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Evaluating the first 23 games of the Portland Trail Blazers’ season hasn’t been easy. Not only has the roster been decimated by injury, it’s likely still reeling from the revelation and fallout from the turmoil surrounding Head Coach Chauncey Billups that landed mere hours after opening night.
Still, five weeks into the season, the Blazers sit 9-14, good enough for the Western Conference Play-In. They have a legitimate All Star contender in Deni Avdija. We’ve also seen growth from Shaedon Sharpe and Donovan Clingan, a re-invigorated Jerami Grant and a series of intriguing moments from a list of role players.
General Manager Joe Cronin currently has a collection of contracts and picks he can dangle in a bid to improve the roster before the February 5 NBA Trade Deadline. With the unofficial start to trade season on December 15 — when most offseason deals become tradeable — those discussions might be occurring sooner than we think.
But the Blazers aren’t getting anything of value without parting with something they like in return.
We should probably rule out a few names first. Despite what I wrote a couple of weeks back about Avdija, the Blazers will not be moving the star. You can probably add Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen to that list. Sharpe and Toumani Camara are also unlikely to be dealt given the Poison Pill issues attached to their recent extensions. The “poison pill provision” applies when a team extends a player’s rookie scale contract, then trades him before the extension officially takes effect.
So who else is there?
Robert Williams III
Age: 28
Contract: Expiring $13.3 million
25-26 Stats: 15 games, 15.3 minutes, 5.6 points, 66.7% FG, 5.5 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.7 steals, 1.4 blocks
Optimal return: A late first round pick and a player that doesn’t compromise the books.
Touch wood, but this might be the season the veteran finds some consistency with his body. At 28, bigs are typically hitting their prime. Unfortunately, whatever prime Williams will have, it’s in his rear-view mirror. But, when healthy, the guy is still one of the smartest rim protectors, rebounders and finishers in the league.
If he’s able to maintain some semblance of fitness, he’s going to be of value to a contender and with that team-friendly deal, potential suitors won’t be lacking. Keeping him past the deadline could mean the franchise has hopes of extending him at a decent number before he hits unrestricted free agency. Letting him walk for nothing would be disappointing but not a horrendous end to his injury-plagued Portland tenure.
Jerami Grant
Age: 31
Contract: Three years, 102.7 million (player option on final year)
25-26 Stats: 22 games, 29.6 minutes, 19.4 points, 40.3% 3pt, 44.5% FG, 3.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.6 blocks
Optimal return: A good first round pick, a rotation player and short-term salary.
I’ve already done my victory lap on Grant’s return to form. He’s gone from a largely negative deal before opening night to someone who can bring the Blazers back a positive return. Ultimately, Grant has been the Blazers third-best scorer while serving as a key part of the roster’s defensive identity.
The former Syracuse product is also one of two Blazers who can serve as salary ballast in any deal bringing back a bigger earner. The fact that he’s productive gives the trading team the option to keep him or move him on for more assets.
Jrue Holiday
Age: 35
Contract: Three years, $104.4 million (player option on final year)
25-26 Stats: 12 games, 33.4 minutes, 16.7 points, 36.5% 3pt, 44.6% FG, 5.3 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 1.6 steals
Optimal return: A good first round pick, a promising young player and short-term salary.
Holiday is the other big contract the Blazers can use to bring back a bigger deal but he won’t be of any use to the Blazers unless he’s fit to play. Let’s hope his return is imminent.
While his current deal will take him just short of his 38th birthday, his value is still positive if the rumors are to be believed. The Toronto Raptors had reported interest in the veteran two-way guard before the Blazers landed him, offering the Boston Celtics the lottery pick that became Collin Murray-Boyles and RJ Barrett. Given his early-season play in Portland, there’s nothing to suggest the value hasn’t decreased.
Scoot Henderson
Age: 21
Contract: Two years, $24.3 million (extension eligible in 2026)
25-26 Stats: Yet to play.
Optimal return: A first round picks and a promising young player.
This is where things get a little tricky. With the apparent barriers that prospective restricted free agents are facing, many may opt to lock themselves in on decent money to avoid the stress of the market. Here’s the thing, Henderson is yet to prove he deserves big money. Sure, he’s shown glimpses but with him yet to take the court this season, deciding on an appropriate sum won’t be easy.
If he returns and shows continued growth, then giving him a Shaedon Sharpe-type deal at four years, $90 million could work, but I’d be a little more reluctant if I were the Blazers.
The positive part about moving him now is that the former number three overall pick might still have some expectation around the league. I know many won’t like this take but the critical part of me wonders whether moving him now might be a way for the Blazers to sell high. Again, I could be completely off.
Honorable mention: Matisse Thybulle, Kris Murray
Conclusion
Depending on how the Blazers go when the injury list starts to shorten will no doubt dictate how aggressive they are in February. They’re going to have to make a call on Williams and, to a lesser extent, Thybulle who both hit the open market next summer.
But if a trade arises where they’re taking on a biggish deal, then one of Grant or Holiday have to be included, although the former probably goes first given the lack of depth in the Blazers backcourt.
Finally, there’s Henderson. Many won’t like the thought of parting with the lottery pick but in order to bring back prime value, the Blazers might have to do something they haven’t done in ages and part with an asset before it gets too late.