The Portland Trail Blazers are currently dealing with a three-game losing streak, recently experiencing their worst performance of the season in a 141-99 defeat against the depleted Utah Jazz. Their upcoming opportunity to break this streak arises on Sunday, Dec. 8, as they face the Los Angeles Lakers on the road. This matchup appears far […]
The Portland Trail Blazers are currently dealing with a three-game losing streak, recently experiencing their worst performance of the season in a 141-99 defeat against the depleted Utah Jazz. Their upcoming opportunity to break this streak arises on Sunday, Dec. 8, as they face the Los Angeles Lakers on the road. This matchup appears far more attainable than previously anticipated, especially with the Lakers also on a three-game slide.
Los Angeles has dropped seven out of their last nine contests, leading to a record of 12-11. Given the Lakers’ ongoing difficulties, it would be ill-advised for them to aggressively seek trade deadline acquisitions, as they are not close to being contenders with just one more player.
Investing in future assets to pursue a championship during LeBron James’ final years at 39 seems illogical if they are not truly a piece away from competing. Nonetheless, despite remaining around the .500 mark, the Lakers continue to be active in trade discussions, particularly eyeing center upgrades.
The positive for LA is that if there’s ever a time to explore center options, it’s now. There are numerous quality trade candidates, including Clint Capela, Jonas Valanciunas, Walker Kessler, Mitchell Robinson, and the Blazers’ pair of Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams III, among others.
Jake Fischer from Bleacher Report recently noted the Lakers’ interest in potential trade targets, identifying Valanciunas and Williams as individuals they are considering. “Another name that’s frequently brought up for the Lakers aside from Jonas Valanciunas is Robert Williams up in Portland.”
The decision on whether to trade Williams is a complex issue and could be the toughest choice faced by GM Joe Cronin in advance of the Feb. 6 trade deadline. Ideally, keeping Ayton would be the favored option as his injury background provides more confidence moving forward.
Nonetheless, the contracts involved make Williams a more desirable asset. Ayton is set to earn nearly $70 million over the next two seasons, while RW3’s contract is approximately $25 million. Another reason Williams is a sought-after trade option is the new CBA’s tax apron. Now more than ever, teams need to be judicious with their finances, making a deal for Ayton, the highest-paid player on Portland’s roster, far more complicated.
The Lakers’ future draft assets are compelling given their current struggles and LeBron’s age. If they are prepared to part with a first-round pick for RW3, the Blazers should think about it. However, their focus should still be on trading Ayton, based on the potential value they could secure for him in the market.
