As Thomas Robinson fled the locker room Wednesday night for a weeklong All-Star break, it was obvious a part of him thought it might be the last time he stepped foot in the Moda Center wearing a Portland Trail Blazers uniform.

Before the game, he joked with teammates that he might not see them again. And then, after the Blazers had dismissed the Los Angeles Lakers 102-86, he was just about to push through the locker room doors to leave when he twisted around to give good friend and teammate Will Barton a hug.

"I love you, Will," Robinson said, as if it would be some time before he saw him again.

Moments later, just before Barton left, he extended his hand to a reporter for a handshake.

"If I don't see you after the break," Barton said, "it's been real."

The NBA trade deadline passes at noon one week from today -- the day before the Blazers play their first game after the All-Star break -- and there is no doubt President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey is aggressively exploring the trade landscape to bolster the Blazers' depth for the stretch run.

But are Robinson and Barton's fears justified? Are the Blazers destined to make a move?

If one of those Magic 8 Balls existed for solving NBA trade questions, the answer would be something like: Odds are not high ... but ... it's too early to tell.

Because no matter how aggressive Olshey might be chasing a player, pulling off a deadline deal this season comes with challenges and complications. The NBA trade market is so flush with buyers, it's almost as inflated as the Portland housing market right now. As many as 20 of the league's 30 teams are snooping around looking to acquire the same four or five players, so sellers are placing a premium on their assets. As much as ever, it's a seller's market.

Would the Blazers like to add a veteran wing player who could provide some scoring punch and a little defense off the bench? No question. But Olshey and coach Terry Stotts have spent five months and 53 games cultivating a unique chemistry and culture and there is a strong hesitation at One Center Court to overpay when things are already going so well. Why risk demolishing a 53-game foundation? Especially when the Blazers entered the All-Star Break with a 36-17 record -- the identical record they had at the break last season?

For Olshey to make a deal, he will need to find a player that fits into a precise set of criteria.

The player not only has to make the Blazers better, but also exponentially increase their chances of winning a playoff series. He has to fit into the team's culture and chemistry. His salary has to be manageable, somewhere in the $5-8 million range, so as not to hinder the Blazers' salary cap flexibility this summer. He has to be a player who comes to Portland willing to play roughly 20 minutes a night in a backup role. And he has to be someone the Blazers' starters -- who are not going anywhere -- openly accept, knowing full well he's going to help for the playoff push.

How many players meet the Blazers' standards, you ask? Five? Ten?

Try two or three.

And if you believe internet speculation, Wilson Chandler and Arron Afflalo are at the top of the list. The Denver Nuggets are a mess and staring at an obvious fire sale. Both players -- assuming they would embrace moving from the starting lineup to a reduced role -- would fill the Blazers' desires. But when Denver general manager Tim Connelly shipped Timofey Mozgov to the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier this season, he fetched two first-round picks in return. Can you imagine him asking for anything less in a deal for Chandler or Afflalo?

Not likely.

At least not yet.

Asking prices tend to drop the closer the calendar creeps toward the deadline. The NBA will descend on New York later this week for All-Star Weekend and general managers will rub elbows and strike up casual conversations that undoubtedly transition into trade banter. These casual talks could become the foundation for a trade next week.

But Olshey's track record suggests it could be a quiet week. In his three seasons in Portland, he's made just one deadline deal, acquiring Eric Maynor as a two-month rental in 2013 to take a little pressure off point guard Damian Lillard at the end of his rookie season. For the most part, Olshey has a history of making value trades and spending free agent dollars judiciously. Robin Lopez, Robinson, Chris Kaman, Dorell Wright and Steve Blake -- even Mo Williams last season -- didn't cost the Blazers much.

Trade or not, the Blazers, who are tied for third in the West despite a slew of injuries, have shown they have the ability to compete with anybody. Besides, the West is so deep that any of the eight teams that make the playoffs have a legitimate chance to advance. Think about it. Golden State has emerged as the class of the conference, and its reward for earning the No. 1 seed could be a first-round date with Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Seeding is less important this season than perhaps any in recent memory. It's all about who's healthy and who's hot in April.

Will Robinson and Barton still be a part of the team by then?

We'll know for sure in another week. But the sentiment inside the Blazers' locker room Wednesday night was that they don't need any help.

"I think we've got a pretty damn good team," Wesley Matthews said. "At one point, we were one of the scariest teams in the league. If we stay healthy, we can beat anybody."

--Joe Freeman | jfreeman@oregonian.com | 503-294-5183 | @BlazerFreeman