Portland Trail Blazers: Deja Vu All Over Again At Deadline
My first call would be to the Lakers.
A deal of Lillard and Nurkic in exchange for Russell Westbrook and Damian Jones, along with the Lakers unprotected 2027 and 2029 first-round picks, should work. Lillard gives the Lakers a better player than they would have gotten in Kyrie Irving, and Nurkic allows Anthony Davis to play most of his minutes at the 4, easing some wear and tear on the fragile “Brow.”
Portland would get a youngish big who flashed potential in Sacramento and two first rounder that would come to Rip City just as the Lakers should be crashing. Lebron will be owning a team in Vegas or playing out the string with his son somewhere; Lillard will be 37, and Davis may have had a limb fall off his body on the floor by then.
These picks are either future trade assets or pieces for the next Portland Trail Blazers contending team.
My next call would be to Brooklyn.
They have a glut of wings, are capped out, and have those Mavs picks. I’d offer Jerami Grant and Josh Hart for Ben Simmons, Cam Thomas, and those Dallas picks.
Brooklyn is trying to convince Kevin Durant they can still contend. Grant and Hart add scoring and defense. The Nets would have an endless supply of 3 and D wings to pair with Nic Claxton, KD, and Spencer Dinwiddie.
In this deal, Cronin would roll the dice with Simmons, who might put himself back together out of the spotlight. He would bring the size, defense, and playmaker that the Portland Trail Blazers lack.
While expensive, Simmons only has two years left on his deal and will become a huge expiring contract after next season. So if it doesn’t work in Rip City, he becomes a tradeable asset.
Thomas looks like a potential Vinny Johnson sixth man as a guard. With the Dallas and Brooklyn picks, Portland would be a factor in any disgruntled player trades and would clear enough cap space to get an impact free agent.