The Portland Trail Blazers have opened the year at 8-11, holding the 9th spot in the West at the moment.
That record doesn’t look terrible on paper, but the situation underneath it paints a tougher picture. They’ve taken major hits at the worst position, the offense can’t find any real rhythm, and the coaching shakeup after Chauncey Billups’ arrest has thrown the group off balance.
The backcourt drives most of their issues. With Jrue Holiday and Blake Wesley both sidelined, Portland has had to ask Deni Avdija to act as a primary creator. He’s not built for that job, and the offense looks disjointed because of it.
Losing Matisse Thybulle and Robert Williams III has weakened their defensive structure too.
They also opened the season without Damian Lillard as he recovers from a torn Achilles, and Scoot Henderson hasn’t been able to give them anything. That leaves a young roster trying to lean on uneven scoring from Avdija and Shaedon Sharpe, with occasional help from the supporting cast.
Portland can only hang on like this for so long. If the front office wants to improve the roster, this is the kind of idea that could have a meaningful impact.
THIS IS A PREDICTION, NOT A REPORT.
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Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Jrue Holiday
What Portland Would Get
Rui Hachimura has grown into a dependable rotation forward who scores efficiently and spaces the floor. Last season, he averaged 13.1 points while shooting above 50 percent overall and better than 41 percent from three. This year, he’s already dropped 28 and 23 in separate games, showing the same scoring punch.
He handles himself well defensively against bigger wings and power forwards. He still struggles when he has to switch or navigate tricky rotations, but he generally gives any team steady minutes, size, and reliable shot-making.
Jarred Vanderbilt supplies defense, energy, and rebounding, which are three things Portland never has enough of. He won’t carry an offense, but he flips possessions with deflections, steals, and nonstop work on the offensive glass.
He can guard several positions, thrives in scramble situations, and fits any roster that needs toughness and versatility.
Dalton Knecht is a long-term investment. He showed real scoring chops at Tennessee and has kept that touch in the league. As a rookie, he averaged 9.1 points and hit 37.6 percent of his threes while adjusting to NBA size and speed.
Through his first 15 games this season, he’s had efficient scoring stretches that hint at his upside. He moves cleanly without the ball, shoots well off movement, and rarely forces bad decisions.
For a Portland team that’s planning ahead, Knecht is exactly the kind of young scorer worth grooming.
What the Lakers Would Get
Holiday brings the kind of stability contenders go looking for. Before his calf strain, he put up 16.7 points, 8.3 assists, and 5.3 rebounds while playing elite defense.
Portland has leaned on him more than Boston did last season, and he’s answered with stronger scoring, more creation, and impressive advanced numbers on both ends.
Even at 35, he still steers a backcourt, sets the pace, and guards top perimeter players at a level teams trust. Once he’s back from his calf strain, he fits the mold of the midseason upgrade the Lakers usually chase when they think the window is open.
Put Holiday next to LeBron James and Luka Doncic, and their playmaking and defense jump right away. The cost on the Lakers’ side of Hachimura, Vanderbilt, and Knecht isn’t small, but the salaries line up, and the basketball logic is obvious.
Why This Deal Is Tricky
The Lakers look like a team ready to push their chips in. They want wins right now, and Holiday immediately lifts their ceiling.
Portland sits on a different timeline. Even at 8-11, they gain something by bringing in Hachimura, Vanderbilt, and Knecht. That mix gives them younger pieces, real rotation help, and some flexibility going into an offseason where they’re set to have more than $75 million in cap room.
The sticking point is the return. Trading Holiday without a draft pick coming back feels light for a guard playing at an All-Star level.
Both teams walk away with something, but Portland has more to think about. They’re rebuilding, yet Holiday’s voice and on-court impact aren’t easy to replace, even for a short stretch.