Portland Trail Blazers: 4 good trades Neil Olshey can make before the deadline
Chris Phillips
Portland gets: Zach LaVine (Chi, 2-yrs, $19.1M), PJ Dozier (Den, 2-yrs, $1.7M), and Bol Bol (Por, 2-yrs, $2.2M)
Chicago gets: Nassir Little, Rodney Hood (Por, 2-yrs, $10M), Paul Millsap (Den, 1-yr, $10M), and Gary Trent Jr. (1-yr, $1.6M)
Denver gets: Anfernee Simons (Por, 2-yrs, $2.2M), Denzel Valentine (Chi, 1-yr, $4.6M), and Zach Collins (Por, 1-yr, $5.4M)
What’s in it for Portland
The Blazers get short-term youthful impact player Zach LaVine. They also pick up long-term young impact players PJ Dozier and Bol Bol.
LaVine gives Portland another high-scoring wing that can get his own shot. Someone who can win a game on his own. This takes some pressure off of Lillard. When McCollum gets back, LaVine can slide to the three, pushing Robert Covington to the four to pair with Kanter.
He frees up RoCo to focus on being a 3-and-D. Bol will be what everyone hoped for with Collins. Bol is a modern-day NBA big that can rebound, block, and make treys. The Blazers can use Dozier in many ways. During his time in Denver, he’s played PG, SG, SF. This year added the PF.
What’s in it for Chicago
A young competing for a playoff spot, Chicago adds some veterans with playoff experience. All who will be off the roster after a year or two. Hood adds some more three-point shooting. He would allow coach Billy Donovan to play four out and one in the middle if he wants.
Trent can be the LaVine type replacement and scorer next to Coby White. Little is a young athletic wing with three-years left on his rookie deal. He can fill Otto Porter Jr.’s role after Porter’s contract is up after this year. Plus, it reunites two former Tarheels in White and Little.
What’s in it for Denver
The Nuggets get another young athletic guard in Simmons with some NBA experience. He can move into the role of being the primary scoring guy off Denver’s bench. Valentine brings them Dozier-like versatility to a degree. When given ample opportunity, he produces numbers across the board while being a capable defender.
Collins is an intriguing piece. When healthy, he’s a modern NBA big. The former Gonzaga star pairs nicely with Mikola Jokic and provides more impact than JaMychal Green does. Plus, Collins’ shot-blocking ability is something Denver’s big men lack.