Trail Blazers Enter Trade Season Searching for Stability on Defense
Trade season is officially heating up, with nearly 90% of NBA players now eligible to be moved-including those who signed new deals this past offseason. For the Portland Trail Blazers, that means an opportunity to reshape a roster that’s been more potential than performance so far. After sitting out last year’s frenzied trade deadline, Portland may be ready to get in on the action this time-and not just as observers.
The Blazers are being viewed around the league as potential buyers, with shooting pegged as their most obvious need. That’s not exactly breaking news-Portland’s been chasing consistent perimeter production for a while now. But there’s another issue quietly dragging this team down: a defensive identity that’s slipped through their fingers.
Last season, Portland surprised a lot of people by finishing in the top 10 in defensive rating. That defensive success, paired with the offseason addition of Jrue Holiday in exchange for Anfernee Simons, had expectations trending upward.
On paper, it looked like the Blazers were doubling down on a gritty, defense-first approach. In practice?
It’s been a mixed bag-and that’s putting it generously.
The team has shown flashes of being a lockdown unit, but those moments have been few and far between. Through the first 26 games, the Blazers sit at 10-16, and their defensive numbers tell the story.
Portland currently ranks 22nd in defensive rating (117.2) and 25th in opponent points per game (121.9). That’s a steep fall from last year’s top-10 status.
Injuries have played a major role in the drop-off. Jrue Holiday, Blake Wesley, Robert Williams III, and Matisse Thybulle were all expected to anchor the defense, but the group has barely shared the floor. Williams and Thybulle, in particular, have struggled to stay on the court-combining for just 20 appearances so far this season.
And that’s where the front office has a tough decision to make.
Both Williams and Thybulle are on expiring deals, and with their injury histories, Portland may not be able to count on them as long-term pieces. According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the Blazers could consider moving both players to address their defensive inconsistency, even if it means parting with two guys who, at their best, are elite stoppers.
It’s a tricky balance. On one hand, trading away two former All-Defensive Team players might seem counterintuitive for a team desperate to get back to its defensive roots.
On the other, how much can Portland rely on players who aren’t consistently available? The reality is, if the Blazers want to build a defense they can count on night in and night out, they may need to look elsewhere for more durable, long-term solutions.
Financially, Portland also has to tread carefully. They’re currently just $1.5 million below the luxury tax threshold, which means any move they make is likely to be salary-neutral. That limits their flexibility but doesn’t eliminate the possibility of making a meaningful trade.
This isn’t about blowing things up-it’s about recalibrating. The Blazers still have a foundation worth building on, but the current mix isn’t getting it done on the defensive end. Whether it’s adding reliable wing defenders, bringing in a stretch big who can hold his own in the paint, or simply getting more consistent health from their core pieces, something has to change.
The defense that showed up early in the season-when the team was healthier-offered a glimpse of what this group could be. But glimpses don’t win games.
Consistency does. And as trade season ramps up, that’s exactly what Portland will be searching for.