The NBA’s unofficial trade season is here, with most players being eligible for deals as of this week.
As a result, the rumor mill will become increasingly crowded between now and the Feb. 6 deadline. And one of the first players to hit the news cycle was Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant.
Prediction: Trail Blazers Trade Jerami Grant
The Milwaukee Bucks are apparently going “big-game hunting.” And as it was reported, Milwaukee’s buck hunt has the scope focused on Grant.
So far this season, Grant has looked much improved. He’s reemerged as a 20-points-per-game scorer, he’s filling a key role off the bench while starting as necessary, and he looks every bit the veteran leader a young, scrappy Portland team needs.
Of course, all of that means Grant also looks the part of a mid-season addition any contender would be willing to pay for.
Whether Grant’s improvements are organic or a result of showcasing, the 31-year-old looks good, and his value should be higher than it was a year ago. Because of that, the Blazers have a rising trade asset in their war chest. And the time to sell might be now, whether to Milwaukee or to another contender competing in earnest.
Prediction: Trail Blazers Trade Robert Williams III
Grant isn’t the only Trail Blazer having a bounce-back year. Robert Williams III is winning over Rip City.
Having already played in 16 games compared to 20 a year ago (and just 26 over the past two seasons combined), Time Lord is making plays on both ends that remind me of his days with the Boston Celtics. And at just 28 years old, he should have plenty of good basketball ahead of him.
Of course, the question with the center is never about what he does on the court; it’s about whether or not he can stay on the court.
For that reason, his trade value won’t ever be as high as it once was. But the Blazers may also feel his showing this season has boosted it back to the best it’ll ever be.
Prediction: Trail Blazers Will NOT Trade For a Star
So far, we’re predicting the Blazers will deal two of their top, most realistic trade assets. That means they’re bringing back a star in return, right?
In the words of the legendary Lee Corso: Not so fast, my friend.
The biggest name on the market this season is Giannis Antetokounmpo. Portland, possessing multiple first-round picks from Milwaukee as part of the 2023 Damian Lillard trade, should at least give the Bucks a call. And then, assuming Giannis lands elsewhere, the Trail Blazers can still test the waters on someone like Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen—another star who will likely be shopped before the deadline.
In the end, though, it seems Joe Cronin has this team moving in a direction he likes. Just as importantly, the fans in Portland seem to appreciate it, too.
If the Blazers look a piece away by the Feb. 6 deadline, maybe Cronin gets an itch to win now. However, the more likely scenario (especially after watching the Blazers come back to Earth after Tiago Splitter’s 4-1 start) sees them committing to the youth movement during a year when they’re not supposed to compete for a title anyway.
To swing a star deal, the Blazers would need to include those valuable Bucks picks and/or young assets. I’m not sure they’re ready to move on from Scoot Henderson. I’m not sure they’re willing to move on from Shaedon Sharpe, either. And I’m not sure anyone would be wise to trade Deni Avdija, considering his Most Improved Player campaign is taking place on maybe the most team-friendly contract in the NBA.
If the Blazers do end up flipping Grant and Williams, expect it to be for young assets and/or draft capital—not as salary-matchers in a deal for a true star.
Big-game hunting is always tempting. But the Blazers will likely leave that to the Bucks and others this time around.
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