With the NBA trade season officially underway, talk about what the Portland Trail Blazers might do is beginning to ramp up. Earlier today, Yahoo Sports reported that the Blazers were one of a few teams interested in Golden State forward Jonathan Kuminga. More rumors and names are bound to be floating amongst the NBA media this month.
For Portland, it’s difficult to tell what their midseason roster goals might be. They have approximately $30 million in expiring contracts between Robert Williams III, Matisse Thybulle, Duop Reath, and Rayan Rupert. They also have long term contracts in vets Jerami Grant and Jrue Holiday that average $35 million each for the next couple years.
With the disastrous health situation the Blazers have experienced in their backcourt this season, it hasn’t stopped them from being in Play-In territory. That is primarily due to Deni Avdija’s All-Star level breakout season. Shaedon Sharpe has been his sidekick for much of the season, and while his play has improved after a disappointing start, his game is still lacking in several key areas.
It’s no secret the team needs to add three point shooting to go around the bullish Avdija. The Blazers are also in need of a proven (and dependable) secondary playmaker who can ease the burden on Avdija. If the Blazers are looking to be buyers in the trade market, perhaps they should look at adding another prominent Beard to Portland.
You don’t mean? Really? Why?
Yes, that James Harden. One of the greatest offensive players of all-time. This is where I expect to lose the dyed-in-the-wool Harden Haters. For those of you in that camp, I get it. I’ve long been a resident as well. However, the 36-year-old Harden has quietly been having a career renaissance over the past two seasons. Those in Portland just witnessed him a few weeks ago, drop 34 points and 6 dimes on 10-17 shooting (59%) and 11-12 from the charity stripe (92%) in a shellacking on the Blazers,119-103.
For the season, Harden is outpacing several of his career averages, and where he has declined, it hasn’t been by much. The journeyman superstar is currently averaging 25.7 points, 8.0 assists, 4.8 rebounds, with a TS of 61% (36% 3PT), and a net rating of +6.4. He’s 4th in the league in getting to the free throw line (Deni is 2nd). Another thing to admire is his availability. He’s played 72 and 79 games the past two seasons, respectively. He’s also played in all 32 games this year. For a team in dire need of a steady and reliable hand in its backcourt, somehow Harden has turned back the clock.
He’s admitted to taking better care of his body the past few years, and the results are very apparent given his durability accompanied by playing at an elite level. For years Harden was criticized for being lazy, a bad teammate, a coach killer, a ball hog, and you can find some truth in each of those accusations. Fortunately, it appears he has matured and has been ballin’ his backside off. With all of the baggage that has written a long-term narrative about Harden, he has quietly been changing the story while playing in the country’s 2nd largest market.
His contract is very tolerable. He makes a little over $39 million this season, and he has a $42 million player option for 2026-27. As mentioned above, Harden is among the greatest all around offensive players to ever play the game. He’s still going strong, and if there was a time to add a great fit next to Avdija, this could be it.
What about the Clippers?
However, do the Clippers want to move him? They’ve been married to a broken Kawhi Leonard paired with various Superfriends for 5 years, and that experiment seems to have run its course. The Clippers are 13-22 so far, and fluctuate daily between 11th and 13th in the Western Conference. The depth they once enjoyed has aged or injured out.
They don’t control their own first round pick until 2029, and currently only have TWO upcoming picks. A 2026 heavily protected second rounder from Memphis, plus they have OKC’s 2027 first (highly likely to be 25th or lower given the strength of the Thunder). Did I mention they are also the oldest team in the league?
Aside from having an owner in Steve Ballmer who will spend big-time money, and the league’s newest arena, the Clippers are a franchise in need of a reset to factory settings.
For Portland, Harden gives the Blazers a second killer next to Deni, who is poised and ready to start winning now. Harden has the ability to veto any trade, but if memory recalls correctly, Harden listed Portland as a preferred destination when he was actively being shopped out of Houston. He’s currently having to sled uphill with Los Angeles. Next to Deni Avdija and several quality defenders, Harden could comfortably be himself, and it could be lethal enough to supercharge Portland towards contention.
What kind of trade package would it take?
At the least, the Clippers should be seeking a good first round pick AND a young prospect. The Blazers have Orlando’s unprotected 2028 first round pick, acquired in the draft day trade for Yang Hansen. Any unprotected pick is going to be favorable in trade talks. For young players, Scoot Henderson hasn’t shown he’s the superstar prospect he was heralded to be, but that doesn’t mean he’s lost all his shine. Could a Scoot Henderson reclamation project, along with the Orlando first, be the core pieces to build a package around? After that, the Blazers could attach Willams, Thybulle, and Rupert to close the salary gap. More second round picks could be added as well. If the Clippers insisted on Sharpe instead of Scoot, it becomes a different conversation, but still one worth having.
To round out the roster, the Blazers could then convert Caleb Love and Cidy Sissoko into standard contracts for the remainder of the season.
Acquiring Harden would be the biggest trade Portland has made since it traded for Scottie Pippen in 1999. Portland has a thing about acquiring stars past their prime, yet Harden has staved off father time, and I assume is yearning for a championship run before he retires. If Harden’s offense can have “the Pippen Effect”, we could see magic happen rather quickly, just as it did around the turn of the century.
Fans have been clamoring for ages for the Blazers to take a real shot in making a big roster changing trade. This would be a medium high cost with high reward potential.
Next season, a guard corps of Damian Lillard, James Harden, Jrue Holiday, Shaedon Sharpe, Blake Wesley, and Caleb Love could be red hot n’ rollin’ paired with Avdija, Clingan, and Camara.
Should the Blazers pursue James Harden? Let us know.