The Portland Trail Blazers could be on the move for a defensive big man as the February 2017 trade deadline draws near.
There is a huge demand in the league for a defensive and rebounding big man, and among the teams interested to acquire one is the Blazers, who currently ranks second-to-last in defensive efficiency. With plenty of trade assets in their possession, ESPN's Chris Haynes believes that the Blazers are expected to strike a deal for the reportedly available centers on the trade market.
Among the names the Blazers could consider is Phoenix Suns center Tyson Chandler, according to ESPN's Marc Stein.
"Word is Portland, of late, has been tracking Tyson Chandler as a potential trade target, since the Phoenix center could certainly help the Blazers with their defensive issues," Stein wrote.
Chandler is having a bounce-back year with the Suns this season, averaging 7.6 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. The 34-year-old center would provide the Blazers solid rim-protection and a big man who can secure the boards on both ends of the floor.
Chandler has two seasons left in his contract after this season, which is valued at $26.5 million. Trading for him may require the Blazers to part ways with the likes of Moe Harkless and another key player down the rotation, although it is unclear whether Phoenix would entertain such move, especially after Chandler urged the club to resist outside trade interest in the past summer.
Another player the Blazers could watch for is Nerlens Noel, who is likely becoming the trade candidate for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Noel is a young athletic defensive center who could be a more fitting piece for the Blazers' core roster. Despite only playing in limited minutes this season, Noel's sheer ability to be effective crashing the boards and protecting the rim make him a must-have for Portland.
While the 76ers have yet to make a decision on the 22-year-old center's future with the team, many believes Noel would be the odd man out in Philly as part of the Sixers addressing their frontcourt logjam.
Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer has an interesting trade scenario the Blazers could consider to acquire Noel from the 76ers.
"If Bryan Colangelo is finally ready to cash in on Sam Hinkie's assets, trading for (C.J.) McCollum would make sense. Here's an idea to mull over: The Blazers send McCollum to the Sixers for Noel, the Sixers' unprotected 2017 first, the Kings' top-10-protected 2018 first (which is becomes unprotected in 2019), and multiple second-round picks. There would be financial kinks to work out because of the poison pill, but that would be the base offer," O'Connor wrote.
As O'Connor further added, this trade would make sense for Philadelphia as it would give the franchise a scoring backcourt piece to pair with Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. Adding McCollum would also make the 76ers an attractive free agent destination and a potential contender in the coming years.
However, there seems no intentions whatsoever on the Blazers' side to deal McCollum, the team's second best and reliable scorer. As Haynes reported in his piece, Portland is willing to shakeup its roster, but not one that involves McCollum and Evan Turner.
Whether the Blazers would consider the aforementioned players remains to be seen. But at the right price, anyone between Chandler and Noel would be attainable for Portland.
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