows the franchise to trade up in the draft for a player they believe in or offer multiple to land another rotation piece.
3. Blazers convince Raptors to take another swing
Most are discussing the Toronto Raptors as sellers, but there has been no evidence of that. They bought at the 2023 deadline before missing the playoffs and finishing 41-41. Fred VanVleet left in free agency, but Toronto did not tear things down. Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, and Gary Trent Jr. can all be free agents in the summer of 2024, but the Raptors still have them on their roster.
Toronto may look to buy again before the deadline. They want to make the playoffs and have plenty of talent. Siakam is a two-time All-Star and Scottie Barnes is a blossoming building block. Could they add another ball-handler and playmaker to their mix?
Do not rule this out. The Raptors are 8-8 and in the thick of the Play-In Tournament race. They may feel like adding a piece or two can push them into the top six and guarantee a playoff berth. Their offense goes sideways at times, and Brogdon’s playmaking juice may be just enough to get them going.
The Trail Blazers would be eager to acquire a first-round pick from Toronto because they could be in the middle of a rebuild quickly. This could be a valuable selection, and it is worth calling the Raptors now and gauging their interest in Malcolm Brogdon.
2. 76ers bring back Jerami Grant
The Sixers want to upgrade their roster before the deadline. They got draft capital in return for James Harden to trade it for win-now talent. Reigning MVP Joel Embiid is in his prime, and Tyrese Maxey is a budding star. Philadelphia is near the top of the standing in the Eastern Conference and could go in several different directions before the deadline.
Daryl Morey is always looking for the next star, but the 76ers have a contending roster. They could just look to add a talented role player that fits their current mix. Jerami Grant would be perfect as a 6’8 forward who can do a bit of everything on the floor.
Would the Sixers take on the long-term money? They have virtually cleared their cap sheet for the summer of 2024, but Grant just signed a five-year $160 million contract. Philadelphia would have zero cap space after re-signing Tyrese Maxey, but those three are a fantastic foundation to build a contender.
The Blazers would love to get two first-round picks for Jerami Grant, but that will be difficult. They could convince Philadelphia to part with one plus multiple second-rounders, but acquiring two likely means getting a third team involved in the transaction.
1. 3-Team blockbuster helps Blazers net 2 1sts
The Cavaliers are trying to build a contending roster. They finished fourth in the East last season before being bounced by the Knicks in the first round of the playoffs. They are questioning whether they can win when it matters most with two undersized guards and two big men. The Cavs improved their wing depth in the offseason but may need to make a trade to become true contenders.
Memphis is off to a disastrous start and may not be able to recover. They have won just three of their first 15 contests and lost Steven Adams for the season. If the Grizzlies want to get back on track when Morant returns, they must find a big man. This three-team deal could turn into a win for Portland.
Memphis would likely be willing to give up two first-round picks to get an All-Star center. If Portland is willing to give the Cavaliers a couple of seconds, they might be able to land both of them for Jerami Grant. It means taking on Adams's contract for next season, but the Blazers do not expect to be competitive and can likely flip him when healthy.
This is a bold move, but the Portland Trail Blazers have zero to lose. They are just starting a rebuild and should look to maximize their draft capital. Expect them to explore the market for Jerami Grant, Malcolm Brogdon, and Matisse Thybulle before the deadline. There will be plenty of rumors as February gets closer, so stay tuned.