Trail Blazers' skid could make them sellers at trade deadline

Holiday got traded to help a playoff run. He may need to get traded again to fulfill that plan.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 11:55pm

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The Portland Trail Blazers traded for Jrue Holiday before the season in a bid to return to the playoffs. After an embarrassing 115-111 loss to the Washington Wizards Tuesday, the Blazers may be considering becoming sellers at the trade deadline. Holiday is a great veteran presence for the Blazers, but injuries have limited him to 20 games. With the Blazers at 23-25 and Holiday at age 35, it doesn't look like he'll be part of the next good Trail Blazers team. The New York Knicks are reportedly interested in pairing Holiday with Jalen Brunson, but they aren't the only team who could use the All-Defensive guard.

Why it matters

The Blazers owe their first-round pick to the Chicago Bulls in this year's draft — they have some incentive to miss the playoffs. Holiday's salary, plus one of their future Bucks picks from the 2023 Lillard trade, could bring back a star, or extra draft capital for a summer move. The Blazers may still think they can compete for the playoffs, but losing to the 11-34 Wizards suggests they're a long way from contending.

The details

Behind Alex Sarr's six blocks, the Wizards broke a nine-game losing streak with the victory. Despite outrebounding the Wizards, 69-46, the Blazers turned the ball over 20 times and had 12 shots blocked to notch their third straight loss. Holiday is a great veteran presence for the Blazers, who have seven rotation players 25 and younger, as well as 21-year-old guard Scoot Henderson, out for the season with a hamstring injury. He's been great when he's healthy, averaging 14.8 points, 6.8 assists and 4.7 rebounds, but injuries have limited him to 20 games.

  • The Blazers traded for Jrue Holiday before the season.
  • Scoot Henderson, the Blazers' 21-year-old guard, is out for the season with a hamstring injury.

The players

Jrue Holiday

A great veteran presence for the Blazers, who has been limited to 20 games this season due to injuries. He's averaging 14.8 points, 6.8 assists and 4.7 rebounds.

Scoot Henderson

The Blazers' 21-year-old guard, who was the No. 3 pick in the 2023 NBA draft, is out for the season with a hamstring injury.

Alex Sarr

The Wizards player who had six blocks in the game against the Blazers.

Shaedon Sharpe

One of the Blazers' young players locked up on a long-term deal, along with Toumani Camara and Deni Avdija.

Donovan Clingan

The Blazers' second-year center who had 20 rebounds in the game against the Wizards.

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What they’re saying

“Holiday got traded to help a playoff run. He may need to get traded again to fulfill that plan.”

— Sean Keane, Sportswriter and comedian (yardbarker.com)

What’s next

The New York Knicks are reportedly interested in pairing Holiday with Jalen Brunson.

The takeaway

The Blazers' loss to the struggling Wizards suggests they are a long way from contending, and they may need to consider trading Jrue Holiday to acquire more assets and build for the future.