PORTLAND, Ore. — The NBA draft is June 23 and the Portland Trail Blazers have three picks, one in the first round (No. 7 overall) and two more in the second (Nos. 36 and 57). Both local and national NBA reporters have suggested the most likely scenario for the Blazers is that the team trades its first-round pick to add a quality veteran as a complement to superstar point guard Damian Lillard.
On Wednesday, the day before the draft, the Blazers agreed to a trade with the Detroit Pistons to bring Jerami Grant to Portland.
The Blazers continue to be mentioned in trade rumors, even after the Grant trade, by reputable NBA reporters like Shams Charania, Sam Amick and Sam Vecenie of The Athletic, Adrian Wojnarowski and Brian Windhorst of ESPN, Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer and Marc Stein of Substack.
Here's a look at players who have been mentioned in trade reports involving the Blazers:
- OG Anunoby: Toronto Raptors forward is 24 years old. The 6-foot-7, 232-pound small forward averaged 17.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.5 steals last season. A talented defensive forward who can guard multiple positions, Anunoby has also shot 37.2% from the 3-point line over his career. In the past two seasons, Anunoby has averaged 16.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.5 steals while shooting 45.9% from the field and 37.9% from 3 on 6.4 attempts per game.
- Deandre Ayton: Phoenix Suns center is 23 years old (he turns 24 on July 23). The 6-11, 250-pound center averaged 17.2 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.7 blocks in 29.5 minutes per game last season. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft, Ayton has averaged 16.3 points, 10.5 rebounds and a block per game while shooting 59.9% from the field and 75.4% from the free-throw line over his first four seasons.
- Bradley Beal: Washington Wizards guard is 28 years old (he turns 29 on June 28). The 6-4, 207-pound shooting guard averaged 23.2 points, 6.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds last season, while shooting 45.1% from the field and 30% from 3. It was a career low in 3-point accuracy for Beal, who has shot 37.2% on six attempts per game over his 10 seasons in the NBA. Over a five-season span from 2017 to 2021, Beal averaged 26.1 points, 4.7 assists, 4.3 rebounds and shot 47.1% from the field and 36.8% from 3.
- Miles Bridges: Charlotte Hornets forward is 24 years old. The 6-6, 225-pound forward averaged career highs across the board last season, his fourth in the NBA, with 20.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and nearly a steal and a block per game. He shot 49.1% from the field and 33.1% on nearly six 3-point attempts per game.
- John Collins: Atlanta Hawks forward is 24 years old. The 6-9, 235-pound power forward averaged 16.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.0 block per game last season, while shooting 52.6% from the field and 36.4% from 3. Over the past four seasons, Collins has averaged 18.5 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.0 block and shot 55.6% from the field and 37.9% from 3.
- Lu Dort: Oklahoma City guard is 23 years old. Despite his 6-3 height, the 215-pound wing has played a lot of small forward for the Thunder during his three years in the NBA. Last season, he averaged 17.2 points and 4.2 rebounds. Over the past two seasons, Dort has averaged 15.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 0.9 steals in 31.1 minutes per game while shooting 39.6% from the field and 33.8% from 3. Dort is considered one of the better young perimeter defenders in the NBA.
- Jerami Grant: Detroit Pistons forward is 28 years old. The 6-8, 210-pound power forward (he can also play small forward) averaged 19.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.0 block in 31.9 minutes per game last season. Developed a reputation as a 3-and-D forward with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets before taking on a larger role on offense the past two seasons in Detroit. Grant was a teammate with Lillard on Team USA last summer. (The Blazers traded for Grant on Wednesday, the day before the draft).
- Zach LaVine: Chicago Bulls guard is 27 years old. The 6-5, 200-pound shooting guard averaged 24.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists and shot 47.6% from the field and 38.9% from the 3-point line. In the past four seasons, LaVine has averaged 25.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists and shot 47.4% from the field and 39.2% from 3. The two-time All Star was a teammate with Lillard on Team USA last summer.
Here's are the latest offseason reports, rumors and discussions around the Portland Trail Blazers. Check back as this story will be updated often between now and June 23, with the most recent reports at the top:
Blazers pursuing OG Anunoby with seventh pick (June 22)
Following the Jerami Grant trade, Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported that the Blazers have turned their attention to OG Anunoby. Wrote Haynes on Twitter: "Portland Trail Blazers are in pursuit of Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby with the No. 7 pick in Thursday’s draft in play, league sources tell Yahoo Sports." See the tweet
Blazers trade for Jerami Grant (June 22)
The Portland Trail Blazers agreed to a trade Wednesday that will bring Detroit Pistons power forward Jerami Grant to Portland, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Portland will send Detroit a 2025 first-round pick via the Milwaukee Bucks and three second-round picks. Portland also gets a second-round pick back from Detroit. The Blazers were able to absorb Grant's $21 million salary using a trade exception it created in the deal that sent CJ McCollum to the New Orleans Pelicans at the February trade deadline. Read full article
Hawks want to trade John Collins before the draft gets underway (June 22)
Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, who is among many reporters who have linked John Collins to the Blazers in trade rumors, reported the following on Twitter: "One thing that is certain: the Atlanta Hawks, sources say, are operating with the goal of trading John Collins before Thursday night gets underway."
