4. Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers were very active ahead of the 2022 NBA trade deadline. They had one goal in mind; clearing as much cap space as possible. They blew up the core of the roster, trading away CJ McCollum and Larry Nance Jr. to the New Orleans Pelicans. Before that, they sent Norman Powell and Robert Covington to the LA Clippers.

Portland now has some extra draft capital and ample cap space to use this offseason. Their goal is to rebuild their roster around Damian Lillard, who struggled this season before being shut down following surgery on his abdomen. His looming potential contract extension will be telling about the direction things are going.

Jerami Grant has been mentioned as a target for the Trail Blazers. Given the cap space they have, they could also be players in free agency, even targeting restricted free agents such as Deandre Ayton and Miles Bridges who would not only provide an instant upgrade but are young enough to be future building blocks as well.

There is also the chance that Lillard doesn’t like the direction the team is going. He could opt against the extension, or Portland ends up not offering it, and become one of the hottest names on the rumor mill.

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: 2 Trade Packages To Send Ben Simmons To Timberwolves

If the Trail Blazers decide they want to go into a full-on rebuild, Lillard would bring back plenty of assets to make that happen.