NBA insider Jake Fischer recently noted that Harrison Barnes and Keldon Johnson are on the trade block for the San Antonio Spurs, with Devin Vassell being available as well.
"Just like they went out and flipped some guys for Kelly Olynyk, they are very willing to move off of Harrison Barnes, Keldon Johnson, and I believe they're also open to moving Devin Vassell as well," said Fischer.
The Portland Trail Blazers should pounce on this latest report, as they could desperately use the shooting Vassell provides.
Devin Vassell would be a perfect fit Portland's young core
Last season with the Spurs, Vassell averaged 16.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.3 steals per game on 44/37/79 shooting splits. He's hovered around 37 percent from beyond the arc on 5.5 attempts per game so far in his five-year NBA career.
The fact that Vassell is 24 years old is a perfect fit for the Blazers' timeline, which was largely defined by their trades for Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara. His reliable floor spacing isn't just an addition to Portland's core -- it would also help unlock the rest of it.
With Anfernee Simons and Deandre Ayton now out of the picture, Portland's offense will heavily rely on the likes of Avdija, Scoot Henderson, and Shaedon Sharpe -- all of whom are at their best when utilizing their athleticism to get downhill and attack the paint. Vassell would help open up those lanes for Portland's offensive initiators; that would do wonders for these three players in particular, potentially even resulting in breakout campaigns for Henderson and Sharpe and an All-Star appearance for Avdija.
The Blazers ranked fifth worst in three-point percentage (34.2) in 2024-25 and just lost arguably their best shooter, downgrading in that department from Simons to Jrue Holiday. Portland wants to make the playoffs this upcoming season and is committed to making that a reality through its defensive-minded identity. But their ceiling as a team is only as high as their offense, as it's going to be incredibly difficult for Portland to compete with the juggernauts out West if they are losing the three-point battle by a wide margin (on top of their lack of star power).
The Blazers failed to address this glaring issue in the draft, and their free agency options are limited as the dust continues to settle. At this point in the offseason, their best bet could be making a trade for someone like Vassell.
Although Vassell's contract -- owed roughly $27 million annually over the next three years -- is worrisome for a Blazers team that wants to keep their books open, general manager Joe Cronin just took on Holiday's three-year, $104 million deal because he felt like it was the right fit. Given Vassell's age, relatively cheap cost to acquire, and the Blazers' dire need for shooting, you could make a case that Vassell is even a better fit than Holiday.