The NBA trade deadline left several players available on the open market. Lottery-bound teams started looking ahead to the upcoming draft and decided to waive or buy out some of their veterans. Teams acquiring multiple players in trades had to open up roster spots by waiving veterans who had fallen out of the rotation. As a result, the Portland Trail Blazers should be able to acquire a difference maker to help them compete this season.
The Blazers biggest need has been at small forward. Wesley Matthews and Wayne Ellington were two quality wings on the market, but they unfortunately already signed with the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons respectively.