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Three trades to make the Portland Trail Blazers a true contender

By Stevie Cozens

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 22: Jrue Holiday #11 of the New Orleans Pelicans dribbles the ball against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on February 22, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 22: Jrue Holiday #11 of the New Orleans Pelicans dribbles the ball against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on February 22, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Portland Trail Blazers
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

 CJ McCollum for Jrue Holiday

I’m sorry CJ, Jrue is just a better fit all-round on this Blazers team. This trade would make both teams better while having very similar salaries to swap.

Jrue Holiday is a twenty-nine-year-old shooting guard who plays for the New Orleans Pelicans. Though he has been in the league for eleven years, he has blossomed the last little while after being injury free, and is now playing his best ball on both ends.

Holiday is a one-time All-Star and two-time All-Defense selection. He is also one of the best defenders in the league.

While the Blazers are trying to build around Dame, the Pelicans should be doing everything in their power to build around Zion Williamson. This means more floor spacing to open up driving lanes for the athletic forward.

By adding CJ McCollum, they give Zion a 40 percent three-point shooter who can also operate in the pick and roll, while putting the ball more in the hands of young point guard Lonzo Ball, who pairs well with Zion.

The Blazers would get a player who was a significantly better fit with Dame. Holiday is an inferior shooter to McCollum, but he is a far better finisher at the rim, and so much better on the defensive end. His ability to guard multiple positions and take the pressure off Dame on the defensive end would make a massive difference to this team.

He is a great cutter, he can rebound well, and he may be the most versatile guard defender in the league.

This trade works well for both sides. McCollum is under contract for four more years while Holiday has another two.

The combo of Dame with Holiday would be more balanced on both ends, while providing the size this team has lacked in the backcourt for a number of years