NBA Rumors: Trail Blazers Wing "Very, Very Hot" On Trade Market

The Portland Trail Blazers are going to be active at the trade deadline, from all reports. With Damian Lillard putting up another historical performance Wednesday night, the Blazers are motivated to improve the team around him, and the way they play together. 

ESPN's Zach Lowe said on his Lowe Post podcast that "there's going to be a lot of noise around Josh Hart." 

“Josh Hart is a name that is very, very hot right now. A lot of teams would like Josh Hart. I think Miami will probably express some interest in Josh Hart. He’s a Heat guy. Heat kinda guy.” - @ZachLowe_NBA pic.twitter.com/gSNLB1rVAr

— dru_star (@dru_star) January 24, 2023

“Josh Hart is a name that is very, very hot right now. A lot of teams would like Josh Hart." 

Hart, 27, has an odd player option in his contract that would make the rest of his contract non-guaranteed should he pick it up, which means all signs point to him becoming a free agent after the season. 

Lowe links Hart to one particular Eastern Conference team. I think Miami will probably express some interest in Josh Hart. He’s a Heat guy. Heat kinda guy.”

Hart's numbers are down significantly this season, averaging just 9.3 points, down over five points from last season, and actually down 10 points from the 19.9 he put up in a 13-game trial with the Blazers last season.

The Blazers, despite the heroics of Dame, and great seasons from newly-signed Anfernee Simons and their big offseason trade acquisition Jerami Grant, are just not clicking the way they'd hoped this year. They're tied with the Oklahoma City Thunder for 11th in the West, at 23-25. 

"Something is just not working," said Lowe. "I just feel like we're living the same movie again."

A recent report suggests that the Blazers are "intensely engrossed" in making significant changes to their roster by the deadline on Feb. 9th. Hart could be one of those on the move.

Photo: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports