The Trail Blazers are still committed to building around Damian Lillard and intend to sign Jerami Grant to a long-term deal. One report also indicated that they view Anfernee Simons as “close to untouchable.”
However, the remainder of the roster could be in play ahead of the trade deadline, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports. Starters Josh Hart and Jusuf Nurkic appear to be available — ESPN’s Zach Lowe said a couple days ago that Hart’s name “is very, very hot right now,” and Fischer hears the same.
Nurkic, 28, has been Portland’s starting center for six-plus seasons. He became trade-eligible on January 15 after re-signing with the Blazers this past offseason, inking a four-year, $70MM contract.
The Blazers are targeting players athletic players with size and 3-and-D wings, sources tell Fischer.
Here are several more trade rumors from Fischer:
- The Pelicans are interested in John Collins, but their talks with the Hawks have yet to gain much traction, sources tell Fischer. New Orleans is said to be looking for offensive upgrades and shooting, while Atlanta is searching for defensive upgrades. Money concerns may dampen the Pelicans’ pursuit of Collins, Fischer notes, as ownership has long avoided the luxury tax. Like Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report, Fischer hears Atlanta is comfortable hanging onto Collins if the team doesn’t find an offer it likes.
- Jaxson Hayes, Devonte’ Graham and Naji Marshall are among the players the Pelicans have had preliminary discussions about, sources tell Fischer, though not necessarily for Collins.
- As he has reported multiple times, Fischer continues to hear that the Bucks are shopping Grayson Allen and second-round picks in search of a “defensive-minded forward” who makes around $10MM, which is why they’ve been trying to land Jae Crowder for seemingly months now.
- The Jazz continue to actively shop Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt and Mike Conley, sources tell Fischer. Other veterans are also considered available. Marc Stein reported last week that the Clippers are interested in Conley, but a source tells Fischer that an L.A. deal for the point guard appears to be “unrealistic.”
Portland just continue to blow my mind. I would be so annoyed if I was a fan of that team.
Lillard and McCollum didn’t work out because building a team around a small backcourt is really hard. Especially when both make lots of money. So they traded away McCollum and repeated the same strategy? So weird.
I hear you but it wasn’t all bad. They got younger with Simons.
So they can stick with a small backcourt further into the future? Hardly seems like a win.
So the Blazers are looking for 3 and D size on the wings…hmm, you mean like the two guys they gave away to the Clippers last year for NOTHING! Makes sense. Smh
Add to that what they gave up for RoCo in the first place… then add Dames contract and the notion that Jermi Grant makes this team a fringe contender… a dumpster fire is kindling in Portland
I respect the heck out of Dame for wanting to stick with his initial team, but they’ve been on a downward trend for a few years now. They’ve been passed along by several other teams that have rebuilt and retooled their rosters, and they seem to be going nowhere fast.
They’ve had several solid role players throughout the last several years like Connaughton, Harkless, Aminu, Plumlee, Collins, Leonard, McCollum, Kanter, Curry, Simons, Trent Jr., Bazemore, Whiteside, Carmelo, Ariza, Gasol, Covington, Derrick Jones, Norman Powell, Josh Hart, Nurkic, Joe Ingles, Nance Jr., Winslow, Grant, Payton II, and Shaedon Sharpe…
At one point or another in the past five to six years they’ve had all these players alongside Dame, and yet they have nothing to show for it whatsoever…
That’s the problem though, instead of waiting and using assets to acquire difference makers that fit alongside Dame, they’ve either wasted money on players past their primes, or they’ve wasted assets acquiring players that just don’t mesh well with Dame.
That isn’t even including the awful job they’ve done in the draft. What do they have to show for their picks other than Dame and CJ, especially recently..?? Simons and a player they gave away in Trent Jr.?? Think about how many years and drafts that have passed since those players have been picked…
I honestly used to feel bad for Dame, but by now he’s just willingly accepted mediocrity…Not to mention he only really has a few more years where he’s going to be in his prime, if he isn’t already starting to slip from his peak days…So, he only has so much time left, and I’d really hate to see him waste his entire career never truly ever being on a team that can compete for the title…
It’s just your opinion…Dame is Dame…
Joe ingles never played or suited up for the blazers and leonard and Kanter got kicked out by the NBA.
Is Dame to the Lakers happening? It’s the only way to explain GM Lebron not pulling out all stops to acquire help. The lakers can draft and send 2023 to go along with 25 and 27 next year. I thought this would be for Beal, but now Dame makes more sense. The only catch is Russ’ matching contract leaves this year.
No they can’t. The Pelicans have the choice to use either their 2024 or 2025 first round pick. So until that choice is made the Lakers can’t trade a pick until 2027. Thus why all the trade rumors about them involving their 2027 and 2029 picks.
I recommend using realGM it tracks all this info and is really helpful.
The only thing I said that was an opinion was his reasons for staying..Everything else was a sad fact..
Staying in Portland this long has significantly stunted his growth, and as a result, he’s almost gotten lost in the shuffle.
In order for him to get any shine he has to score 40-50 points, which is just crazy for a player of his caliber. A player with his career should constantly be celebrated, and he should always be mentioned among the league’s elite, yet its almost like he’s an afterthought now, which is incredibly sad…
You can argue all you want or disagree, it really doesn’t matter; unfortunately, it is the cold hard truth..
Bucks with Middleton look at least top 3 – do they really think an out of shape Crowder has more to offer overall than 6 years younger Allen, who’s shooting 45/40/90?
Don’t forget that Serge wants to find a better situation