The Portland Trail Blazers could use some help on the wing, and Blazers general manager Neil Olshey is looking hard at Wilson Chandler and Arron Afflalo, according to Jabari Young of CSN Northwest.
Trail Blazers pushing hard for Nuggets wing players, according to report
The Blazers have Wilson Chandler and Arron Afflalo on their radar in advance of the trade deadline.
Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
The Denver Nuggets have made no bones about the availability of Chandler and Afflalo, although the asking price is currently high. Grantland's Zach Lowe says the Nuggets are looking for multiple first-round picks for each player, as Denver is emboldened by the return they got for Timofey Mozgov.
Young reports Chandler is the more coveted target of the two for Portland, who "will not hesitate" to send a combination of Thomas Robinson, another player and a first-round pick in order to acquire the Nuggets forward.
However, if a trade for Chandler can’t be agreed upon, the Blazers still could try and swing a deal for Afflalo. Again, the price would have to be right, but don’t rule anything out.
Why Blazers will get Chandler or Afflalo
While Denver is asking for quite the ransom for these players, Portland’s reported package for Chandler is fair given his ability and injury history. Chandler is a nice role player, but he’s a career 34 percent three-point shooter and has had issues staying healthy.
At the least, the Blazers' package is a good starting point, and a little negotiation could lead to a deal. Chandler would add some nice scoring punch off the bench in Portland, and he would be some insurance if Nicolas Batum gets hurt again or continues to struggle offensively. Even if things didn't work out with Chandler, his contract is only guaranteed for $2 million next season.
If a Chandler deal falls through, the Blazers could make a similar offer for Afflalo. The 29-year-old is having a down year, but he’s a season removed from a career year. If Afflalo could regain that form, he’d be a nice acquisition.
SB Nation presents: Awesome NBA trades that SHOULD happen, but never will.
Why Blazers won’t get Chandler or Afflalo
At this point, it looks like the major thing holding up a deal between Portland and Denver is the high asking price for both of these players. If the Nuggets are unwilling to cave in their demands, the Blazers might not think it’s worth it to give up so many valuable assets for a marginal upgrade. As Dave Deckard at Blazer’s Edge says, standing pat is a viable option.
Young also notes some potential complications when it comes to trading for Afflalo due to the presence of 2013 first-round draft pick C.J. McCollum. Bringing in Afflalo could disrupt the development of McCollum, and there could be questions about whether Portland would exercise Afflalo's $7.5 million option for next year because of this. If that were the case, the Blazers wouldn't want to give up much to get Afflalo.
Likelihood of Blazers landing Chandler or Afflalo
It’s hard to see any team giving the Nuggets what they want for Chandler or Afflalo, and once Denver realizes this, there’s a good chance they lower the asking price. Portland will be ready to strike if that happens, and I’m giving the Blazers a 7/10 chance at landing one of the Nuggets wings.
See More:
