With the NBA trade deadline just six days away, the Portland Trail Blazers are rumored to be exploring potential moves before the window closes. Sitting six games behind the 10th seed in the Western Conference, their playoff hopes are dwindling, making it increasingly likely that they will miss the postseason for the fourth consecutive year.
While fans are eager for a return to competitive basketball, the Blazers may find that their best course of action is to embrace a long-term rebuild rather than chasing short-term success.
The Western Conference is deeper and more competitive than ever, with rising teams like the Rockets, Thunder, Grizzlies, and Timberwolves competing in the playoffs with star players just entering their prime. These teams, including the Mavericks with Luke Doncic, will compete for a championship every year for at least the next few years.
The Blazers, however, are not in the same position. Their best player, Anfernee Simons, has yet to prove he can be the No. 1 option on a playoff-caliber team. Additionally, young cornerstones Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe have not developed enough to lift Portland to contention. Given this reality, the franchise must take a hard look at its roster and consider whether trading key producers would better serve its long-term success.
Because the Blazers find themselves in this position, trading Anfernee Simons, Deandre Ayton, and/or Jerami Grant is their best option. All three players are in their prime and have proven to be productive at the NBA level, but they are not the cornerstones of the Blazers’ rebuild. Win-now teams—such as the Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, and Minnesota Timberwolves—could be willing to overpay for their services in hopes of bolstering their championship chances.
Recent developments have also made this approach more viable. Deni Avdija has emerged as a legitimate contributor, while Henderson and Sharpe continue to show flashes of potential. The Blazers should focus on building around these three, acquiring assets that will accelerate their development rather than maintaining the same core, which doesn’t align with their competitive timeline.
Although trading away Simons, Ayton, and/or Grant may be seen as extending the rebuild, this is the Blazers’ best option considering the current makeup of the Western Conference. Here are two potential moves the Trail Blazers could make before the deadline ends.
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Jalen Hood-Schifino, Jarred Vanderbilt, Two first-round picks
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Deandre Ayton and Jerami Grant
Getting rid of Ayton and Grant’s large contracts gives the Blazers more salary cap space while getting three first-round picks and two solid young players. The Lakers, desperate for immediate frontcourt reinforcements, gain two established veterans who can contribute alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Isaiah Joe, Ousmane Dieng, and a 2025 first-round pick (top-5 protected, their own)
Oklahoma City Thunder Receive: Anfernee Simons, 2026 second-round pick
The Blazers land a valuable first-round pick and two promising young players in Dieng and Joe, both of whom provide much-needed three-point shooting. Portland currently ranks 28th in the league in three-point percentage, making this an essential area of improvement. Meanwhile, the Thunder add a proven scorer in Simons to complement their young core.
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