Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers.
The main advantage of the Blazers moving Damian Lillard instead of CJ Mccollum is that Dame, at this point, has more value. In hypothetical situations about trading CJ for Ben Simmons or Pascal Siakam, I have Portland sending out another young player like Nassir Little, along with a first-round draft pick.
To trade for Lillard would be the opposite. A Lillard deal brings Portland one All-Star level player with a young player three first-round picks.
Another advantage of trading Lillard instead of McCollum is finally moving CJ to point guard. It’s a position where he has excelled and raised his stats significantly. Having CJ with the ball in his hands finally allows him to reach his full potential.
A maximized CJ is an All-Star level player. As I said in the previous article, shifting Norman Powell to the shooting guard position instantly improves Portland’s backcourt defense.
One of the trade package rumors I’ve seen around the internet involves the Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown coming to Portland with Aaron Nesmith and three future first-round picks. The Philadelphia 76ers Ben Simmons has also been mentioned. Along with Simmons, they would send Tyrese Maxey, Matisse Thybulle, and three future first-round picks.
Brown would be the starting small forward, moving CJ and Powell to the one and two positions. He also would be the best small forward this team has had since I started watching the Blazers as a kid in 1990. An above-average defender who puts up 25 points per game while shooting over 48 percent from the field and roughly 40 percent from three. At 24, he still hasn’t reached his potential.
You can basically copy and paste what I said about bringing in Simmons in the previous article. He’d be in a near-identical role for the Blazers whether he was moved for CJ or Lillard. He is a 6’ 11” slasher/ball-handler who is still highly effective around the rim despite his glaring faults at shooting. Not to mention a game-changing perimeter defender of the likes we haven’t seen since, maybe Scottie Pippen. Simmons’ experience as a point guard would also help smooth out the road for CJ.
PAGE TWO – What’s the difference between who you trade?
If Portland decides to trade Lillard, I don’t think it would mean they are tearing down and rebuilding. Instead, it could mean the organization has faith in CJ taking up the reigns. In addition, the assets coming back could bring an All-Star level player. Finally, additional assets such as a young player and/or multiple draft picks would go a long way in improving the rest of the team.
For example, in the hypothetical Simmons for Lillard trade, I mentioned having three first-round picks returning in addition to Simmons. This deal allows Portland to have three draft picks to reroute somewhere else in pursuit of more talent. Add in the recent addition of Larry Nance Jr, and you further add to the same kind of asset/roster pool that I described earlier. With Nance Jr. as a possible plug-in starter, you could put together a couple of starters, any combination of Covington, Powell, Nurkic, or even Nance Jr. himself. Package that with the three picks from the Philly trade and see its value for the team. Could Portland finally be close to having an All-Star level Big Three?
I’d be curious if a package of Covington and Nance Jr with three first-round picks from Philly or Boston would get you close to obtaining Pascal Siakam? Does a Jaylen Brown/Pascal Siakam or Simmons/Siakam frontcourt with the remaining three starters make this team a contender? I’m not saying this is what will happen, simply that this is the kind of thinking that makes you hesitate to trade CJ if you can get a big enough package for Lillard. Maybe the incoming haul nets the team enough to turn Portland into a contender finally. Would fans be willing to make that trade?
2. It’s going to really upset some people
Not that trading CJ won’t upset people, but Dame has been something special for the franchise. This second part of the article has required me to play a bit of devil’s advocate as I do not want to see the franchise’s face get traded. I also don’t want to see the team continue to remain stuck in the mud as a one-and-done first-round playoff exit every year. No matter what the return is, fans are going to revolt against a Dame trade.
Part of the culture of Blazer fans has been to have incredible loyalty to its players. Damian Lillard has shown that loyalty in return. He has been a phenomenal team leader, helping to create a team culture of accountability and high integrity. Not to mention countless unforgettable Blazer highlights and memories. Players like that are not easily replaceable.
Which route do you think the organization should take? Do you think the current roster is the path to take? Let us know in the comments below.