A trade deadline that was among the busiest in NBA history just ended.
In certain instances, Luka Doncic, Jimmy Butler, Anthony Davis, De Aaron Fox, Zach LaVine, and other others were exchanged for one another.
However, the Portland Trail Blazers did not participate in the craze, which ended at noon on Thursday.
No big transactions were on the verge of happening, according to an NBA insider who spoke to The Oregonian/OregonLive. The youthful talent and/or draft compensation that the Blazers would have needed to finalize a deal were not offered by teams.
This season, coach Chauncey Billups and general manager Joe Cronin set out to cultivate youthful players and foster a winning mentality. The Blazers improved after a 13-28 start and have now won nine of their last ten games.
Veteran players Fernee Simons, Jerami Grant, and Deandre Ayton led the way as they accomplished this. The progress would have been halted if any of them had been traded too quickly.
This season, it was more challenging for players with large contracts to get fair compensation because of the new collective bargaining agreement.
Teams were still able to make big deals by trading players despite that. However, it became difficult to pull off first-round selections for players with high yearly wages, such Simons ($25 million), Ayton ($35 million), and Grant ($30 million).
On February 3, 2025, in Portland, Oregon, Deandre Ayton #2 and head coach Chauncey Billups embrace following the Portland Trail Blazers’ 121-119 victory over the Phoenix Suns at Moda Center. (Image courtesy of Getty Images/Soobum Im)Getty Pictures
It is one thing for a team to accept those contracts, which typically result in a higher tax bill. Another is sending the Blazers first-round selections for the privilege.
Taking back players they don’t want with similarly big contracts and only getting second-round choices didn’t make a difference in the Blazers’ eyes. And with good reason.
Furthermore, there isn’t much of a rush to complete a trade. Both Simons and Ayton have one year left on their contracts. Grant has three. In the summer, better deals can become available. Alternatively, the Blazers may enter the 2026 playoffs with the assurance that those three players will help them get back there.
or earlier. Moving forward, the Blazers (22-29) aim to guarantee a Western Conference play-in spot.
They are only 3 1/2 games out of eighth place going into Thursday.
At 7 p.m. on Thursday, the Blazers take on the Sacramento Kings (25-25), one of their rivals, at the Moda Center.
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Aaron J. Fentress | [email protected]|@AaronJFentress (Facebook), @AaronFentress (Instagram), and @AaronJFentress (Twitter)
