The Portland Trail Blazers are suddenly staring at a roster that feels crowded from top to bottom, and that creates a very specific kind of problem: too many players, not nearly enough minutes.
After the trade for Ja Morant, Portland’s group now includes Jrue Holiday, Deni Avdija, Donovan Clingan, Toumani Camara, Robert Williams III, Damian Lillard, Scoot Henderson, and Morant. That still doesn’t account for Vit Krejči, who was acquired at the deadline, Yang Hansen, last year’s top-20 first-round pick, or Shaedon Sharpe, who is expected to miss a considerable amount of time because of injury.
With 11 players on the roster carrying some level of front-office investment, the math gets ugly fast. A regulation game only has 240 minutes to distribute, and there just isn’t a clean way to keep everyone happy and involved.
That likely means Portland has to move somebody, though the options vary a lot in terms of what they mean for the rest of the league. Jrue Holiday could be a natural name to watch: he’s still a useful veteran, but his contract gets tougher quickly as he ages, which could make him attractive to a contender looking for defense and leadership.
Krejči might also be part of the answer if Portland wants shooting, defense, and some secondary playmaking from a player on his third stop in under two years. And there’s even a world where the logjam sorts itself out if Lillard simply isn’t good enough to command a role.
For Indiana, though, the real interest starts if the Blazers decide to move someone other than Holiday or Lillard.
Toumani Camara stands out as the best fit. The Pacers could use a wing who can take on the opponent’s best non-big scorer and hold down the defensive end without needing the ball. Camara checks that box, and he would fit neatly into the kind of lineup Indiana wants, with Aaron Nesmith sliding into the starting shooting guard spot and Andrew Nembhard moving back to the bench, where he thrives.
Shaedon Sharpe is another possibility if Indiana is looking for offense. Even with the knee injury, he could be available for very little. His shooting, slashing, and practical athleticism make him an enticing swing, though there are fair questions about how he’d function in a role that would ask him to spend much less time on the ball.
Scoot Henderson may be the most intriguing name of all. The former third overall pick has had a disappointing start, but he turned in a breakout playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. For Indiana, he could be a natural successor to TJ McConnell and give the team a steady floor general so it’s never without one.
The fit is obvious from both sides. Indiana has a depth issue.
Portland has too many bodies. Those problems sit on opposite ends of the spectrum, which is exactly why a deal could make sense.
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