If the Portland Trail Blazers weren't going to become buyers at the trade deadline, they should've flipped their approach to become sellers. The last thing they want to do is be in this purgatory as a team that misses the postseason with nothing to show for it other than another late lottery pick.
To make matters worse, the Blazers are overpaying veterans while still on track to fall short of the postseason. The most notable example is their win-now trade for Jrue Holiday, which was a polarizing decision at the time.
Portland's front office essentially doubled down on this decision at the deadline, as they could've flipped Holiday for a second time.