NBA rumors: 5 dark horses to sign Blake Griffin if he’s bought out

4. Portland Trail Blazers

Damian Lillard’s best efforts to keep the Portland Trail Blazers afloat without CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic has helped him enter the MVP conversation, but how long can he keep this otherworldly play up? Rip City is fourth in the West thanks to their six-game win streak and 18-10 record, but if this team wants to make real noise in the postseason, it needs all the help it can get.

The Blazers are shorthanded in the frontcourt right now with Nurkic currently sidelined and Zach Collins still recovering from a season-ending ankle surgery back in August. Adding another capable big man to that bench would provide Dame with some much-needed assistance and experience come playoff time.

Again, we cannot emphasize enough that there’s a very good possibility Blake Griffin is just washed up at this stage. But if the 31-year-old is simply waiting for a change of scenery to reignite his career, the Blazers are looking like a fringe contender that could use his services in a less prominent role. It worked for Carmelo Anthony!