Portland Trailblazers NBA Trade Rumors: Blazers Look to Unload Festus Ezeli
When the Portland Trailblazers signed Festus Ezeli to a two-year deal worth $15.1 million in the offseason, the team thought they were getting an up-and-coming center at a bargain price. Well, things didn't work out because of his knee injury and now his time in Portland is most likely over before he even had the chance to step on the court.
ESPN's Marc Stein said the Blazers are "determined" to trade Ezeli before the trade deadline and they are reportedly pitching him to teams below the National Basketball Association (NBA) minimum salary floor who are willing to absorb his contract. The team will also include draft compensation to the deal including Ezeli.
"This is the first year of a two-year deal that pays Ezeli $7.4 million this season but is guaranteed for only $1 million next season. Denver ($7.6 million), Philadelphia ($7.5 million) and Brooklyn ($6.8 million) are the three teams that sit the farthest under the league's $84.7 million salary floor," Stein said.
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The Blazers have already traded Mason Plumlee to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Jusuf Nurkić, and it looks like Ezeli may be leaving next.
Ezeli played for the Golden State Warriors for three seasons before he joined the Blazers so he has some championship experience. He tried to assume a leadership role early this season by giving a few locker room speeches, but his teammates did not like the idea. Well, Ezeli has not played at all this season, so that might not have been a good idea.
The Blazers' offseason acquisitions haven't worked out well this season, but at least Evan Turner has become one of the team's main rotation players. Ezeli may never suit up for the Blazers. Even if they fail to trade him, they can always waive him since only $1 million of his salary next season is guaranteed.
