The Portland Trail Blazers haven’t been able to do much this offseason with the current roster given all the long-term deals on the team.
However, the team has made marginal moves in hopes of improving the squad. The team drafted Donovan Clingan with the No. 7 overall pick and traded for Deni Avdija in exchange for Malcolm Brogdon and the No. 14 pick.
Bleacher Report writer Andy Bailey graded every team’s offseason and gave the Blazers a “B” for their moves.
It’s a bit curious for a rebuilding team to give up draft capital in a trade. But Deni Avdija is only 23 years old, has a positionless game that makes him an easy fit anywhere and is near the same developmental timelines as Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe. The Portland Trail Blazers using a pair of first-round picks to land him is probably fine.
The more interesting move might’ve been the drafting of Donovan Clingan, who plays the same position as Deandre Ayton. Getting him the on-court reps he likely needs early might require the Blazers to explore Ayton’s trade market.
If the Blazers did trade Ayton or Jerami Grant for decent packages between now and the start of the season, their grade might go up even more.
Portland’s offseason may not be done as the team has reason to make more moves, but if the Trail Blazers stay as-is going into training camp, they have moved the needle in the right direction.
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