Based on recent reporting from Sam Amick and Eric Nehm of The Athletic, Giannis Antetokounmpo probably doesn’t want to join the Portland Trail Blazers this summer. He wants to stay in the East and join a potential title contender. However, just because Antetokounmpo may not want to join the Blazers doesn’t mean they should give up on their potential quest to trade for a star.
Antetokounmpo may be the biggest name on the trade market this summer. The holy grail, some may say. But there could be plenty of great players available, should the Blazers call up the right teams and inquire about potential deals. And they should definitely look to make a trade this summer.
It may not be for Antetokounmpo, but that’s okay.
Blazers won't get Giannis, but they should still attack the trade market
The Blazers are in a very interesting spot. Obviously, last year, they enjoyed a ton of success, relative to expectations, and they should be looking to capitalize on it this summer.
Deni Avijda had a breakout, All-Star campaign. Donovan Clingan, Shaedon Sharpe, and Scoot Henderson all look like they should continue developing, too.
However, Portland is also in the Western Conference. The same conference as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Oklahoma City Thunder and Victor Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs. That’s a brutal spot to be in.
If the Blazers want to seriously compete with those two teams – as well as guys like Anthony Edwards, Nikola Jokic, and Luka Doncic – they need to add to their roster.
Obviously, Antetokounmpo would be great. Pairing him with all of the players they already have would make the Blazers one of the top teams in the West. But Antetokounmpo wants to stay in the East.
So, instead of giving up on their summer trade goals, the Blazers should look elsewhere. Perhaps they could call up the LA Clippers to inquire about a Kawhi Leonard deal.
Or what about seeing if the Dallas Mavericks would trade Kyrie Irving? Could Portland take a risk and inquire about Joel Embiid, despite his injury woes?
What about a Michael Porter Jr. trade? Or a deal for Trey Murphy III? Either player would definitely help out the Blazers.
The point is, just because Antetokounmpo doesn’t want to join the Blazers doesn’t mean they should stop star hunting this summer.
Portland should still be at the forefront of the trade market, looking for all the different types of ways they could potentially improve their roster. It won’t be Antetokounmpo, but it should still be someone else.
