Trail Blazers guard Josh Hart (11) looks for an open teammate as the Portland Trail Blazers face the Atlanta Hawks in an NBA game at Moda Center in Portland Jan. 30.

The Portland Trail Blazers returned home from a three-game trip sitting one game below .500, just 1 1/2 games out of sixth place in the Western Conference standings and playing their best basketball since early December.

But with Thursday’s NBA trade deadline looming, the Blazers, who sit in 11th place in the West, run the risk of being left behind by teams making moves to improve their roster.

Unless, of course, the Blazers can pull off a deal.

As of Sunday, the only firm rumor connected to the Blazers, confirmed by a team source to The Oregonian/OregonLive, has them holding interest in acquiring Utah forward Jarred Vanderbilt.

Any blockbuster trade involving the Blazers would likely cost them either rookie Shaedon Sharpe or guard Anfernee Simons. And it appears unlikely that such a deal will materialize. A trade for the 6-foot-8 Vanderbilt, a role player who would add size to the rotation, could probably come through a move involving Josh Hart or Justise Winslow and second-round picks.

Would Vanderbilt make the Blazers contenders? No. But they desperately need size and length to keep pace in the congested Western Conference race for an outright playoff berth.

And that race became even more interesting on Sunday.

The Dallas Mavericks (28-26), who were in sixth place in the West entering Sunday, reportedly acquired disgruntled and polarizing All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving in a blockbuster trade with the Brooklyn Nets.

How well Irving meshes with All-Star guard Luka Doncic remains to be seen, but one could argue the Mavericks just added more proven high-end talent in one deal than the Blazers have secured via trade or free agency in the history of the franchise.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers (25-29) recently added 6-8 forward Rui Hachimura in a trade with the Washington Wizards. However, the Lakers are just 2-3 since his arrival, even though Anthony Davis has returned and is putting up huge numbers.

It’s unlikely the Blazers will add a player of Irving’s caliber, but they should be able to acquire a player on Hachimura’s level.

The main pieces in play will likely be Hart or Winslow.

Hart has attracted interest from the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to Marc Stein.

Hart ranks second on the Blazers in rebounding and is a good on-ball defender. But he is 6-4. If the Blazers could add size in the deal, it would be a win. Hart is making $12.9 million this season and has a player-option for the same amount next season, so there is no guarantee he would return to Portland.

Hart could walk in the offseason or the Blazers could be forced to pay him more than they would to keep him. It’s possible that Sharpe moves into the starting lineup next season anyway, making Hart a luxury the Blazers won’t be able to afford.

In a deal suggested by Fearthesword.com, the Blazers could land 6-6 wing Caris LeVert from the Cleveland Cavaliers for Hart and Keon Johnson.

That almost seems to be too good to be true. LeVert would add length to the Blazers, bring solid defense and reliable three-point shooting (he’s made a career-high 37.4% of his threes this season).

The website also suggested 6-7 forward Cedi Osman (9.3 points per game), 6-6 Dylan Windler (2.2 points per game) and two second-round picks for Hart.

With Irving off the market, expect teams to start tinkering with smaller deals that could involve multiple teams — including the Blazers.