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Portland Trail Blazers: Four little-known trades that would have altered franchise history

By Marlow Ferguson Jr.

PORTLAND, OR - JANUARY 27: Paul Pierce #34 of the Boston Celtics drives againstof the Portland Trail Blazers on January 27, 2011 at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon. 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 Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - JANUARY 27: Paul Pierce #34 of the Boston Celtics drives againstof the Portland Trail Blazers on January 27, 2011 at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon. 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 Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) /
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Portland Trail Blazers
Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Portland finds its star point guard one season earlier in 2011-12

Championships have a way of drowning out of the potentially-distressing “what if” scenarios that come before that moment. Most people view the San Antonio Spurs’ franchise as one built incessant loyalty, and a lack of off-court drama.

For the most part, that’s a rightful distinction. But within the annals of its history — particularly in that stretch from 2008 to 2011 where they weren’t top-shelf contenders — the true stories come out.

There’s the one about Manu Ginobili being pissed that the Spurs traded for Kawhi Leonard, or Zach Lowe saying the Spurs were planning on drafting Klay Thompson in 2011. But the one that takes the cake? The deal that nearly sent Tony Parker to the Portland Trail Blazers.

The deal would have sent Parker and San Antonio’s No. 29 pick in the 2011 Draft to the Trail Blazers, who would’ve in return given up Nicolas Batum, Andre Miller and the No. 21 pick.

What stalled the deal was that the Blazers weren’t on board with absorbing Richard Jefferson’s contract, and his three-year, $30 million deal. By that point, Jefferson was a 31-year-old averaging 11.0 points per game on 47-44-76 percentage lines.

It’s interesting, because the Blazers have historically spent money in worse ways. And, Parker would go on to finish fifth in the Most Valuable Player voting that following season. There was word that he was trepidatious about the idea of ending up in Sacramento or Portland. So, perhaps there’s that.

Thinking about the future, the Blazers-Spurs series in 2014 — assuming it happens — feels much easier with Parker on Portland’s side, instead of the Spurs. In whichever case, it would have been riveting to see the Aldridge-Parker tandem in 2011, instead of 2015.