The Portland Trail Blazers' quest for a star continues this summer, but even if they don't land that go-to option, plenty of other intriguing options are flying under the radar. Given recent developments for their respective teams, these players stand out as viable options for the Trail Blazers to target, as they all could be on the chopping block.
They all happen to be forwards, which would solve a significant need for a Portland roster that lacks depth behind Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara, especially with Matisse Thybulle's future up in the air. With Avdija and Camara's versatility and ability to play multiple positions, adding another forward into the rotation is essential to provide Chauncey Billups with more lineup flexibility, giving the Blazers' roster another dimension.
P.J. Washington, Dallas Mavericks
Dallas magically landing Cooper Flagg with just a 1.8 percent chance immediately puts P.J. Washington on the chopping block due to the positional overlap. Dallas is in the market for a backcourt upgrade, so perhaps the Trail Blazers could include Anfernee Simons in a deal to land Washington.
He's an underrated player and was a key contributor to Dallas' Finals run. Washington plays much bigger than his 6-foot-6 frame and could be a replacement for Jerami Grant. He's five years younger, more efficient, a better rebounder, and substantially cheaper with a $14.2 million expiring contract.
Tari Eason, Houston Rockets
Tari Eason is the most underrated piece of the Houston Rockets' young core, which is high praise considering how many up-and-coming players they have on their roster. He impacts winning more than his 12 points per game suggests as a versatile two-way player.
Houston is expected to be in the mix for the Giannis sweepstakes, where the Blazers could be a facilitator. Ideally, Eason isn't the headliner of the package Portland gets back if they send over all their Bucks picks. But if it's only a portion of their picks or part of a larger deal, Eason is worth targeting. He'd be a great addition to strengthen the Blazers' defense, which drastically improved towards the end of the season.
Jabari Smith Jr., Houston Rockets
Jabari Smith Jr. is a towering 6-foot-10 and already a league-average shooter who will only continue to improve at just 22 years old. He still possesses the untapped potential that made him the No. 3 overall pick back in 2022 if Smith can improve his shot creation, especially since he's had a relatively diminished role on a deep Rockets team.
But even as is, he'd be a valuable role player as a lengthy two-way forward. The Trail Blazers have too many one-dimensional scorers and need more players who can impact winning without needing the ball. Smith could fill that void while still bolstering their identity as one of the NBA's tallest rosters.
Cam Johnson, Brooklyn Nets
Cam Johnson is the exact type of knockdown shooter that the Trail Blazers should pursue, as they ranked bottom five in three-point percentage the past two seasons. An Avdija-Camara-Johnson trio would have a little of everything on the wings with defense, shooting, rebounding, and playmaking.
The only thing preventing him from being a perfect fit is that, at 29 years old, Johnson's landing spot might make more sense to be on a contender. Still, the Trail Blazers have playoff aspirations and could be looking to accelerate their rebuild after a 15-win improvement and missing out on the postseason for four consecutive seasons.
RJ Barrett, Toronto Raptors
RJ Barrett has quietly become an underrated player in the NBA, averaging 21.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game on 47/35/63 shooting splits. A former No. 3 overall pick who's yet to enter his prime at 24 years old, perhaps Barrett could be this year's Avdija in terms of the Trail Blazers buying low on a versatile wing right before his true breakout campaign.
The likelihood of Toronto moving on from Barrett increased after they traded for Brandon Ingram and inked him to a massive three-year, $140 million deal. They are also a dark horse to monitor in the Giannis sweepstakes, which would make the pathway to acquiring Barrett much easier for Portland.