The NBA trade deadline came and went without much noise from the Portland Trail Blazers - and that was just fine by the players in the locker room.
After making a low-key move earlier in the week to bring in Vit Krejci from Atlanta, Portland stood pat through Thursday’s deadline. And for a young team still trying to find its footing, that kind of stability can go a long way. Interim head coach Tiago Splitter acknowledged the tension leading up to the deadline, but said the mood quickly shifted once it became clear no major changes were coming.
“The players were joking around a little bit, saying, ‘We’re all back,’” Splitter said. “I get it.
There’s a little bit of tension. But I’m glad everybody’s back.
Everybody’s happy to be here and ready to move forward and finish the season.”
That sense of continuity could be a key piece for a team still building chemistry. While the roster didn’t get a dramatic overhaul, the rotation is about to see some movement.
Krejci will have a chance to carve out minutes, and rookie point guard Scoot Henderson is set to make his return Friday against Memphis after being sidelined with a hamstring tear. Meanwhile, forward Deni Avdija will miss his third straight game with a low back strain, but once he’s back, the Blazers will be as close to full strength as they’ve been all season.
For Splitter, the challenge now becomes managing a deeper, healthier roster - a good problem to have.
“I’m happy to have that challenge - make them produce and excel at their positions,” Splitter said. “Guys that were used to playing more minutes are going to play a little less.
Guys that were out are going to start to play more minutes and produce for us. We’ve still got like 30 games or so left.
Hopefully, this is the normal for us from now on.”
One issue the Blazers will have to navigate in the coming weeks is their roster count. With a full 15-man roster and two-way players Sidy Cissoko and Caleb Love approaching their 50-game limits, the front office will need to make some decisions.
Cissoko appears to have the clearer path to a standard contract, especially given his defined role when the team is healthy. Love, while promising, may not have the same immediate fit.
There’s also the possibility of a buyout to open up a spot - Matisse Thybulle’s name has surfaced in that conversation. While no decision has been made, he’s a name to watch as Portland weighs its options.
As for Krejci, he’s embracing the opportunity with his new team. The 6’8” wing sees a natural fit with Portland’s attacking style.
“I’m very excited,” Krejci said. “I think this team has a lot of good drivers and that opens things up. As a shooter, you love playing with guys like that, because they keep slashing, they keep going at the rim.”
While the basketball side of things stayed relatively quiet at the deadline, there’s a much bigger storyline playing out behind the scenes - one that could shape the franchise’s future in Portland.
The Trail Blazers’ business operations team is deep in negotiations with state, city, and county officials as they seek roughly $600 million in funding to upgrade the Moda Center. The goal? To keep the team anchored in Portland for the long haul.
But the funding process is proving complicated. Multnomah County is reportedly hesitant to commit around $40 million in business tax revenue tied to a potential sale of the team. Meanwhile, the city of Portland is facing pushback over a proposal to redirect as much as $75 million from a clean energy fund toward the arena project.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has stepped in to show her support, reportedly speaking with NBA commissioner Adam Silver last week to reinforce the state’s commitment to keeping the Blazers in Portland - especially with a new ownership group led by Tom Dundon potentially on the horizon. The team’s lease at the Moda Center runs through 2030, but the long-term future could hinge on how these negotiations unfold.
So while the trade deadline didn’t shake up the roster, there’s no shortage of movement around the organization. On the court, Portland is getting healthier, more competitive, and maybe just a little more dangerous down the stretch. Off the court, the stakes are even higher - and the next few months could be pivotal in determining where this franchise calls home for years to come.