The Portland Trail Blazers are on the hunt for players that will upgrade the talent on their roster around Damian Lillard. After bottoming out during the 2021-22 NBA season, they are looking to make a quick turnaround this offseason and become playoff contenders once again.
Portland has plenty of avenues they can go down to find those upgrades. They have a clear path to max cap space should they choose to take it. CJ McCollum’s trade exception makes their options limitless on the market. Eric Bledsoe and Josh Hart have non-guaranteed deals if they swing a trade before the league year is over and a team is looking for salary relief this offseason.
Unrestricted free agent Jusuf Nurkic and restricted free agent Anfernee Simons could also be part of sign-and-trade deals should Portland want to extract more assets. But, the crown jewel of the Trail Blazers’ assets could very likely be the seventh overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
When trade talks about the draft are brought up, Portland trading their No. 7 pick to bring in more established players to surround Lillard with, is always brought up. Jerami Grant of the Detroit Pistons has been mentioned fairly often as a trade target using the selection.
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However, the Trail Blazers are considered a dark horse for another wing player this offseason in Miles Bridges. The Charlotte Hornets’ restricted free agent fits the bill of what Portland is looking for. Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer shared an update on Miles and Rip City.
“Sources say another player to keep in mind is Hornets forward Miles Bridges. Pistons forward Jerami Grant is often mentioned as a target for the Blazers, but the same logic applies for Bridges. Much like Grant, Portland desires a wing who can provide versatility on the wing plus secondary scoring. The difference is that Bridges is a restricted free agent while Grant is under contract.”
Prying Bridges away from the Charlotte Hornets could prove difficult. He had a breakout season and they will very likely match any offer sheet that he signs with another team. But, that doesn’t mean Portland shouldn’t at least try and sign him.
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Bridges is a player that can help the Trail Blazers now, as they look to remain competitive as Damian Lillard enters the end of his prime. But, at only 24-years old, could form the future foundation of the roster in Portland, as he will just be entering his prime when Lillard’s contract is coming to an end.
Landing restricted free agents is notoriously difficult to do, but the Portland Trail Blazers should certainly make an aggressive approach to land Miles Bridges, still leaving assets to make another trade with.