Blazers looking at Dyson Daniels or Shaedon Sharpe with seventh pick or a trade up to draft Keegan Murray (June 22)
John Hollinger of The Athletic reported that "there seems to be an emerging consensus that Dyson Daniels is Portland's pick if the Blazers keep it, although there is some significant [Shaedon] Sharpe buzz here, too." Hollinger also reported that he's "heard whispers about Portland moving up to take [Keegan] Murray." Read the full story
Blazers planning to stay put and make pick at No. 7, targeting Kentucky guard Shaedon Sharpe (June 21)
Brian Windhorst of ESPN reported that he's hearing the Blazers are planning to use their No. 7 pick and not trade it, and he said he's heard that they're targeting Kentucky guard Shaedon Sharpe with the pick. "For weeks, we've heard about the Portland Trail Blazers trading that pick off, maybe for Jerami Grant of the Detroit Pistons. From what I understand, Portland has decided not to go down that path and as of right now, is planning to draft at No. 7. Jonathan Givony has them taking Shaedon Sharpe out of Kentucky, and I have heard the same thing, that that is who they are targeting. That's not something I would have expected two or three weeks ago."
The Givony report Windhorst refers to is from the mock draft published earlier Tuesday on ESPN.com. Givony mocked Sharpe to the Blazers at pick No. 7 and reported that Blazers star point guard Damian Lillard "is said to be high on Sharpe's talent." Givony reported further that "Sharpe's standing has solidified with some outstanding showings in competitive private workouts -- his performances have improved with every visit, and he has demonstrated significantly more fire than teams expected from the intel they gathered on Sharpe coming out of Kentucky."
Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported on the Posted Up with Chris Haynes podcast that Sharpe canceled a workout with the New Orleans Pelicans, who have the eighth overall pick, after his workout with the Blazers. He said some people believe Sharpe received a draft promise. "He worked out for the Portland Trail Blazers and I believe he was supposed to work out for the Pelicans in the days ahead, and that workout was canceled. ... There’s people that believe he might have gotten a promise," Haynes reported.
John Collins linked to Blazers in another trade rumor (June 20)
In his Monday newsletter, Marc Stein focused a lot of attention on the Atlanta Hawks, the team that Stein writes has "generated more media conversation" than any other leading up to the NBA draft. Stein reports, in particular, that "the likelihood of a John Collins trade, league sources indicate, is as high as it's ever been." Stein mentioned two teams in his newsletter that may be interested in trading for Collins: the Phoenix Suns and the Blazers, who have been mentioned as a potential trade partner with the Hawks by numerous reporters already, including Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report and Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer. Stein writes that "Collins continues to be mentioned as a player on Portland's radar for a potential deal constructed around the No. 7 overall pick on Thursday night." Read the full newsletter
Blazers not a 'legitimate landing spot for' DeAndre Ayton, prioritizing OG Anunoby in trade for 7th pick; new trade partner emerges (June 16)
Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report included some interesting new information about the Blazers in his latest report. First of all, Fischer reports that the Blazers are no longer considered a viable landing spot for DeAndre Ayton because they're expected to retain starting center Jusuf Nurkic instead of pursuing the Phoenix Suns center. Fischer reports that the Blazers' top choice in any return for the No. 7 pick in next week's draft is Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby. A new potential trade partner has emerged for the Blazers. Fischer reports that league sources tell him "there has been increasing talk about Portland potentially targeting the seventh selection to Oklahoma City for No. 12 and a package that could include Lu Dort." Read the full story
Blazers, Hawks have had trade talks, potentially about John Collins, 16th pick (June 13)
In his latest mock draft, in the section about the Atlanta Hawks' selection in the first round (16th overall), Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer wrote that league sources have told him the Hawks "are looking to add a lottery pick either by outright trading John Collins or also including [the 16th pick]. One of the teams they've had talks with is Portland." Read the full story
Blazers 'chasing big fish,' with Bradley Beal, Miles Bridges and John Collins mentioned as potential targets (June 6)
Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer wrote that the Blazers front office "is chasing big fish" this offseason, looking at veterans who can help Damian Lillard get back to the playoffs. O'Connor mentions Zach LaVine and Jerami Grant, who have been named in other reports, but he also throws a few new names into the mix. O'Connor reports that sources have told him Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal is a potential target for Portland. "Lillard befriended Beal through their experience with Team USA, and the Wizards star has a player option for next season," O'Connor writes. "So he could make his way to Portland either as a free agent or via trade." O'Connor also reports that "sources say another player to keep in mind is [Charlotte] Hornets forward Miles Bridges." Bridges is a restricted free agent. Finally, O'Connor writes that "one other player frequently mentioned to be on Portland's radar is Atlanta [Hawks forward] John Collins." Read the full story
