There has been a lot of chatter about what the Portland Trail Blazers are going to do this offseason. They spent the 2021-22 NBA season bottoming out as much as possible, but they are expecting to bounce back and contend for a playoff spot as soon as this upcoming season.
Damian Lillard’s injury and subsequent operation derailed any hopes they had last season, which led to wholesale changes. Portland traded away veterans CJ McCollum, Larry Nance Jr., Norman Powell and Robert Covington.
One reason those players were traded was to clear as much cap space as possible. The front office wants to rebuild things around Lillard, who is eligible for a supermax extension this offseason.
There is risk in making Lillard the highest-paid player in the league into his mid-30s, but this is the route that the organization wants to take. The front office will be under pressure to hit on their transactions this offseason, as they are working with a nearly clean slate.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: San Antonio Spurs, Portland Trail Blazers ‘Strong Fits’ To Trade For Phoenix Suns’ Deandre Ayton
Armed with cap space to sign a max player and a ton of assets to build trade packages around, it is time for Joe Cronin and his team to get to work. Portland has been linked to Jerami Grant, but another player to keep an eye on is Deandre Ayton of the Phoenix Suns.
During a recent appearance on Dunc’d On Basketball NBA Podcast, Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report discussed some key players for the upcoming offseason. Ayton was one of those players and it was revealed Damian Lillard would like to play with him.
“Like Portland, it seems like he’s another guy that Dame has interest in playing with,” Fischer said regarding Ayton.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: San Antonio Spurs, Portland Trail Blazers ‘Strong Fits’ To Trade For Phoenix Suns’ Deandre Ayton
Ayton is entering restricted free agency this summer after he and the Suns were unable to agree on a rookie extension. That means Phoenix can match any offer sheet that Ayton signs this offseason, but it is up for debate whether or not they will.
Ayton was seeking a max contract, something Suns ownership was unwilling to meet. If their stance has not changed, Portland could swoop in with a max offer that would deter the Suns from matching.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: San Antonio Spurs, Portland Trail Blazers ‘Strong Fits’ To Trade For Phoenix Suns’ Deandre Ayton
It would be shocking to see the Phoenix Suns allow Deandre Ayton to walk in NBA free agency as he is a key cog in their rotation and a big part of their success the last two seasons. However, the notoriously frugal ownership group could get in the way and derail things. Replacing Ayton would prove very difficult, as the Suns do not have the cap space to make any major moves in free agency.
