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The NBA Trade Deadline has come and gone, and with the dust settled, a multitude of players have swapped uniforms. However, don’t expect the transactions to stop anytime soon. A number of notable players—including the likes of Wesley Matthews and Enes Kanter—have had their contracts bought out and will hit the open market. The Portland Trail Blazers exit the deadline with a vacant roster spot, making them a logical candidate to pursue such players.
Blazers President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey indicated that the team will look to be active on the buyout front if the right situation presents itself, as told to NBC Sports Northwest’s Dwight Jaynes:
Olshey says #Blazers will compete in buyout market to fill open roster spot, but stresses fit and role on team are important for consideration. #ripcity pic.twitter.com/fZKbG7JuWu
— NBC Sports Northwest (@NBCSNorthwest) February 7, 2019
Olshey noted to Jaynes, “We’ll compete in the market if it’s the right player and it fits culturally—if it’s a guy that we know has a role”. He also touched on the fact that he views the buyout market as fundamentally unfair to smaller market teams, such as Portland, and that it is something he has “fought with the league about”.
Is there anyone on the buyout market that you’d like to see in Rip City? Do you think Olshey will pull the trigger on such a move? Let us know in the comments!