NBA Trade 2017 News & Updates : Portland Trail Blazers Desperately Shopping Ex-NBA Champ Festus Ezeli

The Portland Trail Blazers had high hopes for Festus Ezeli when they signed him to a two-year deal in the off season. Ezeli would have been the anchor of the Blazers' defense, something the team is in dire need of. Now the Blazers are actively shopping the Nigerian big man.

According to ESPN, the Portland Trail Blazers have reached out to teams having space in their salary cap to talk about possible trades involving Festus Ezeli. The 27-year old center has yet to play for the Trail Blazers this season due to his knee injury.

Festus Ezeli, two seasons removed from winning his first NBA championship with the Golden State Warriors, is due to make US$ 7.4 million this season but only US$ 1 million is guaranteed next season. In theory, Festus Ezeli's salary should have him easier to move if not for the knee injury.

Without Festus Ezeli to man the middle, the Portland Trail Blazers relied on Mason Plumlee for rim protection. Mason Plumlee was a 2013 first-round pick of the Brooklyn Nets and was acquired by the Trail Blazers two years later.

According to a report from Yahoo Sports, the Portland Trail Blazers had just traded Mason Plumlee for Jusuf Nurkic and a 2017 first-round pick. The Trail Blazers now has three picks in the 2017 NBA draft.

With Jusuf Nurkic aboard, the Portland Trail Blazers are seemingly focusing on their long-term goal and Festus Ezeli doesn't seem to be a part of it anymore. While the skill set of Jusuf Nurkic and Festus Ezeli are not that dissimilar, Nurkic can at least provide the Trail Blazers with an able body that Ezeli with his continuing knee problems cannot provide.

Festus Ezeli has yet to play this season due to the aforementioned knee injury. The former Warrior tries to help the team by being a vocal leader inside the Portland Trail Blazers' locker room. However, a report from the Oregon Live states that some of his teammates don't appreciate the rally-for-a-cause speeches.