Deveney: Trail Blazers NBA Trade Deadline Buyers, May Like Mirotic

The Portland Trail Blazers are “very much a buyer for roster depth” at the 2019 NBA Trade Deadline according to Sean Deveney of The Sporting News. In an article exploring the implications of Anthony Davis moving on from the New Orleans Pelicans, Deveney name checks Pelicans forward Nikola Mirotic as a possible Portland target.

Deveney cites the Sixers and Jazz as front-runners for Mirotic’s services, then posits Portland as a possible destination:

Portland, which is very much a buyer for roster depth at the deadline, could be a factor for Mirotic, and the Rockets have long coveted him as a long-range big man. Both are expected to make a pitch for him.

Mirotic played a key role in ousting the Blazers from the 2018 NBA Playoffs in a first-round sweep. He’s averaging 16.7 points and 8.3 rebounds on 44.7% field goal shooting for the Pelicans this season. He’s making $12.5 million on a contract that expires this summer.