Portland Trail Blazers: 5 damage control big man trades
Rob Ryan
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Trade Idea #4 – Detroit
Kent Bazemore trade exception and a second-round pick to the Detroit Pistons for Jahlil Okafor.
How does this help Portland?
A cheaper, low-risk move that allows the Blazers to obtain a player in Okafor who, after having a promising rookie season, has regressed to a role player but is still relatively young and could take up some space at the backup center or PF positions.
How does this trade help Detroit?
A team outside the playoff picture saves $1.9M and gains a second-round pick while doing it.
Trade Idea #5 – Orlando
Rodney Hood, Derrick Jones Jr, Zach Collins, Anfernee Simons, and a 2022 first-round pick to the Orlando Magic for Aaron Gordon and Mo Bamba.
How does this trade help Portland?
Portland pools its assets together to add an athletic power forward in Gordon, who was rumored to have been on the team’s radar this most recent offseason. He would immediately start at power forward, again allowing Covington to move to the three. Bamba backs up Kanter, allowing Harry Giles to move to the backup four, where he seems a little more comfortable.
How does this trade help Orlando?
With Markelle Fultz out for the season, taking a gamble on Anfernee Simons could be Orlando’s answer. Portland has a good reputation for developing guards. The addition of wing players DJJ and Hood gives the Magic more depth than they previously had.
Orlando could also cut out about $16M in salary if they decide to let Hood and Collins walk after the season ends. A big trade like this might take more than one first-round pick to make it happen. But if an additional second-round pick or two is needed, Portland still makes the deal.
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Do you think these trades would be enough to keep the Portland Trail Blazers afloat in the competitive Western Conference until Nurk and CJ come back? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.