Overall, Portland Trail Blazers GM Joe Cronin has patiently navigated their rebuild, but it's finally time for them to be aggressive as sellers. Making a deal before the Feb. 6 trade deadline is crucial for the Blazers' long-term outlook. At 8-15, Portland has the seventh-worst record in the association. Ideally, they would like to finish the season closer to the bottom to increase their odds of landing a top pick in 2025.
As currently constructed, their roster is too talented to do so, mainly due to veterans like Jerami Grant and, to a lesser extent, Deandre Ayton and Anfernee Simons still sticking around. It's also essential to offload the massive salaries of players like Grant (owed $29.8 million this season) and Ayton ($34 million), as the new CBA's tax apron adds a layer of complexity to get a deal done.
Ayton's contract expires after 2025-26, but the longer they keep Grant around, the harder it will be to move him as he ages and his annual salary increases ($36.4 million player option in 2027-28). When pursuing a deal, the rebuilding Blazers should prioritize draft capital. It's their best shot at landing a home run, the face of the franchise-type player that they currently lack.
That said, some players are rumored to be potential trade candidates that would fit in nicely with the Blazers' rebuild, both from an age and roster need standpoint. There are also a few they should avoid entirely.
Note: The first three grades are players Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report listed asPortland's top trade targets.
Jonathan Kuminga, F, Golden State Warriors
Grade: A+
The Warriors are 13-8 and could be looking to align their timeline closer to their aging superstars, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, in hopes of making yet another deep playoff run. Jonathan Kuminga is 22 and is still years away from entering his prime, which fits better with a rebuilding team like Portland, which can give the Warriors more established players better equipped to win now.
Kuminga's 31.4 percent shooting from three isn't an ideal fit for the Blazers, but his All-Star upside more than makes up for that. Of course, this depends on Golden State's asking price, which may be skyrocketing after Kuminga's recent stretch, most recently a 33-point performance against the Rockets.
Ousmane Dieng, F, Oklahoma City Thunder
Ousmane Dieng is a former lottery pick with plenty of untapped potential at 21. If there's one team whose prospects you should take a flier on, it's the Thunder. Dieng would fit in well with Portland's identity, given his length, as he is 6'10" with a 7'0" wingspan. He would give the Blazers another versatile defender who can be impactful both on the ball and as a help defender.
But on the other hand, the Blazers already have too many players who are negative shooters and lack playmaking. Dieng is more of a wash as a trade candidate for Portland—they should be open to trade talks but shouldn't aggressively go out of their way to pursue him.
Grade: C
Josh Green, G/F, Charlotte Hornets
Portland has a deep roster, but their wing depth remains an area of weakness. Trading for Josh Green could help them in that aspect. He would be an upgrade to Kris Murray and also has the ability to spell Shaedon Sharpe as a shooting guard. While he's not a needle mover, Grant is 24, an incredible athlete, and shooting 45.5 percent from deep.
Grade: C+
Note: The following players were mentioned astop trade candidates by Hoops Hype's Michael Scotto (Kuminga and Dieng were also included).
Brandon Ingram, F, New Orleans Pelicans
Brandon Ingram is the most difficult to grade among all the players on the list. The case for trading for Ingram is that he's by far the closest thing Portland would have to a go-to franchise player. He would fit in seamlessly with Portland's core due to his length and the fact that he's just entering his prime.
Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer recently covered Ingram's trade market, saying, "The current options are slim. So there's an expectation among league sources familiar with the situation that Ingram and his new agent representation at Klutch Sports will be open to pursuing a short-term payday starting next season."
Fischer also referenced Fred VanVleet, who signed the massive three-year, $128 million deal with Houston. Regarding trade assets, it won't cost Portland a lot to acquire Ingram, which makes him an intriguing option. But are they truly ready to accelerate their rebuild like the Rockets by trading for Ingram? The answer could depend on the Blazers' confidence in their young core.
Grade: B-
Zach LaVine, G, Chicago Bulls
Another player who is drawing little interest in the league is Zach LaVine. On the surface, he's a 20-plus point scorer, but the tax aprons make it so teams have to be much more selective with who they go all-in, and in that sense, LaVine is the exact type of player to avoid. He's a great player but also injury-prone and doesn't impact winning at a high enough level outside of scoring to be considered a star with which you can win playoff games as your primary or secondary option.
Not to mention, the Blazers also already have their high-flying guard in Sharpe.
Shaedon Sharpe’s 2nd quarter alley oop last night had a recorded vert of 45.1” 🤯
That's the highest recorded vert since tracking became available last seasonpic.twitter.com/uQCJsqKJ7e
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) December 7, 2024
Grade: F
Cameron Johnson, F, Brooklyn Nets
Cameron Johnson is having a great season as one of the focal pieces of the rebuilding Nets, averaging 18.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game on 48/43/90 shooting splits. He's one of the best three-point shooters in the league and would instantly elevate that weakness for Portland.
The only reasons to hesitate are that Johnson is 28 and on the books for $65.5 million through the 2026-27 season. Is he worth that price as someone who wouldn't make a difference in terms of the Blazers' playoff hopes, and would he still be in his prime by the time the Blazers' core finally enters its prime? He could still be worth taking a flier on, as shooting is typically the last thing to go for a player.
Grade: B
Lonzo Ball, G, Chicago Bulls
Lonzo Ball still isn't back to his pre-injury form, but he would be an ideal buy-low candidate for the Blazers, as the Bulls are very open to moving him. He's an elite role player and "glue guy" guard who can help the Blazers in key aspects with his playmaking, shooting, and defense.
Ball isn't elite at one particular trait, but isn't going to hurt you, either. The Blazers need help in several categories, as evidenced by their 8-14 record. They need more team-first players like Ball, who plays a winning style of basketball.
Grade: B+
Bruce Brown, G/F, Toronto Raptors
Bruce Brown has already proven that he can be a key contributor on a championship team in his 2023 run with the Denver Nuggets. He's a Swiss Army Knife type player and would help bolster the Blazers' bench. But at the same time, his lack of three-point shooting (32.3 percent this season) and age (28) tempers excitement as a trade target.
Portland and Toronto are in very similar situations in their rebuilding timeline. The same reasons the Raptors are open to moving him are the same reasons why he isn't a perfect match for the Blazers.
Grade: B-
Jarace Walker, F, Indiana Pacers
Despite being a former top-ten pick, Jarace Walker has yet to receive many opportunities in Indiana, as he's had plenty of competition for minutes between Pascal Siakam and Obi Toppin. He's a prime trade candidate for Portland to pursue as a potential replacement for Grant.
The Blazers' calling card of their young core is size and defense, and Walker would help them double down on that strength. He's also shooting the three-ball well (37 percent this season) and can provide the Blazers with a valuable two-way role player with plenty of room to grow.
Grade: A
The grades can also be broken down into tiers. Here's an overview of the trade targets, categorized by grade and their corresponding tiers:
A: Ideal fit for Portland's rebuild, given age, positional needs, and upside.
Player(s): Jonathan Kuminga, Jarace Walker
B: Address roster weaknesses, just don't perfectly fit into the rebuilding timeline.
Player(s): Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Cameron Johnson, Bruce Brown
C: Decent fits, but the Blazers have depth, and these players won't move the needle.
Player(s): Josh Green, Ousmane Dieng
F: No, thank you.
Player(s): Zach LaVine