The Portland Trail Blazers are one of the key teams to watch this summer. They can create considerable cap space, or they can stay over the cap and use the league’s current largest trade exception. Either way, Portland intends to rebuild their roster around Damian Lillard.
If they go the cap space route, two players on the Blazers radar are Bradley Beal and Zach LaVine.
Beal has a player option for 2022-23 with the Washington Wizards that he’s expected to decline. Most believe Beal will re-sign with Washington.
LaVine is an unrestricted free agent, and he’s indicated he plans to explore free agency. Most expect LaVine to ultimately re-sign with the Chicago Bulls, because they can offer more money than any other team. However, LaVine is at least open to the idea of changing teams. He is also a Pacific Northwest native, as LaVine grew up in Washington, where he still maintains a home.