To Win Or Not To Win

The Blazers find themselves in a bit of a strange pickle just three days before the trade deadline. They find themselves between a rock and hard place.

Something spectacular has happened recently. They are winning. They are 7-3, the NBA’s second best run in that period of games. A spunky mix of young up and coming players and veterans that struggled to find chemistry early in the season are clicking. The switch is turned on.

The Blazers are playing some of, if not the best defense in the NBA. It’s best the defense on the NBA right now. The team hasn’t played this good for years, since at least the Lillard trade and even before then. There is some good cooking going on and it has brought inspired basketball back to a stultified Portland fanbase.

The fans have had a taste. It’s hard to not want more after missing the playoffs several years in a row. It’s hard to not get excited. I’m sure the front office is elated. Young players are developing. The plan is working. The rebuild feels justified.

How careful must we all be to not get caught up in it? The Mavs just parted ways with Doncic. The Kings with Fox. They have other and new players returning In those trades that can help them, but they might. These teams could be headed down the standings.

Should the Blazers stay pay and try to keep winning and catch up to them? Make a run for the play-in and get the Bulls off their backs by handing over their pick this year? Or should they trade the likes of Simons, Grant, Williams, and perhaps Ayton, leaving more minutes for the Blazers young core to develop further?

The Blazers remain at 13th near the bottom of the Western conference. They are currently sitting with the 8th pick in this year’s draft, the possibility of moving up in the lottery not considered.

Another question remains. Are they too good even without some of their veterans to tank? A lot of their good wins are coming without Grant. Simons and Ayton as of late have played big parts. Their scoring would be missed.

There are only 32 games left. It’s going to be hard to sink too far down the lottery. The 4th or 5th pick is possible for sure if they start losing now. And losing is probably the Blazers best bet at a better future. If they don’t they lose the opportunity at a franchise altering player in Cooper Flagg or other potential star level talents in this strong draft.

As it is, even with losing, they likely won’t see Flagg or a few of the other top players behind him. But, as a small market team, the draft is king. Another young player can grow with this already tremendous core of Henderson, Sharpe, and Clingan.

The Blazers are shopping Anfernee Simons, Jerami Grant, Robert Williams, and DeAndre Ayton. A few days time will tell the tale. To win or not to win…that is the question.