Portland Trail Blazers: What’s Next? Making Deals
The NBA Draft Lottery gave the Portland Trail Blazers some much-needed trade capital. Here's an idea of how they can take advantage of it.
Rob Ryan
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This three-team trade idea will irritate some Rip City fans who want to scream that the Blazers are making huge overpayments. Ayton looked horrible against Jokic in these recent playoffs. But that’s why he’s available.
They forget that two years ago in the playoffs, then 22-year-old Ayton did a pretty solid job against Jokic. Phoenix swept Denver, the same Nuggets team that beat the Portland Trail Blazers in Round 1.
I’d also argue that overpaying for Anunoby brings in the best perimeter defender this team has seen this century. He’s the closest thing to a Draymond Green-like enforcer on defense.
Like Ayton, Anunoby is also young at 25 years old. Both players have also made long playoff runs in the past. OG has an NBA Championship ring as a bench player for Toronto, and Ayton has been to the finals.
Of course, I’d prefer to have Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid, but not only are they very unlikely to be available, but the Portland Trail Blazers would be forced to cash out Shaedon Sharpe. He’s the emergency backup plan if everything blows up and Dame wants out.
From now through draft night and into free agency, Portland Trail Blazers fans will be flooded with absurd and irrational trade ideas. Before jumping on it, they should keep my three rules above in mind when considering them.
Think long and hard about where the team’s direction should go if they completely strike out on everybody in the next few months while trying to seek out “fair” trades.
Thanks for reading, and tell us what you think the Portland Trail Blazers should do with the #3 pick.