PORTLAND, Ore. — The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 9. According to at least one report, the Portland Trail Blazers are "intensely engrossed" and "listening to all overtures" as they try to improve the roster at the deadline.
Through Feb. 9, this article will be updated regularly whenever the Portland Trail Blazers are mentioned in trade rumors by reputable NBA news breakers. Think Shams Charania and Sam Amick of The Athletic, Adrian Wojnarowski, Brian Windhorst and Zach Lowe of ESPN, Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report, Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer, Marc Stein and his Substack newsletter, Matt Moore of Action Network and Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
Here are the latest reports involving the Portland Trail Blazers. Check back as this story will be updated often between now and Feb. 9.
Cavaliers, other teams expressing 'strong trade interest' in Josh Hart (Feb. 4)
Stein reported that multiple teams have expressed "strong trade interest" in Blazers guard Josh Hart, including the Cleveland Cavaliers. Stein said Hart is among the players most likely to be traded at the deadline. Read the full report
Jusuf Nurkic's contract depressing his trade market (Feb. 4)
Fischer reported that the Blazers have made Jusuf Nurkic available on the trade market, but "there does not seem to be great interest from opposing teams on taking on the final three seasons of Nurkic's four-year, $70 million deal." Stein also reported that the Blazers have made Nurkic available and said trying to trade him "hasn't been easy given the three seasons left after this one on the 7-footer's four-year, $70 million contract."
Nurkic's annual salary ranks 15th among centers in the NBA. The Blazers reported Friday that Nurkic will not return to the court until after the All-Star break as he recovers from a left calf strain. Nurkic is averaging 13.8 points, 9.4 points and 2.9 assists this season. Read the full report
Nassir Little 'name to monitor' in trade talks with Jazz for Jarred Vanderbilt (Feb. 4)
Scotto reported that Blazers forward Nassir Little "is a name to monitor" in the trade talks between Portland and Utah about big man Jarred Vanderbilt. Earlier this week, Charania reported that the Blazers had emerged as a "strong suitor" for Vanderbilt. Little is averaging 5.9 points and 2.3 points in 16.2 minutes per game for the Blazers this season. Scotto reports that other teams have also talked to the Jazz about Vanderbilt, including the New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks and Indiana Pacers. Read the full report
Blazers 'emerge as strong suitor' for Jazz forward Jarred Vanderbilt (Feb. 2)
Charania reported that the Blazers "have emerged as a strong suitor for Utah Jazz forward Jarred Vanderbilt." Charania said the Blazers are "among a few teams showing interest in Vanderbilt, who appears increasingly likely to be dealt ahead of the Feb. 9 trade deadline." Vanderbilt is a 6-foot-9 forward and a strong defender. He's averaging 8.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.0 steal in 24.2 minutes per game for the Jazz. A few months ago, Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard was asked on a podcast which players he most wants to play with and he mentioned three players: Phoenix Suns forward Mikal Bridges, Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby and Vanderbilt. Watch Charania's report
Blazers a 'possible destination' for Suns forward Jae Crowder (Jan. 29)
Moore reported that the Blazers have been active in talks with the Phoenix Suns and Chicago Bulls, among other teams, and that Portland is a possible destination for Suns forward Jae Crowder, who has sat out the first half of the season after asking the Suns to trade him. The 6-foot-6 Crowder, 32, is a good defender who can play both forward positions. Last season, he averaged 9.4 points and 5.3 rebounds while starting 67 games for the Suns. He's a career 34.6% 3-point shooter. Moore also reported that Josh Hart and Jusuf Nurkic are available in trades, but Nurkic "would only be included for an upgrade at center." According to Moore, league sources believe only three players on the Blazers roster are "untouchable": Damian Lillard, Anfernee Simons and Jerami Grant. Read the full report
Blazers have offered Jerami Grant maximum extension of 4 years, $112 million (Jan. 27)
Fischer reported that the Blazers have offered starting forward Jerami Grant a maximum possible extension of four years, $112 million. Grant became eligible for an extension earlier this month. Fischer reports that Grant "has not accepted the offer, sources said, largely because the Blazers can extend him a larger contract with an additional fifth year when free agency begins June 30." Read the full report
Blazers open to trades, 'particularly Josh Hart and Jusuf Nurkic' (Jan. 27)
Fischer reported that Portland "has given rival teams the impression the Blazers are open to discussing the majority of their players, particularly Josh Hart and Jusuf Nurkic." Fischer wrote that the Blazers are looking for "size with athleticism, plus wing-shooting defenders." Fischer also reported that Hart "has become one of the buzzier names among league executives this week." Read the full report
Josh Hart is 'a name that is very, very hot right now' (Jan. 24)
Lowe reported on his Lowe Post podcast that Blazers guard/forward Josh Hart "is a name that is very, very hot right now. A lot of teams would like Josh Hart. ... I think Miami will probably express some interest in Josh Hart. ... There's going to be a lot of noise around Josh Hart." Listen to the full podcast (Blazers portion starts at 40:10)
Blazers 'listening to all overtures,' focused on improving roster as deadline approaches (Jan. 24)
Haynes reported that the Blazers "are intensely engrossed in improving the roster with the trade deadline approaching" and league sources are saying the Blazers "are listening to all overtures." Haynes reported there are no plans for the Blazers to tank this season and "the organization remains committed to being opportunistic and creative in trying to surround franchise star Damian Lillard with a roster capable of competing with the best." Read the full report
Blazers among teams 'most engaged in acquiring Pistons center Nerlens Noel (Dec. 13)
James L. Edwards III, the Detroit Pistons beat writer for The Athletic, reported that the Pistons are looking to trade veteran center Nerlens Noel and that Portland, along with Sacramento, Miami and Dallas, has been one of the teams "most engaged when it comes to acquiring the 28-year-old." Noel is averaging 2.5 points and 2.8 rebounds in 11.4 minutes per game this season. He's played in just 13 games for the rebuilding Pistons. The former No. 6 overall pick has been a solid backup center over eight-plus seasons in the NBA, with career averages of 7.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.3 steals in 22.1 minutes per game. Read the full report
- UPDATE: In a follow-up report on Jan. 16, Edwards reported Miami, Denver and Dallas were the teams most engaged in talks with the Pistons about Noel, leaving Portland off the list.