Troubling trend looms for Blazers as they navigate the trade deadline

With less than three weeks to go until the NBA's Feb. 6 trade deadline, there is plenty of trade chatter surrounding several teams. Now halfway into the 2024-25 season, teams have a large enough sample size to get a realistic sense of where they stack up against the rest of the league and whether they want to be buyers, sellers, or stay put at the deadline.

Entering the second year of their rebuild without superstar Damian Lillard and currently 13th in the Western Conference with a 13-27 record, it's apparent that Portland sits on the sellers' side of the spectrum.

However, recent trades that have already been made may be a troubling sign as they look to move off of some of the highest-paid players on their roster. ESPN's Bobby Marks noted that none of the deals so far have included a player with an annual salary over $20 million.

Recent trades could spell trouble for Blazers moving their highest-paid players

The Blazers have three players who are owed over $20 million this season, all of which happen to be trade candidates: Deandre Ayton ($34 million), Jerami Grant ($29.8 million), and Anfernee Simons ($25.9 million).

There's been plenty of discussion about the new CBA's impact on trades, and it's been apparent in the moves made so far. The larger contracts will be much less challenging to move in the summer when teams have more financial flexibility and can have more than 15 players on their roster.

Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report mentioned this as a reason why he believes an Ayton trade is much more likely to happen in the offseason. He also noted that between Portland's two highest-paid players, Grant is more likely to be moved before Feb. 6.

"If there's a player the Blazers have that will be worth the effort on both sides to put together that kind of multiple-players-for-one deal, it will be Grant," wrote Highkin.

Another thing to note besides the relatively small contracts being dealt with is the value of second-round picks. Not a single one of these trades has involved a first-round pick.

Perhaps these are "calm before the storm" type trades, and more significant draft capital will be included in trades closer to the deadline. Still, the new CBA could mean this trend is here to stay as teams value second-round picks more due to their newfound financial limitations.

Regardless, one thing is sure: the market is entirely different from the offseason when Blazers GM Joe Cronin asked for two first-round picks for Grant.