Why The Portland Trail Blazers Do The Deal 

On the other hand, the Blazers create a new need following this deal. If they trade Nurkic, they’ll need a center. 

Man, conflicting needs can get awfully complicated. 

With that said, that’ll be an easier fix than finding a secondary ball-handler. After all, low-usage big men are among the most fruitful assets in the league. In all likelihood, the Blazers can replace Nurkic via another, smaller trade, or through the buyout market. 

Suppose, hypothetically, they found a way to bring Hassan Whiteside on after this deal. Does a Whiteside, Jerami Grant, and Hayward frontcourt not sound more appealing than Nurkic, Grant, and Josh Hart? It’s certainly more offensively dynamic. 

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Gordon Hayward, Charlotte Hornets & Portland Trail Blazers Updates

On the flip side, if the Blazers prefer a role player at the 3, they could keep Hart in the starting lineup and use Hayward as an elite sixth man. In either case, they improve their firepower at the cost of a relatively expendable player here. Should the Hornets really be targeting him?