Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls.
The Portland Trail Blazers have a good team this year. They are led by their superstar Damian Lillard who is putting up MVP-like numbers. He is averaging 29.8 points (third in the NBA) and 7.7 assists per game (10th). Due to CJ McCollum‘s injury, Gary Trent Jr. stepped up and is hitting a blistering 44.7 percent of his three-point attempts. Since he became the starter, Trent’s PPG is up to 19.9, and the Blazers are 9-4 (including 8 of the last 9).
Even with these great performers, most Rip City fans know the team’s roster could use some adjustments if they want to go to the Western Conference Finals. Robert Covington has been a disappointment on offense, and the team lacks a natural power forward with Zach Collins out of the lineup long-term again.
With five weeks left until the trade deadline, we asked our contributing writers to come up with their best Portland Trail Blazers trade idea. There were three rules they had to follow:
1) Must use https://tradenba.com/trade-machine for cap compliance.
2) Trade has to be somewhat realistic.
3) You have to be able to justify it for all teams in your write-up.
*Any trade involving Rodney Hood must take place after March 3 due to NBA salary cap rules.
We got four trades with four big targets. You be the judge.
Trade: Portland sends Rodney Hood (Por, 2-yrs, $10M), Anfernee Simons (Por, 2-yrs, $10M), Zach Collins (Por, 1-yr, $5.4M), and an unprotected 2022 first-round pick for Aaron Gordon (2yrs, $18.1M)
Portland brings in a 25-year-old athletic power forward who has improved his perimeter shooting and defense over the last few years. Gordon often has been labeled as a player with star potential but has never quite found the opportunity to show what he is capable of. I think with the roster around him in Portland; we could actually see him reach his potential.
The Magic take a chance on the potential of Anfernee Simons while adding a first-round pick. Orlando takes a flyer on Gordon’s possible replacement in Zach Collins, a former lottery pick who has flashed defensive ability beyond his years. Hood becomes cap filler that can come off the books this summer if the team desires.
Trade: 3-way between Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets, and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Portland gets C Andre Drummond (Cle. 1-yr, $28.7M) and PG Matthew Dellavedova (Cle, 1-yr, $2.1M)
Houston gets PF Zach Collins (Por, 1-yr, $5.4M), G/F Rodney Hood (Por, 2-yrs, $10M)
Cleveland gets C Jusuf Nurkic (Por, 2-yrs, 12.8M), PF P.J. Tucker (Hou, 1yr, $7.9M), SF Danuel House (Hou, 2yrs, $3.7M)
The Portland Trail Blazers trade for one of the most fierce rebounders in the NBA and a 17+ points-per-game scorer, Andre Drummond. It’s a risk because he’s a pending restricted free agent, but Drummond could put Portland over the top. Dellavadova gets bought out.
The Cavs get rid of a guy who desperately wants to leave without getting hosed by the return. Nurkic has another year on his contract after this one. So Cleveland buys time to find or draft their next center.
Tucker and House don’t amount to much, but Tucker should pick up a little bit of the slack in the rebounding column. House, like, Dellavadova is a throw-in to make the deal work. He’s easily dealt or bought out next year.
In a word, space. Let’s face it; the Rockets aren’t giving up anything worth value for an outside shot at someone who may have value. Houston is a rebuilding team. Hood’s contract isn’t guaranteed for 2021-22. That’s $10M off the top. The Rockets also get to audition Collins. If they like him, he should be easy to resign on a team-friendly contract. If not, he’s gone, and the Rockets have more space. It’s a win/win.
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)
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.
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.
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.
Trade: Portland Trail Blazers send PF Zach Collins (1-yr, $5.4M) to the Atlanta Hawks for PF John Collins (1-yr, $4.1M).
Both men play the same position and are pending restricted free agents, so it’s like for like. During the offseason, J. Collins turned down a reported $90M extension offer from the Hawks. Many see his willingness to take a hard line with Atlanta as a signal the potential RFA doesn’t want to play for a perpetual also-ran.
Portland is a different story. The Blazers are a potential contender in the Western Conference. Their window is open for another few seasons so that he can win in Rip City.
Rumors are that Atlanta wants a lottery caliber return for J. Collins. Good luck maximizing a trade for someone who has no intention of returning. He’s handcuffed Hawks GM Travis Schlenk. This is a potential way out.
Portland fans know all too well about Z. Collins’ injury history. When healthy, however, he has the potential to be a very effective modern-day big man. Collins can hit the boards or shoot from the outside. All that he needs is a consistent run of health.
Collins could return in April or miss the entire season. The latter is better for Atlanta; they can resign him on the cheap for a fresh start in a new city.
What’s your best Portland Trail Blazers trade? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.