To look at it another way, the GM should evaluate and place a value on every player on their roster, continually, and at all times have an idea what they'd be willing to trade each player for. So when an opportunity comes up, they should know right away if the opportunity is worth considering or pursuing. By the same token, they should be scouting every team in the league and placing a value on other team's players, and determining which players they'd make a play for if given the opportunity, and who they'd be willing to give up to get them.
I have no doubt our front office does exactly that. It's their job.
And while I agree that "the Portland Trail Blazers have no interest in moving Wesley Matthews and breaking up this nucleus", nor shoud they, everyone and every player has their price. If it were me, I'd value and price every player who makes up "our nucleus" very, very high. Chemistry and fit matter.
All that is to say that a trade involving any of our starting five, even Batum, is extremely unlikely in the near future.
