NBA Trade Deadline: Portland Trail Blazers openly shopping Festus Ezeli

The Portland Trail Blazers are "determined" to move centre Festus Ezeli ahead of the Feb. 23 NBA Trade Deadline, per reports. Ezeli, who joined the Blazers in free agency last summer, hasn't appeared in a solitary game due to prolonged issues with his left knee, which would likely require surgery at some stage.

According to ESPN's Mark Stein, the Blazers are pitching Ezeli's contract with the addition of a draft pick to teams that are below the salary floor. The Denver Nuggets, Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets are the only three teams in the league that are below the league's $US84.7 million ($AU110.3 million) salary floor. "Sources say Portland is determined to move injured centre Festus Ezeli before the deadline and is pitching him in particular to teams well below the salary floor that would be willing to take on Ezeli's contract with some level of draft compensation attached."

Ezeli, who won a championship with the Golden State Warriors in 2015, signed with the Blazers on a two-year, $US15 million ($AU19.5 million) contract last offseason after the Oakland-based franchise let him walk in order to create cap room for superstar Kevin Durant. The former Vanderbilt standout was expected to emerge as Portland's primary rim protector but suffered ill-timed injuries since the start of the season.

Festus Ezeli trade: Big man could require another knee surgery

Last February, Ezeli underwent surgery to repair his troubled left knee but never healed enough to help the Warriors during the postseason. In December, told The Vertical that he was contemplating another surgery on his left knee that would essentially rule him out of the 2016-17 season. As of this writing, Ezeli is still rehabbing his knee but without undergoing surgery. "Everyone has moments of setback. It's unfortunate and disappointing that I am facing one of those right now.

"My aim is to fundamentally address issues that have lingered so that I can be the best that I can be, to help my team contend for and win the title. To all concerned I assure this: My love for the game nothing but ensures that I will be back better and stronger than ever, and you can take that to the bank," a frustrated Ezeli told The Vertical in December.

The team that pulls off a Festus Ezeli trade has the option of waiving him on or before June 30, 2017. By doing so, Ezeli will be guaranteed only $US1 million ($AU1.3 million) of his 2017-18 salary. Last July, the Blazers had insisted on partially guaranteed contract due to Ezeli's injury history. Stay tuned for the latest on all the buzz surrounding the NBA Trade Deadline.