The Portland Trail Blazers have kept things relatively quiet since landing Ja Morant from the Memphis Grizzlies, and most of what followed has been small-scale roster tinkering. That makes sense for a team that can keep building off its first playoff appearance in the rebuild, especially with a young core that still looks like it has room to grow.
Even so, the Morant deal created a roster logjam that still needs sorting out at some point. Portland doesn’t have to rush into anything, but it should be looking around for wing and forward help to bring more balance to the roster before 2026-27.
One obvious name is P.J. Washington of the Dallas Mavericks.
Dallas has the kind of roster makeup that’s almost the mirror image of Portland’s, with plenty of wings and forwards but a need for more point guard and center depth. If the Mavericks are interested in the idea of putting one of Scoot Henderson or Shaedon Sharpe next to Cooper Flagg, that could open a door for Portland to pry away Washington, who remains an underrated fit.
Trey Murphy III is another target worth watching. There was plenty of speculation that he might be the next major trade piece after the LeBron James free agency dust settled, and Portland was linked to him at February’s trade deadline.
That interest has cooled since the Blazers made their surprising Morant move, but the logic still holds: if Portland got Morant for essentially nothing, it should be willing to use assets elsewhere to keep improving the roster. Murphy fits the profile of the kind of player they should be chasing, assuming New Orleans is willing to move him at a price that makes sense.
Peyton Watson is a different path, but one Portland should still explore. The Blazers could try to land him from Denver in a sign-and-trade, and ESPN’s Shams Charania previously reported that the Nuggets have dropped their asking price to the equivalent of two first-round picks. That’s a number Portland should be able to meet if it wants to add another young wing to the mix.
Michael Porter Jr. would bring a bigger swing. Brooklyn doesn’t seem to be actively shopping him, but with the Nets in their rebuild, they should at least be willing to hear offers.
MPJ would give Portland scoring, shot creation, and more size on the wing. The catch is obvious: this one likely costs more than the other names on the list, so the Blazers would have to decide whether the price matches the fit.
If Portland is looking for the most realistic option, Max Strus stands out. Cleveland may choose to move him now to stay ahead of the second apron next season.
And if the Cavaliers don’t plan to re-sign him after the year, it would make sense for them to get something back instead of losing him for nothing. For the Blazers, that could create a buy-low chance to add dependable floor spacing off the bench.
In Other News...
Blazers Fans Have Every Reason To Fear Where This Is Headed
Tom Dundons first months as the Trail Blazers owner have already brought a hard reset in how the franchise operates, from layoffs in the organization to tighter travel rules for two-way players during the playoffs. Now the bigger issue hanging over the team is not just how it spends, but where it plays, with reports pointing to a search for arena possibilities beyond Portland as lease talks and renovation costs grow more complicated.
The concern in Portland is easy to understand. The current arena land lease is far shorter than what is typical for NBA buildings, and the public financing being discussed still leaves a sizable gap from what ownership wants for Moda Center upgrades. Add in repeated reporting about Dundons lack of ties to the city and his willingness to make blunt financial decisions, and the Blazers suddenly feel like a franchise whose future is being shaped as much by real estate and leverage as by basketball. [Read more 🡒]
Scoot Henderson Debate Just Became A Defining Blazers Question
The Trail Blazers have turned a straightforward roster question into a real front-office dilemma by adding Ja Morant to a backcourt that already includes Scoot Henderson, Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard. That kind of crowding naturally invites trade chatter, and Henderson has been at the center of it, even though Portland does not appear eager to move him just to clear the lane. The bigger issue is not whether the Blazers have enough guards. It is whether they can afford to make a decision on Henderson before his value rebounds.
Several proposals are already floating around, which tells you how unsettled the conversation has become, but Portland seems inclined to be patient rather than take a discounted return. Henderson remains the player whose long-term place is hardest to pin down in the wake of the Morant move, and that uncertainty is what makes this such a defining question for the Blazers. If the organization believes the market will improve, it may choose to wait and see whether Henderson can force the issue himself instead of being the odd man out. [Read more 🡒]
Blazers Need More From Ja Morant For This Gamble To Work
Portlands offseason makeover brought a different kind of pressure with it, and the biggest swing now sits on Ja Morants shoulders. The Blazers did not bring him in simply to hunt shots and put points on the board. They need him to lean into the playmaking side of his game, because the rosters best version depends on someone who can bend defenses, open the floor and keep the offense moving with purpose.
Deni Avdija already showed how much of that load he can handle, finishing last season as Portlands assist leader while Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson also took turns organizing the offense. But for this gamble to really have a chance, Morant has to share that burden instead of trying to shoulder everything himself, and he has to do it with cleaner decision-making. The Blazers ceiling in the West may come down to whether Morant and Avdija can make the ball movement work together. [Read more 🡒]