Portland Trail Blazers

Is a Nicolas Batum trade a possibility this offseason?

Published May. 26, 2015 12:32 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Portland Trail Blazers are entering an offseason period that could potentially alter the direction of the franchise completely.

With star forward LaMarcus Aldridge heading to unrestricted free agency, there could be quite a few moving parts this offseason if Aldridge leaves outright.

One of those moving parts could be Nicolas Batum, who is coming off a disappointing, injury-marred 2014-15 campaign. Here's Joe Freeman of The Oregonian with more on Batum's future:

"If you had asked me last summer whether Nicolas Batum was destined to be a trade chip, I would have looked at you like you were crazy. But now? It's no longer the craziest idea. With so much uncertainty hovering over the franchise, every option is on the table for President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey as he schemes to tweak — and perhaps overhaul — the Blazers' roster. (...) If he indeed ends up overhauling the Blazers' roster, Batum — who would be highly coveted despite his disappointing season —could be a valuable piece in a larger deal that would alter the direction of the franchise."

(h/t The Oregonian)