The Portland Trail Blazers are 9-7 – they have gotten off to a slow start this season.
The Blazers have lost a couple of bad games this season, including a home loss to the Brooklyn Nets. They seem to be lacking that player to take them to the next level. Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum are the only ones really providing consistent play. Jusuf Nurkic has been solid, but nothing like last season.
The Blazers have four guys whose contract expires at the end of the season, but the Blazers own the rights to them and will have first crack at signing them back. Those guys are: Shabazz Napier, Pat Connaughton, Noah Vonleh and Jusuf Nurkic.
Those type of contracts are very valuable to teams that are rebuilding, especially as these players are all still young. The Blazers seem to be in win-now mode and should look to trade some of those guys for a player that can help them now. Or get a guy they can get off their books at the end of the season. The Blazers need to make a move and everyone should be available for trade besides Dame and CJ.
How about a trade with the Clippers?
The Clippers are 5-10 and three of their main players are hurt. They are in their first season without Chris Paul and may look to blow their team up even more with continuous losses. They have a star in Blake Griffin and make look to build around him for the future.
The Blazers could either be in win-now mode looking for a trade or decide to change things up and shed contracts to bring in some new players.
Here’s a possible trade to help both teams
Blazers get: DeAndre Jordan, 2019 second round pick
Clippers get: Evan Turner, Jusuf Nurkic
Why the Blazers do it
The Blazers get one of the best centers, if not the best defensive center in the league, DeAndre Jordan. A career 9.2 points,10.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks and has proved dominant for the past five years. He has two more years on his deal, including a player option after this season.
If he’s allowed to walk after one, the Blazers have some cap space to make moves. They were additionally relieved of Evan Turner’s hefty contract. If he opts into his deal, the Blazers would be a handful in the West.
He then will only have one year of his deal left.. Jordan gives the Blazers a great rim protector, rebounder, and shot blocker. He can set big screens on pick and rolls as well as catch high lobs for highlight dunks.
He doesn’t give the Blazers a great low-post threat like Nurkic does, but they have other post presences for now. Jordan is an elite center and would thrive playing with Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. The Blazers also get a second round pick just for insurance if Jordan leaves. It wouldn’t be a surprise if they tried to get a first round pick from the Clippers instead of a second.
Why the Clippers do it
Jusuf Nurkic is young and certainly hasn’t reached his full potential. He has played strongly since arriving in Portland. The Clippers are rebuilding and could use a guy like Nurkic to help rebuild.
He has good post skills and has been showing an ability to shoot the three-point shot as well. Nurkic can be a good shot blocker at times and moves well for his big size. The Clippers would have control of his contract and can resign him. Jordan could easily walk and they would lose him for nothing.
To get a young talent like Nurkic, the Clippers have to take on a big contract like Evan Turner. Turner has been a Swiss army knife for the Blazers this season and his trade value may never be higher. He can handle the ball, play-make for others, defend strongly and knock down the midrange shot.
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He has three more years left on his contract including this year.
Neil Olshey was the past GM for the Clippers and probably has a good connections inside the organization. It would make sense if Neil made a trade with his old team.
Its a long season and anything can happen
If this trade happens, it would go down around the trade deadline. It’s still early in the season and the Clippers could put a good streak of wins together, encouraging them to keep Jordan. Same goes for the Blazers – they may figure it out and “Nurk Fever” could return in Rip City.