It was only a matter of time before the scorching hot Portland Trail Blazers came back to earth. Despite the Minnesota Timberwolves being down several key players, including Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle, the Blazers lost 114-98.
Before that loss to Minnesota, Portland won 10 of their last 11 games, including a six-game winning streak entering the Feb. 6 trade deadline. Portland has undeniably been playing better, leaving fans divided on the best path forward for the roster this season.
Despite the Blazers' hot stretch, it would still be surprising if they made the play in-game. The likelihood that that was even a possibility was blown out of proportion due to recency bias. There is plenty of season left, and the Blazers still have to pass the San Antonio Spurs, Sacramento Kings, and Golden State Warriors -- two of which just added another star to join their existing superstar talent -- to make it to the ten seed.
Not only that but if the Blazers miraculously continue this run and make the playoffs, they surrender their first-round pick to the Chicago Bulls, as it is lottery-protected.
Portland inadvertently accelerated its rebuild by keeping veterans around on its roster for too long. And now that they are playing better than expected, they are too far gone, as GM Joe Cronin doesn't want to break up the group.
In a press conference, Cronin recently said that it wouldn't be fair to worsen the roster at the deadline. "I think it would be unfair to take it away from them. For me, I'm so proud and so excited about these guys that the sky is the limit. Go, guys, go win; let's see what you can do, and I'm here to support it."
If the season ended today, the Blazers would have a 4.5 percent chance of landing the No. 1 overall pick. Those slim odds are horrible for a rebuilding team that lacks a superstar talent and was supposed to be bad by design to land a top pick this summer.
It would be one thing if it were the Blazers' young core starting and solely contributing to these wins. But Portland is trying this unnecessary two-time approach with veterans still on their roster, and we know how well that went for the Golden State Warriors.
Keeping Jerami Grant around is stalling Portland’s rebuild
If you don't fully commit to a rebuild or playoff run, you fall behind in both categories to teams with a clearer sense of direction. By keeping players like Jerami Grant on their roster, the Blazers have doomed themselves to be stuck in no man's land.
In their loss to Minnesota, Grant finished with 14 points, two rebounds, one assist, and four turnovers while shooting 5-of-15 from the field and 0-of-6 from deep. He was unnecessarily forcing drives, oftentimes getting stuck, which resulted in a turnover or having to throw up a low-percentage shot.
Grant's poor performance was one of many reasons why the Blazers fell to the shorthanded Timberwolves. If they moved Grant at the deadline and relied more on their young core, the Blazers would know one way or another what they have.
If they lose because of their young core, they likely land a better pick they can add to it. If they win because of their young core, they know they are good enough to move forward with this as the foundation.
When Portland loses because of its veterans like Grant, it defeats the purpose of the rebuild and contributes to a lack of direction.