Portland Trail Blazers' Fire Sale: One Perfect Trade For Each Vet
By Fran Leiva,
2 days ago
The Trail Blazers are deep into their rebuilding phase, with Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe set to lead the charge into the future. They just added Donovan Clingan in the draft, another big piece for their young core. But with guys like Jerami Grant, Robert Williams III, and even Anfernee Simons, who’s entering his prime, still on the roster, there’s plenty of trade value to be unlocked. The Blazers can move these players and rack up future draft picks and young talent to push their rebuild even faster.
Lakers Add Jerami Grant To Strengthen Their Title Chances
The Lakers making a move for Jerami Grant is a win-now decision . Grant averaged 21.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists over 54 games in the 2023-24 season. His shooting was impressive, hitting 40.2% from three and 45.1% from the field, which fits perfectly next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Grant’s ability to create his own shot and guard multiple positions makes him an ideal third option for the Lakers as they gear up for another title push.
On the other side, the Trail Blazers continue to embrace their youth movement by offloading Grant’s contract and gaining valuable pieces. Rui Hachimura, who averaged 13.6 points and 4.3 rebounds while shooting a stellar 53.7% from the field and 42.2% from three, provides them with a versatile forward to complement their young core. At 26, Rui still has plenty of room to grow alongside Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, giving the Blazers a strong forward who can contribute immediately.
The addition of Gabe Vincent brings playoff experience and solid defense to the Blazers, while Jalen Hood-Schifino adds even more young talent to the backcourt. Both players have the potential to develop into key rotation pieces. Vincent, fresh off a playoff run with Miami, is a capable floor general, while Hood-Schifino can be molded into a reliable guard.
Perhaps the most valuable asset is the 2029 first-round pick. With the Lakers possibly entering a rebuild by then, this pick could turn into a premium asset, giving the Blazers more ammunition for their long-term rebuild. By trading Grant, the Blazers stay true to their rebuilding path, accumulating assets that can help them for years to come.
This trade sets up both teams for their respective goals: the Lakers make a serious push for the title, while the Blazers continue building a promising future.
Pelicans Fill Their Center Void By Landing Robert Williams III
Credit&colon Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Blazers receive: Daniel Theis, Javonte Green, 2028 first-round pick
Pelicans receive: Robert Williams III
This trade addresses the Pelicans’ most glaring issue: the need for a reliable center. With Jonas Valanciunas out and no solid replacement on the roster, the Pelicans have been scrambling to fill the gap in the middle. They are reportedly looking to try out some unconventional lineups, including playing Herb Jones as a small-ball center, but this approach isn't a sustainable long-term solution, especially with their aspirations to make a deeper playoff run. Robert Williams III is the perfect answer. When healthy, Williams is an elite rim protector, averaging 6.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks over limited action in 2023-24 due to injuries. His defensive ability will help solidify New Orleans' backcourt.
For the Blazers, this deal makes sense as they continue to embrace their rebuild. Williams’ recurring injury issues — specifically the knee problems that have plagued him throughout his career — mean that it’s time to move on and give Donovan Clingan more room to develop. The addition of Daniel Theis provides veteran leadership and solid defensive capabilities, while Javonte Green brings energy off the bench. The 2028 first-round pick is the key piece here, as it adds more future assets to an already promising rebuilding project.
By adding Williams, the Pelicans aim to address their biggest need and give Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram the support they need defensively to compete in a stacked Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Blazers get future assets and more flexibility to grow their young core.
Anfernee Simons has been at the center of trade talks throughout the offseason . Coming off a season where he averaged 22.6 points, 5.5 assists, and 3.6 rebounds, he’s in high demand. The Blazers are focused on building around their young backcourt stars, Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, making Simons’ role less secure.
Simons is in his prime, and at 25 years old, he’s looking for a team ready to compete. With his ability to score from anywhere on the court and his experience, teams have shown interest in adding him to push their offenses to the next level. The Magic, looking for an offensive upgrade, have been heavily rumored as a great fit for Simons.
