My total guess on how trade-deadline day will go for the Portland Trail Blazers

There may not be a move out there they want to make at this time

Photo by Scott Rodgerson on Unsplash

With not a lot of inside information, allow me to make my guess on what will happen with the Trail Blazers on Thursday’s trade deadline day.

The only thing I see as at least a small possibility is Portland moving Rob Williams, if the Blazers are willing to settle for two or three second-round picks. I don’t see a first-round choice because with the new apron rules, it’s hard to carry even $13 million in salary for players that you can’t count on being available. Unfortunately, that’s been Williams’ downfall. Otherwise, he may be the best backup center in the league.

If Williams isn’t dealt, I do not believe anyone else will be. I think what we will hear from the Trail Blazers will go something along the lines of:

“We were very active and involved in many scenarios, but there was nothing we believed was enough of a long-term upgrade to pursue. We still have work to do and we believe in the potential and sustainability of this roster and want to see what it can do between now and the end of the season.”

So then we sit back and watch this team fight for what promises to be a futile attempt to secure a play-in berth. But San Antonio, now with De’Aaron Fox, and Dallas, with Anthony Davis, are going hard for those spots, as well as Phoenix and Golden State. Most of those teams have a better chance of claiming that berth.

For years, I listened to fans here talking about the purgatory of being good enough to make the playoffs, but not good enough to win a championship. I would suggest, though, that the real purgatory is going after the play-in and not making it while drastically decreasing their odds for a top-four pick in what is now being considered a four-player draft.

Actually, after further review, that’s one floor below purgatory.