Deandre Ayton linked to Blazers again (June 6)
John Hollinger of The Athletic mentioned the Blazers in an article about potential trade or free agency fits for Phoenix Suns center DeAndre Ayton. "If not the Pistons," Hollinger writes, "the other two strong fits I see for Ayton are in Portland and San Antonio. Portland, again, would almost certainly be through a sign-and-trade given the Blazers' current cap situation." Read the full story
Blazers a potential landing spot for OG Anunoby (May 31)
Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report wrote that "one of the more intriguing names to emerge in early league trade chatter" has been Raptors forward OG Anunoby. Fischer reported that "two landing spots already linked by league personnel have been Utah and Portland." Fischer wrote that Anunoby is "believed to be one of [Portland's] primary targets along with Jerami Grant" this offseason. As far as what it would take to acquire a player like Anunoby, Fischer wrote that "league personnel believe Toronto would require far more than [Josh] Hart and the seventh pick to part with Anunoby," whose "trade value is seen as greater than Detroit's known asking price for Grant: two first-round picks or a first and a promising rookie-scale prospect." Read the full story
Blazers a 'top suitor' for Zach LaVine (May 24)
Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report wrote about Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine and mentioned the Blazers as a potential landing spot. "Along with Atlanta, Portland is most often mentioned as a top LaVine suitor. LaVine is a Seattle native, just a few hours' drive north of the Trail Blazers' facilities, and shares a relationship with Damian Lillard from their Team USA days. This follows a May 10 report from Brian Windhorst of ESPN that the Blazers have "popped up" as a potential landing spot for LaVine. Read the full story from Jake Fischer
Blazers again linked to Deandre Ayton (May 24)
Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report wrote that "there are three teams most often linked by league personnel as Ayton's potential suitors on the open market: Atlanta, Detroit and Portland." Fischer also said Charlotte and San Antonio are "possible landing spots" for the Phoenix Suns center. About the Blazers, Fischer wrote further: "Perhaps Portland, where free-agent center Jusuf Nurkic is expected to command far less than Ayton on the open market, could be a trade partner." Read the full story
Blazers pick "seems ... certain to be on the move" (May 23)
Shams Charania and Sam Vecenie of The Athletic reported that a first-round pick that seems "certain to be on the move is Portland's at No. 7." Charanie and Vecenie say that though "Detroit's Jerami Grant has been the hot name" around Portland, "the Blazers "could look at other options." Read the full story
Blazers could discuss trade for Deandre Ayton (May 20)
Zach Lowe of ESPN said on the May 20 episode of his podcast The Lowe Post that he expects the Blazers to at least talk about trading for Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton. "I think they'll be among the teams that at least have a conversation internally about Ayton if Ayton becomes gettable," Lowe said. "I think there will be a lot of such teams; I don't think that's breaking news." Listen to the full episode (Blazers conversation starts at 1:10:09)
On May 16, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN also mentioned the Blazers as one of the teams that could acquire Ayton. "You're going to look at the teams with cap space. A team like, for example, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Portland. Teams who could create enough cap space to go out and sign him. But also the discussions of a sign-and-trade, meaning teams who maybe don't have the cap space," Wojnarowski said. Depending on roster decisions, the Blazers can operate as either an above-the-salary-cap team or a below-the-cap team this summer. Watch Wojnarowski's commentary
Would Portland trade No. 7 for Jerami Grant? (May 20)
Zach Lowe of ESPN talked about the Blazers and what they might do with the No. 7 pick on the May 20 episode of his podcast The Lowe Post. Lowe said Portland could trade the seventh pick in a trade for Detroit Pistons forward Jerami Grant, an oft-mentioned name in Blazers trade rumors in the leadup to last season's trade deadline, but that they may hope to trade for him using other assets. Lowe mentioned the Milwaukee Bucks' 2025 first-round pick owned by the Blazers and young guard Keon Johnson. "They just don't have much other stuff," Lowe said. "Seven for Grant would be interesting. At first glance, you sort of balk at it and then you think, 'eh, if that's what we gotta do.'" Listen to the full episode (Blazers conversation starts at 1:10:09)