In this deal, the Blazers get multiple young assets and draft picks that can be vital for their ongoing rebuild. Cole Anthony, a guard who averaged 13.0 points and 4.8 assists, can take on a key role alongside their young stars. Jett Howard and Caleb Houstan, both with significant upside, give them more pieces for their future. Plus, two 2025 first-round picks provide even more flexibility as they look to build a competitive roster.
While Simons' future has been in question due to the overlap with other guards, there’s no doubt that he remains one of the hottest trade targets. This move would benefit both sides, giving the Blazers the long-term assets they need, while Simons finds a team ready to make some noise.
Kings Boost Perimeter Defense By Acquiring Matisse Thybulle
Credit&colon Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Kings receive: Matisse Thybulle
Blazers receive: Kevin Huerter, 2026 second-round pick, 2027 second-round pick
The Kings’ biggest weakness last season was defense, especially on the perimeter . They struggled to contain top scorers and didn’t have a reliable defender on the wing. With the West loaded with elite wings, Sacramento needed a stopper, and Matisse Thybulle is the perfect fit. Thybulle’s ability to guard multiple positions and disrupt passing lanes makes him a huge asset. His 1.7 steals per game and All-Defensive team reputation give the Kings a much-needed defensive presence as they look to contend again.
Offensively, Thybulle isn’t going to light up the scoreboard—he only averaged 5.4 points per game—but he makes up for it with his energy and versatility. The Kings already have enough scoring power with De’Aaron Fox, DeMar DeRozan, and Domantas Sabonis leading the charge, so adding Thybulle allows them to focus on defense, where they struggled the most. With Thybulle on the wing, Sacramento can throw him at the league’s top scorers, something they lacked last season.
For the Blazers, bringing in Kevin Huerter adds some firepower, but it also gives him a fresh start. Huerter’s 2023-24 season wasn’t his best, averaging 10.2 points, but much of that can be attributed to a shoulder injury that required surgery. Before that, he was a key player for the Kings, known for his three-point shooting. Huerter hit 36.1% from deep, and if he’s healthy, he could become a reliable option for Portland as they continue their rebuild.
Portland also benefits from grabbing two second-round picks, which are always valuable assets in a rebuild. While the Blazers are focused on developing their young core with Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, these picks give them flexibility to add more talent or package them for a future move. It’s a win-win deal: the Kings shore up their defense, while the Blazers continue to accumulate assets and shooting.
A Completely Revamped Blazers Team
Blazers trade: Jerami Grant (to Lakers), Robert Williams III (to Pelicans), Anfernee Simons (to Magic), Matisse Thybulle (to Kings)
Blazers receive: Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Jalen Hood-Schifino (from Lakers), Daniel Theis, Javonte Green, 2028 first-round pick (from Pelicans), Cole Anthony, Jett Howard, Caleb Houstan, two 2025 first-round picks (from Magic), Kevin Huerter, 2026 and 2027 second-round picks (from Kings)
In this scenario, the Blazers would go all-in on their rebuild, trading away their veterans for young players and future assets. This mock trade frenzy brings in a mix of solid young talent and draft picks that would allow them to continue building around their budding stars Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe.
With Cole Anthony adding scoring punch and Hood-Schifino bringing upside, they’d have a solid backcourt rotation. Hachimura’s versatility at forward would give them a dynamic piece to experiment with. Jett Howard and Caleb Houstan, meanwhile, bring size and shooting, important traits for developing a modern NBA team.
On top of that, with three first-round picks in 2025, the Blazers would be set to snag more talent in future drafts, adding to their already promising core. Clingan, the team’s latest draft pick, would have a clear path to major minutes as their new defensive anchor.
It’s a long-term play, but this rebuild could give them all the pieces to become a contender down the road. Of course, this scenario is purely speculative, but it shows what a full fire sale could look like for the Blazers if they chose to blow it all up.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Local News
Comments / 0