Blazers Projected to be Buyers at the Deadline

Next week’s NBA Trade Deadline is rapidly approaching and the Trail Blazers are expected to be active participants in the process before March 25. Earlier this week, Yahoo Sports NBA analyst Keith Smith delivered a league-wide preview of the teams that figure to be buyers, sellers, or land somewhere in between.

Smith included the Blazers inside a long list of potential buyers. In terms of the assets that could be on the table for Portland, Smith listed Rodney Hood and Zach Collins.

Portland has gone through a lot injury-wise, but sits just a couple games off the pace for homecourt advantage in the Western Conference playoffs. The Blazers have Rodney Hood’s pseudo-expiring (2021-22 is non-guaranteed) $10 million contract to offer in trade. Zach Collins isn’t healthy, but his $5.4 million deal helps in salary-matching, too. If Portland can upgrade its rotation in any way, it’ll do it.

Hood, who is returning from an Achilles injury, has appeared in 33 games this season (five starts). In those outings, the former Jazz forward is averaging 5.0 points and 1.2 assists per game. Zach Collins, who suffered an ankle injury in last year’s Orlando-based bubble, has not appeared in a game in the 2020-21 campaign.

Yesterday, The Athletic’s Shams Charania revealed that the Blazers have expressed interest in acquiring Magic forward Aaron Gordon.

You can read the complete rundown from Smith at Yahoo Sports.