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The Portland Trail Blazers don't have to trade Scoot Henderson or Shaedon Sharpe.
In fact, Joe Cronin shouldn't entertain either possibility unless the return obviously improves the roster.
But the Dallas Mavericks may be one of the few teams capable of doing exactly that.
After all, Dallas suddenly finds itself in an unfamiliar position.
With Kyrie Irving recovering from a torn ACL, the Mavericks enter the 2026-27 season potentially relying on rookie Sergio de Larrea and Marcus Sasser as their primary backcourt options. That's a risky proposition for a team hoping to contend in the Western Conference, especially if Irving isn't immediately himself upon returning.
Portland, meanwhile, has the opposite problem.
The additions of Ja Morant and return of Damian Lillard leave the Blazers with one of the league's deepest guard rotations, also featuring Henderson, Sharpe and Jrue Holiday.
While first-year head coach Micah Nori has embraced the challenge of maximizing multiple ball-dominant guards, it's fair to wonder whether all five remain part of Portland's long-term vision.
That's where Dallas enters the conversation.
The Mavericks have something the Blazers could value:
P.J. Washington.
At 6-foot-7, Washington has developed into one of the NBA's more versatile forwards, capable of defending multiple positions while stretching the floor offensively. He's exactly the type of complementary frontcourt piece every contender covets.
There's a reason Dallas wanted him before its Finals run. The Oklahoma City Thunder have been rumored to have interest in Washington, too.
But more importantly, he'd help balance Portland's roster.
Now, the hypothetical deal would need to send more back to Rip City. A one-for-one swap of either Henderson or Sharpe for Washington isn't a balanced deal whatsoever.
But Masai Ujiri and the Mavericks could add some sweeteners to make it worth Portland's while in the form of future draft capital or even additional depth pieces. that better fit Nori's vision.
The Blazers have spent the offseason reshaping their backcourt, but much of the attention has come at the expense of the frontcourt.
Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara remain the franchise's two-way pillars on the wing, yet Portland still lacks proven depth behind them if one were forced to miss significant time.
Washington would immediately change that.
Of course, moving Henderson or Sharpe wouldn't come without risk.
Both remain young enough to develop into All-Stars, and Portland has invested years into their growth. Trading either player simply because the backcourt appears crowded would be shortsighted.
But if Cronin ever reaches the point where consolidating talent becomes the best path forward, Dallas makes plenty of sense as a trade partner.
The Mavericks need another proven guard.
The Trail Blazers could benefit from another versatile forward.
Whether either front office is willing to part with those pieces is another discussion entirely.
On paper, however, there may not be two Western Conference contenders with more complementary needs than Portland and Dallas.
Continue reading...
In fact, Joe Cronin shouldn't entertain either possibility unless the return obviously improves the roster.
But the Dallas Mavericks may be one of the few teams capable of doing exactly that.
After all, Dallas suddenly finds itself in an unfamiliar position.
With Kyrie Irving recovering from a torn ACL, the Mavericks enter the 2026-27 season potentially relying on rookie Sergio de Larrea and Marcus Sasser as their primary backcourt options. That's a risky proposition for a team hoping to contend in the Western Conference, especially if Irving isn't immediately himself upon returning.
Portland, meanwhile, has the opposite problem.
The additions of Ja Morant and return of Damian Lillard leave the Blazers with one of the league's deepest guard rotations, also featuring Henderson, Sharpe and Jrue Holiday.
While first-year head coach Micah Nori has embraced the challenge of maximizing multiple ball-dominant guards, it's fair to wonder whether all five remain part of Portland's long-term vision.
That's where Dallas enters the conversation.
The Mavericks have something the Blazers could value:
P.J. Washington.
At 6-foot-7, Washington has developed into one of the NBA's more versatile forwards, capable of defending multiple positions while stretching the floor offensively. He's exactly the type of complementary frontcourt piece every contender covets.
There's a reason Dallas wanted him before its Finals run. The Oklahoma City Thunder have been rumored to have interest in Washington, too.
But more importantly, he'd help balance Portland's roster.
Now, the hypothetical deal would need to send more back to Rip City. A one-for-one swap of either Henderson or Sharpe for Washington isn't a balanced deal whatsoever.
But Masai Ujiri and the Mavericks could add some sweeteners to make it worth Portland's while in the form of future draft capital or even additional depth pieces. that better fit Nori's vision.
The Blazers have spent the offseason reshaping their backcourt, but much of the attention has come at the expense of the frontcourt.
Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara remain the franchise's two-way pillars on the wing, yet Portland still lacks proven depth behind them if one were forced to miss significant time.
Washington would immediately change that.
Of course, moving Henderson or Sharpe wouldn't come without risk.
Both remain young enough to develop into All-Stars, and Portland has invested years into their growth. Trading either player simply because the backcourt appears crowded would be shortsighted.
But if Cronin ever reaches the point where consolidating talent becomes the best path forward, Dallas makes plenty of sense as a trade partner.
The Mavericks need another proven guard.
The Trail Blazers could benefit from another versatile forward.
Whether either front office is willing to part with those pieces is another discussion entirely.
On paper, however, there may not be two Western Conference contenders with more complementary needs than Portland and Dallas.
Continue reading...
