Photo: Portland Trail Blazers/X

The offseason trade that brought Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks and the creative approaches used to secure the All-Star big man have set the stage for other teams to think outside the box when pursuing roster upgrades this season.

According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, writing in The Stein Line, this move may particularly influence second-apron teams like the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns, who are navigating strict cap restrictions.

These teams are expected to scour the trade market for players on minimum contracts, as those deals remain permissible even for organizations pressed against the luxury tax.

Trail Blazers center Duop Reath, Fischer notes is one player generating significant interest in this context. The versatile big man has been the subject of trade chatter across the league, with one Western Conference executive expressing intrigue by calling him, “really interesting.”

Reath’s salary structure makes him an appealing target for cash-strapped teams. His current contract is just under the minimum for a player with two or more years of service, earning $2.05MM this season and set to rise slightly to $2.2MM next year.

This affordability, coupled with his potential, has caught the attention of multiple teams. Despite showing flashes of ability during his first two seasons, Reath finds himself buried in Portland’s depth chart behind Deandre Ayton, Robert Williams III, and Donovan Clingan.

Given the Trail Blazers’ logjam at center, Reath could become a trade candidate if Portland sticks with its current frontcourt rotation.

With teams like the Bucks and Suns eager to find low-cost additions to bolster their rosters, Reath’s skill set and contract make him a prime candidate for movement ahead of the trade deadline.

His availability offers an intriguing opportunity for teams to add a promising young center without significantly impacting their financial flexibility.

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