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3 scenarios for the Portland Trail Blazers to trade their 2020 NBA Draft pick

By Stevie Cozens

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 21: Kelly Oubre Jr. #3 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the second half of an NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on February 21, 2020 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 21: Kelly Oubre Jr. #3 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the second half of an NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on February 21, 2020 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
(Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /

Ariza and a pick for Thaddeus Young and Chandler Hutchison

Trevor Ariza still has some value in the trade market. So using his contract to bring in a difference-maker is logical.

The Chicago Bulls are in full rebuild mode, and have veteran power forward Thaddeus Young on the books. Though Young didn’t have his best season in 2019/20, he is a great defender who’s three-point shooting has been around league average over the last five years.

The Bulls have athletes and shooters up and down the roster, so Young doesn’t make sense for them. They also have the number four pick in this draft, so there is a decent chance they take Israeli forward Deni Avdija with this pick. The young Avdija could move between the three and the four with Young no longer in town.

Chandler Hutchison could also be surplus to requirements if they drafted Avdija and brought in Ariza. He has had injury issues and then wasn’t always in the rotation even when he was fit. The Bulls could use the 16th pick to move up in the draft or to take a shot on another young prospect for their rebuild.

Ariza could come in as the backup three to Otto Porter. Porter has injury issues himself, so Ariza could come off the bench or start depending on Porter’s health. The Bulls are rebuilding, but also want to win games, so Ariza can help on this front.

For the Blazers, they would get a defensive presence next to Jusuf Nurkic, and then someone who can fit nicely alongside Zach Collins at the five off the bench. This Blazers defense is horrendous, and needs some serious attention over the summer. Young could be a big part of this improvement, as he can guard bigs as well as some of the league’s best threes. Only a season ago, Young was a fringe All-Defense member.

In Hutchison, they get an athletic finisher at the rim who can push in transition and potentially guard multiple positions in the future. Though he is raw, he shows more than Nassir Little and has even better physical tools than Little. He is six-foot-seven with a seven-foot-one wingspan.