Portland Trail Blazers: Who is really untouchable?
Chris Phillips
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There are only a handful of untouchable players on the entire Portland Trail Blazers roster when you get down to it.
Every NBA general manager searches for the best return on investment in all their moves. Whether it’s a trade, a draft pick, or a free agent signing, execs want to hit a home run. Portland Trail Blazers GM Neil Olshey has already hit two home runs with Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. Two All-Star guards that came from small colleges (Weber State and Lehigh).
So, with all this in mind, who are the Blazers’ untouchables? First, let me put this note in, any player is available for the right price. Some players are more expensive than others in terms of trade value. For example, look at the recent James Harden to the Nets mega-deal.
Dame and CJ could be traded if a team comes calling with a “can’t refuse” offer. That is most likely not going to happen, and everyone knows it. Let’s go a bit deeper. The names that follow are the Portland Trail Blazers untouchables.
The other untouchables
Robert Covington
Robert Covington is a very tradeable piece. A premier 3-and-D wing who can guard positions shooting guard, small forward, power forward, and center. While also being a reliable offensive weapon, unlike Derrick Jones Jr. So, why is untouchable when many teams desire this kind of player.
He’s untouchable because of what the Blazers gave up to acquire him from the Rockets. If Olshey makes a deal for Covington, the return needs to be no less than what Olshey gave up acquiring RoCo. I don’t think many teams are willing to make this kind of offer.
Enes Kanter/Harry Giles III /Zach Collins
I’m lumping these three players together because all their deals are up after 2021. Enes Kanter, Harry Giles III, and Zach Collins all play the same positions, center, or power forward. The Blazers will need to keep at least one for the future since they don’t have a first round pick in 2021. Or they’ll need to spend money in free agency to acquire a player of this type.
This gets them into a bidding war with other teams. Either that or the Blazers have to make a trade, which means giving up something of value. Pick a dart and throw it at any of these names to see who is untouchable and who isn’t.
Jusuf Nurkic
The big man on the team. Right now, Jusuf Nurkic barely makes the cut in this area. Before his wrist fracture, fans were hopeful that he’s rounding into form after his gruesome leg injury. Now, he’ll be out for two months. Who’s more brittle, Nurkic or Collins?
But now, with this injury and the “handle with care” label probably attached to Nurkic, he’ll be hard to trade. That’s because the return for him won’t be nearly as high as when he’s healthy and performing. Sell high, buy low.
Do you agree with this Portland Trail Blazers untouchables list? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.