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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
Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) /

No. 1: Portland nearly stumbles into Chris Paul in 2010

At our most recent LaMarcus Aldridge fan club meeting (of one), a heated back-and-forth discussion came about, in just how close we’ve come to seeing an Aldridge-Paul pairing in two different cities.

At a surface level, it’s just as dangerous as it sounds on paper: arguably the NBA’s most potent ball-screen passer not named John Stockton being paired with perhaps this decade’s most feared pick-and-pop big.

Paul spurned the Spurs in the 2017 free agency, electing to sign with the crosstown rival Houston Rockets. But a few years prior, it nearly happened while both All-Stars were in their athletic primes.

One week before the infamous Stern-vetoed deal that nearly made Chris Paul a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, the Blazers took their first shot.

In 2010, the New Orleans Hornets were prepared to part ways with their superstar guard, along with defensive stalwart Emeka Okafor. In return, the Portland Trail Blazers would have had to give up a slew of expiring contracts and role players in Andre Miller and Joel Przybilla, who combined for roughly $14.6 million in cap space, as well as up-and-comers Jerryd Bayless, Nicolas Batum, and a first-round draft pick.

Geoffrey C. Arnold of Oregon Live reported that the New Orleans Hornets and their general manager Dell Demps got cold feet; they simply weren’t prepared to make that move.

To think about that nucleus: the term “Big 3” wasn’t quite as popular in vernacular, since Miami’s Heatles hadn’t yet played a game. But Chris Paul, Brandon Roy, and LaMarcus Aldridge, along with whatever the Blazers added over the next few years (think Wes Matthews) feels like a group that would have been a championship group before injuries played in their demise.

The Blazers’ trainers would have had his work cut out for him, managing Okafor, Greg Oden, and Marcus Camby. But the Blazers were 50-32 in 2009-10, and 48-34 in 2010-11. If win shares and basketball reference formulas per 48 have taught us anything at all, that Portland team would have been on pace for an 83-win season in an 82-game season.

Next. Who should Portland get with their trade exception?. dark