Blazers GM Joe Cronin dropped a bombshell during Thursday's end-of-season press conference, revealing that he had a trade ready to go at the deadline—one that owner-in-waiting Tom Dundon had already approved. But here's the kicker: Cronin ultimately passed on it.

The details that emerged are tantalizing: the deal would have pushed Portland into luxury tax territory, forcing Dundon to write a check for a whopping $20 million. It also would have saved another team a significant chunk of change. So, who was the mystery player Cronin was targeting?

Let's break it down. The clues point to a salary-dump trade, where a tax-strapped team offloads a young player to save money. First, we look at teams that were over the luxury tax by more than $5 million at the deadline. That list includes the Knicks, Cavaliers, Clippers, and Mavericks.

But we can eliminate the Knicks and Cavaliers—James Dolan and Dan Gilbert are all-in on winning, no matter the cost. The Clippers, despite their veteran-heavy roster, and the Mavericks, who are pivoting to a younger core, also seem unlikely to part with a promising asset just to save cash.

Here's where it gets interesting. The trade would have brought in a young player whose salary was roughly $7 million more than what Portland sent out—right up against the first apron. That narrows the field considerably.

So, who fits the bill? A young, affordable talent on a tax-strapped team looking to shed salary. Think of a player with upside but a contract that's just a bit too rich for a rebuilding team's blood. The pieces are all there—Cronin's hint was just the starting point for a fascinating offseason puzzle.