Hoops Habit
Fansided

Portland Trail Blazers: Ranking most realistic trade candidates

By Raymond Simms

PORTLAND, OR - SEPTEMBER 25: Ed Davis #17 of the Portland Trail Blazers goes after a loose ball in the fourth quarter of an NBA game against the Utah Jazz at the Moda Center on September 25, 2016 in Portland, Oregon. The Blazers won 113-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - SEPTEMBER 25: Ed Davis #17 of the Portland Trail Blazers goes after a loose ball in the fourth quarter of an NBA game against the Utah Jazz at the Moda Center on September 25, 2016 in Portland, Oregon. The Blazers won 113-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 6
Next
Portland Trail Blazers
PORTLAND, OR – SEPTEMBER 25: Ed Davis #17 of the Portland Trail Blazers goes after a loose ball in the fourth quarter of an NBA game against the Utah Jazz at the Moda Center on September 25, 2016 in Portland, Oregon. The Blazers won 113-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

The Portland Trail Blazers can’t sign big-name free agents this summer due to lack of salary cap room. However, they could still make a splash in the trade market. Who are five players that could conceivably be dealt from Portland?

2017 NBA free agency is underway, with the league currently wrapping up its five-and-a-half day signing moratorium period. A number of players have already agreed to big deals with teams across the league.

In the process, the conference power balance seems to be shifting further west. Players are able to officially sign their deals as of 12:01 p.m. ET on Thursday. However, the Portland Trail Blazers have been noticeably absent from the rumors and announcements.

That’s because they don’t have the cap space to sign any big-name free agents. Currently, the Blazers have $139 million tied up in player contracts. That puts them $40 million over the 2017-18 salary cap limit of $99 million. Portland is the furthest team in the NBA over the limit.

The Blazers could use one of their two available trade exceptions this summer. Otherwise, there isn’t any wiggle room to sign new players. However, Portland certainly has the available players to ship away in trades for cash or new talent. They’ve already done this once this summer, shipping backup guard Tim Quarterman to the Houston Rockets for cash considerations.

The Blazers currently have 15 players under contract heading into the Las Vegas Summer League. Players such as Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum, and Jusuf Nurkic will almost certainly be on the roster moving forward, serving as the team’s core. On the other end there’s draftees Zach Collins and Caleb Swanigan. Considering how excited the front office is about these two, they will likely get at least one year in the Rose City before possibly being put on the trading block.

That leaves the other 10. If the Blazers want to make a big splash this summer, which five players among them would most likely be sent away? We’ll look to answer that question in the following slides.

Home/NBA Free Agency