The 2026 NBA trade deadline has come and gone, and while some teams made bold moves to reshape their rosters, the Portland Trail Blazers opted for a quieter approach. Their lone addition?
Vit Krejci, a sharpshooter from the Atlanta Hawks. With that in mind, all eyes now shift to the upcoming NBA Draft - and how Portland might use it to continue building toward a brighter future.
In a recent mock draft, the Blazers are projected to take Arizona freshman forward Koa Peat with the No. 11 overall pick. On paper, Peat brings a lot to the table - physical maturity, defensive versatility, and a high motor that could translate well at the next level. He’s the kind of prospect that fits the mold of a team in the early stages of a rebuild: raw but promising, with upside worth investing in.
But here’s where things get a little complicated.
Portland still has Jerami Grant on the roster, and that creates a bit of a logjam in the frontcourt. Grant is a proven veteran who can still produce, but his presence could limit the developmental runway for a player like Peat.
It’s not just about minutes - it’s about role clarity, confidence, and the ability to grow through mistakes. For a team trying to build around a young core, that matters.
Peat’s fit in Portland isn't seamless. He’s not a floor-spacer yet - shooting just 60.8% from the free-throw line, which often raises red flags about a player’s shooting touch.
And for a Blazers squad that currently ranks last in the NBA in three-point percentage, adding another non-shooter to the rotation could further clog the offense. Krejci’s arrival might help in that department, but Portland still needs more consistent perimeter threats if they want to open up the floor for their young talent.
The bigger issue here is flexibility - or lack thereof. By holding onto Grant at the deadline, the Blazers passed on a chance to clear cap space and open up more minutes for their developing forwards.
Grant’s contract still has three years left on it, and it’s a hefty one. Moving him would’ve not only freed up financial breathing room but also given the front office more options heading into the draft and beyond.
This year’s draft class is loaded with intriguing forwards in the late lottery range. In the same mock draft, Yaxel Lendeborg is projected to go to Charlotte at No.
10, Hannes Steinbach lands with the Spurs at No. 12, and Nate Ament is pegged for Memphis at No. 15.
All three bring different skill sets, and all three could’ve been potential fits for a Blazers team with a more open frontcourt rotation.
There’s still a possibility Portland moves Grant this summer, but the deadline felt like the ideal moment to strike. His value had rebounded thanks to a strong season, and there were teams looking for veteran help. Now, the Blazers may find themselves in a tougher spot - trying to trade a big contract in a more crowded offseason market, or hoping Peat can carve out a role despite the overlap.
None of this is to say Peat wouldn’t be a good pick. He’s a high-upside prospect with the tools to become a difference-maker.
But for him to thrive in Portland, the Blazers need to clear a path. And that starts with making some tough decisions about the veterans still on the roster.
The rebuild is underway in Rip City. But if the Blazers want to accelerate it, they’ll need to commit fully - and that might mean finally parting ways with Jerami Grant.