Rip City Project
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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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(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

CJ McCollum for Khris Middleton

This trade is probably more controversial than the last one in terms of people’s perceived value of Khris Middleton. The thing is though, he is a great number two and off-ball scorer on a playoff team.

Current Milwaukee Buck Middleton is still only 28, but he has lots of playoff experience, and like McCollum has shown he belongs in playoff situations. He is six-foot-seven and is the prototypical wing in today’s NBA. He can shoot, he can pass, he can get to the rim. And he is also a good defender.

Middleton has been a near 50 / 40 / 90 guy this year, and as a late starter in the league he has only got better as he has aged.

In terms of his fit on the Blazers, he gives this team the scoring and ball handling small forward they have lacked for so long, while having a premium off-ball threat who has size and can play off Dame.

Middleton is a great rebounder and can defend the other teams wings also. Like McCollum he doesn’t take a ton of threes, but he still shoots 39.2 percent from this distance. He may not be as crafty as McCollum in terms of his shot making but he has a great midrange jumper and floater.

His three and d game would be an excellent complement to Dame, letting Gary Trent Jr step into the starting two guard role. Middleton is also under contract for four more years after this one.

For the Bucks, they get a player who can change the style of the way they play and get them a bucket down the stretch of games.

McCollum is obviously a great shooter and would benefit hugely from playing alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. He wouldn’t have to work as hard defensively with Eric Bledsoe and Donte DiVincenzo able to defend the better guard threats, and the aggressive drive games of Bledsoe and Giannis would mean he was open for spot up shots more.

The Bucks don’t currently have a pure shot creator and maker like McCollum, and with his strong ball handling and passing he could potentially take some of the creation load off Giannis’ hands.

Both teams get better in this trade, even if the Bucks would need another plan moving forward at the three position.