OKC Thunder: Power Rankings all teams at the trade deadline

Portland Trail Blazers: Buyers

Week 13: 3-1

Offense: (115.8) 6th
Defense: (116.7) 29th
Net: (Minus -1.0) 20th

With the likelihood that San Antonio doesn’t find a trade partner for LaMarcus Aldridge, they’ll buy out his contract. He’ll have his pick of teams to join and likely take a veteran minimum deal to finish the season. The smart money is on him joining the Heat but how cool would it be if he returned to his drafting team to help them vie for a title?

The point is the Blazers need to add some depth upfront and as per usual could use some wings with 3 and D ability. Yes, they added Robert Covington but the Blazers offense works best when that ball is humming.  Defensively — well they rank 29th but much of that can be blamed on the injury situation and relying on Enes Kanter and Carmelo Anthony to fill in.

Both had standout moments but neither was going to win all-team defense.

With Jusuf Nurkic out and Zach Collins’ injury, the Blazers sure could use an iron man big because this just seems to keep happening to them year after year. The Blazers may want to shop Rodney Hood because the youngster Anfernee Simons needs more minutes and Hood hasn’t looked right since his injury. Trade him to a young team who has time for him to rediscover his form and if they can do it for a young big like Richaun Holmes — do it.

Portland was said to be in the Aaron Gordon sweepstakes who would fulfill their need for a two-way big – but the price and his injury history would unnerve me.