Trade Targets On Each Northwest Team
Who could your favorite Northwest team part ways with at the February 8th trade deadline?
With the trade deadline less than a month away, teams in the Northwest prepare to send players in and out to put them in a better situation to achieve their goals. Almost the whole division is either in serious playoff contention or is flirting with a play-in spot. Let’s take a look at who could be going out in a deal without destroying what the team does well in exchange for a game-changing player for each team.
Portland Trail Blazers- F Matisse Thybulle
Image from Blazer’s Edge
Contract: 3 years, $33 million
There are a few teams that could use Thybulle’s perimeter defense, and they are all contenders. Look for a top offensive team to call the Blazers about his services, especially in the Eastern Conference to combat Jayson Tatum, Jimmy Butler, Giannis Antetokounmpo and now Pascal Siakam. The Blazers have young players throughout their lineup, but Thybulle doesn’t necessarily fit their timeline at this point.
Utah Jazz- PF/C Kelly Olynyk
Image from NBA.com
Contract: 1 year, $12 million
Olynyk has bounced around the league throughout his career. His shooting and playmaking have always been his strengths, and his expiring deal makes him a valuable commodity to the top contenders. The Clippers, Lakers and Heat have been rumored to have varying levels of interest in Olynyk, but Jazz general manager Danny Ainge may be unwilling to let the Canadian big man go, given that he is propping up the playmaking of the Jazz’s bench and taking stress off rookie guard Keyonte George.
Denver Nuggets- C Deandre Jordan
Image from CBS Sports
Contract: 1 year, $3 million
Another big who has been on a number of teams in his time, Jordan provides a completely different skill-set to his team in the form of better defense and verticality. The former Clippers All-Star has had moments this season where he has recaptured his former glory, and could be used in spot minutes to spell a starting big. Trades within a division are very rare, but the Thunder will be looking for a more traditional big to help their offensive rebounding and could kick the tires in Denver in concern to Jordan.
Oklahoma City Thunder- PF Davis Bertans
Image from Sports Illustrated
Contract: 2 years, $33 million
The Thunder need to use Bertans’ contract this year or have it on their books until it is paid off. The team absorbed his deal from the Mavericks during last year’s draft, but the Latvian power forward hasn’t played as much as he expected this year. This is primarily thanks to the plethora of young talent on the Thunder’s roster. Bertans’ prowess from three-point range makes him a name to watch for a team with the contracts to match, but GM Sam Presti will undoubtedly approach conversations with caution, looking to get the most out of him, and with how the Thunder have done things at past deadlines, may not move him at all.
Minnesota Timberwolves- G Troy Brown Jr.
Image from The Athletic
Contract: 2 years, $8 million
The Timberwolves need a backup point guard, but a team sitting at the top of their conference is rightfully hesitant to make moves that could negatively impact chemistry. The plus side for the Wolves is that they have a replacement for Brown’s production already on the team in Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Expect Minnesota to be active in the market while also not offering significant parts of their rotation in trades. This can be a tough line to walk on, and Minnesota will likely have to part with Brown or another bench piece in order to secure a swing player that could put them over the top.
