Blazers Expected to Trade Deandre Ayton and Multiple First-Round Picks for $238M All-Star
May 20, 2025 | 21:35 PM EDT
The Portland Trail Blazers surprised many with their competitiveness during the 2024-25 season. Despite low expectations in Year 2 of Scoot Henderson’s career, the team, under head coach Chauncey Billups, secured 36 wins in a tough Western Conference.
With a promising future ahead, analysts are suggesting that the Blazers might be looking to add a star to their frontcourt to push for a playoff spot. Armed with the 11th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Portland certainly has the assets to make a move. But the decision between acquiring a star player or focusing on steady team building remains a difficult one for the franchise.
Blazers Could Find Frontcourt Solution
While Portland’s guard rotation is strong, the forward spots are still somewhat uncertain. Jerami Grant, now over 30, is frequently mentioned in trade rumors, and the promising young duo of Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara has yet to prove they can reach the potential of former Most Improved Player and All-Star Lauri Markkanen. In a recent post-combine mock draft, Bleacher Report suggests the Blazers should target Markkanen to help elevate the team’s future prospects.
In exchange for Markkanen, the Blazers could offer the 11th pick in the 2025 draft, Deandre Ayton, Kris Murray, a top-five protected first-round pick in 2029, and a 2030 pick swap (via Milwaukee). This blockbuster trade would shake up the league, as Markkanen, at 27, would be a key addition to Portland’s timeline alongside Scoot Henderson.
However, the latest mock draft from PFSN suggests that Portland might opt for a more patient approach by selecting Jase Richardson, a talented guard from Michigan State. According to Brandon Austin, Richardson’s blend of scoring ability, poise, and two-way versatility could make him an excellent fit for the Blazers, especially as they continue to build around their young core.
Richardson, who averaged 12.1 points with a solid 41.2% shooting from beyond the arc, would be a valuable addition alongside Henderson. His strong fundamentals—balance, footwork, and control—allow him to create scoring opportunities against bigger defenders, making him an intriguing prospect for Portland’s future.
Given speculation that Anfernee Simons may be on the trade block, adding Richardson could make sense for the Blazers’ rebuild. With the competitive Western Conference already stacked with superstar teams, Portland may decide to take a more measured approach, with Richardson potentially being the ideal addition to complement their evolving roster.
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