CJ McCollum, Portland Trail Blazers.
The NBA trade deadline is less than two weeks away. While Saturday’s minor trade was the NBA’s first in five weeks, it doesn’t mean phone lines are quiet around the league. One team that should be in the thick of any trade talks is the Portland Trail Blazers. They are in a sort of limbo. Portland is more than good enough to make the playoffs. However, their talent seems to fall short against the NBA’s top teams.
It’s a sticky situation for Blazers General Manager Neil Olshey as the March 25 deadline approaches. Does he cash in on the potential of the team’s young players and acquire vets for a long playoff run? Or should Olshey continue cultivating those young players to build a potential powerhouse in a year or two?
Everyone wants a winner. But at what cost? It’s hard to see the team get stronger now while at the same time building for the future. Portland’s fans are just as divided on this as well. It’s been close to 45 years since the Trail Blazers last won a championship. It would be great to raise another banner at the Moda Center.
Complicating matters is the Trail Blazer’s injury situation. Two of their starters, guard CJ McCollum (foot) and center Jusuf Nurkic (wrist), are out long term. It will be at least another week before either is re-evaluated and a possible return date planned. Power forward Zach Collins (ankle) is a pending restricted free agent. He won’t be back until close to the playoffs in mid-May.
This article reflects both sides of thinking when analyzing what Portland Trail Blazers should do. Like most fans, I have an inner clash between thinking of win now (Rob) and planning for the future (Robert). So here is the me vs. me of my thought process.
Damian Lillard is still playing in his prime, but that prime isn’t going to last forever. Every playoff year spent without maximizing the roster around Lillard is another year of wasting Lillard’s talents. As much as I get excited about young players, there is a time to move those pieces while their “Potential” is still high.
The Blazers move forward with a starting lineup of Dame/CJ/Robert Covington/Aldridge/Nurkic. Then Simons/GTJ/Carmelo Anthony/Tucker/Enes Kanter are the main bench reserves. That gives Dame some veterans to both balance the starting unit offensively, as well as defensively off the bench.
To a large degree, this season, LaMarcus Aldridge has been limited by health and age. It’s been noticeable stat-wise along with lackadaisical defense, but how much of that is because of him getting fewer minutes and holding himself back a bit knowing an impending trade was coming? Despite his faults, Aldridge knows the system in Portland, and he’s a player that can still be very effective offensively for the team.
You have to move contracts to match up salaries as well. Portland has to move players like Gary Trent Jr., Anfernee Simons, Collins, and Nassir Little to help facilitate trades that bring In veterans who can help RIGHT NOW. If Olshey could finagle a deal of P.J. Tucker for Collins and Little, it helps build this team into a winner. A solid veteran with postseason experience, who can play solid defense and knock down threes at a high clip, is a must-have for every team hoping for playoff success.
Lillard needs help around him to take the pressure off. Aldridge would force opposing defenses to pick their poison down low. They either defend Kanter/Nurkic or defend Aldridge. For example, if Portland meets the Lakers in the playoffs again. We’ve seen how Anthony Davis gives Nurkic fits. But what if Davis had to guard Aldridge instead? Even an older Aldridge is hard for Gasol to defend. It would become a pick your poison situation for the Lakers. Not to mention, Aldridge would be another pick and roll/pick and pop player for Lillard and CJ to utilize on offense.
Over the last few months, Portland watched some of its youth grow up right before their eyes. Gary Trent Jr, at 21, already looks like an above-average starting SG. He is capable of filling in for CJ long-term. Simons has finally shown flashes of his potential as his minutes also increase during CJ’s absence. Even Nassir Little surprises some people with his showcased improvements on the offensive end. Add in the signing of 23-year-old Derrick Jones Jr. and the eventual return of Zach Collins. This team could basically have a rebuild while still competing for a higher seed in the playoffs.
The Trail Blazers now have a starting lineup of Dame/Trent/Barnes/Siakam/Kanter. Coming off the bench are Simons/Little/Jones/Anthony/Covington/Harry Giles III, as Collins works on health/development to become the backup center and eventual starting center.
Trent’s growth puts Portland in a position to withstand the gut-punch of moving Mccollum for talent at a different position. If Portland were able to turn a package of CJ Mccollum/2022 1st round pick for someone like Pascal Siakam, that would be a perfect talent re-set of the Blazers lineup.
Another move to help consolidate and spread out talent would be to make a play for Harrison Barnes. It likely takes Portland sending Nurkic/Hood to get a deal done. Additionally, the Portland Trail Blazers have to be sold on Kanter starting until Zach Collins healed up and developed. Portland would be in a good position moving forward in the present plus in the foreseeable future.
Portland stays competitive while spreading out talent. Adding some younger core pieces and changing up some of the current dynamics of the team.
In the end, I can’t decide on which direction to go. I can only imagine what it must be like for Olshey. What do you think? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.