Portland Trail Blazers GM Joe Cronin still needs to find another wing, someone capable of filling in for Toumani Camara and Deni Avdija.
He's previously said the Blazers' thin wing group is a sign of his confidence in the players he does have. Sidy Cissoko has proven that to be the case, stepping up off the bench far better than anyone expected and looking like he took a significant leap from last season alone.
That said, the Blazers' wing depth could still use help, especially after Vit Krejci's ankle fracture.
Vit Krecji out at least eight weeks after ankle surgery
Thursday, Krejci underwent surgery and will now be reevaluated in eight weeks. Not the season-ending injury some initially feared, at least, but still an extensive one.
Joining Krejci on Portland's injury report are Ja Morant, Shaedon Sharpe, and Chris Youngblood. Youngblood appears to be the most short-term injury of the three, with a foot bone bruise, though he remains out for Friday's matchup against the Sacramento Kings.
Youngblood was a serviceable option off the bench for head coach Micah Nori. Still, Nori having to rely on a two-way player this early in the season is telling about Portland's lack of wing depth. Injuries have compounded the issue, and it's time for Cronin to make a move before things get worse.
Blazers should trade for another wing as injuries expose lack of depth
The Los Angeles Clippers make sense as a potential trade partner to solve the issue. They could use a young, high-upside guard like Scoot Henderson or Shaedon Sharpe to help raise their ceiling after much of their future was lost in the Kawhi Leonard scandal. Meanwhile, the Clippers have a trio of wings -- Rui Hachimura, Derrick Jones Jr., Max Strus -- all of whom would fit with the Blazers for different reasons.
Even if it's not the Clippers specifically, this roster flaw needs to be addressed after all the injuries have unfortunately started to pile up. Cronin has put this rebuild in a good position to solve that problem with the number of assets they still have, even if it means sacrificing someone like Henderson or Sharpe -- the ones we thought would be the building blocks at the start of it.
With the star backcourt trio of Morant, Damian Lillard, and Jrue Holiday fitting better than expected thanks to their experience and shared goal of winning a championship, you have to think that makes Henderson and/or Sharpe more expendable. Cronin sees Henderson's struggles after Nori demoted him from the starting role. He also sees how well his team is meshing without Sharpe in the picture.
Turning that into a 3-and-D type wing off the bench makes sense as a more seamless fit with the roster that's currently working. And with the injuries already piling up just a month into the season, there needs to be a sense of urgency on the Blazers' end to address the problem.
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