Making The Case: Blow Up The Portland Trail Blazers
In the first edition of Making the Case, our Andrew Elderbaum advocates for blowing up the current Portland Trail Blazers and rebuilding on the fly.
The Portland Trail Blazers are a team circling the drain right now. Even with a healthy roster, they are in the 5-7 seed range in the Western Conference. Do you really see them competing with Golden State, Phoenix, Utah, Memphis, or Denver anytime in the immediate future? Dallas still has Luka, and the Clippers will be seeing Kawhi and PG reunited soon. Portland’s best-case scenario is closer to the play-in than the playoffs.
Knowing that there’s nothing worse than treading water in the NBA, maybe it’s time for the Blazers to accept reality and tear it down. With a few desirable pieces, Portland can reconfigure and rebuild quickly, on a timeline that will give them a chance to compete in the future. The only question is if they have the guts to do it.
The Trade
Portland Trail Blazers send:
Damian Lillard, Norman Powell, and Robert Covington to Philadelphia.
C.J. McCollum to Indiana
Philadelphia 76ers send:
Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris to Portland
2022 and 2024 first-round picks to Indiana
Indiana Pacers Send:
Myles Turner to Portland
Caris Levert to Philadelphia
Why it Works for the Portland Trail Blazers
This three-team blockbuster would be a win for all sides. It lays a foundation for the next iteration of the Portland Trail Blazers, built around a young, athletic core. Philly would be ready to compete for a championship this year, and Indiana would add an all-star caliber guard, two future first rounders, and break up the broken Sabonis/Turner duo.
Portland would immediately raise their defensive ceiling with Simmons and Turner. The two are long, athletic, and can defend multiple positions. Turner’s ability to shoot would help cover some of Simmons’s deficiencies the same way Joel Embiid did. In addition, with Anfernee Simons signed to an extension, the Blazers could build around three potential All-Stars who fit each other’s games perfectly, along with an above-average Harris as a future asset.
With Simmons and Turner both currently not playing, Portland could also slow walk their return in order to make sure they get to keep their first round pick this year. Currently, the pick is set to go to Chicago unless it’s in the lottery. With Lillard, Powell, and McCollum playing elsewhere, that would no longer be a concern. The Blazers could play Simons, Nassir Little, and the kids the rest of the season to see what they have and build team chemistry.
Philadelphia 76ers
Damian Lillard made it clear he wants to win, and the Trail Blazers are slipping further out of contention as currently constructed. Rather than forcing him to demand a trade, this deal allows Portland and Dame to move on amicably and not tarnish his Rip City legacy. The 76ers would become one of the favorites in the Eastern Conference and let Lillard chase a title for the next few seasons.
Indiana Pacers
Indiana has talent, but their current roster construction hasn’t worked. For C.J. McCollum and the Pacers, he would be the veteran presence for a rebuilding team that’s closer to the playoffs than you might think. With McCollum, Malcolm Brogdon, T.J. Warren, and Damontas Sabonis, Indy would have a workable core to build around. They’d also have five first round picks over the next three seasons to use as ammunition to rebuild.
The Verdict:
The Trail Blazers need to make some kind of move to shake things up. There are smaller deals available, and the team should look into getting something for Jusuf Nurkic before he departs as a free agent. I’d put in a call to Brooklyn and see if they’d consider a Day’Ron Sharp for Nurkic swap. Brooklyn has two big trade exceptions (thanks to their Spencer Dinwiddie and DeAndre Jordan deals) and could use a big other than the rapidly decomposing Blake Griffin. That kind of small deal would help because it compliments a larger one.
But a giant move forces the Blazers to commit to moving on from the ghosts of teams past. This trade accomplishes several goals. It gives the Trail Blazers a clear path forward while granting Dame’s wish to go after a championship. Portland can also move on from Chauncey Billups and get a coach who is committed to building around the youngsters. Let’s do it.
Related Story: Simons breakout changes Blazers’ direction
What do you think about blowing up the current edition of the Portland Trail Blazers? Let us know in the comments section below.