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Portland Trail Blazers: 3 trades to make on NBA Draft night

By Stevie Cozens

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 28: Larry Nance Jr. #22 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at the Smoothie King Center on February 28, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 28: Larry Nance Jr. #22 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at the Smoothie King Center on February 28, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Bachman/Getty Images) /
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The Portland Trail Blazers need to make drastic moves to improve their team. After a rocky off-season and a disappointing playoff loss to an undermanned Denver Nuggets team, the time is now, at the 2021 NBA Draft, to upgrade the roster.

Which 3 trades could the Portland Trail Blazers make on NBA Draft night?

Portland Trail Blazers NBA Draft
(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

Portland Trail Blazers trade #1 – Derrick Jones Jr and a future first-round pick for Larry Nance Jr

Derrick Jones Jr is the Blazers best trade piece when looking forward to the 2021 free agency period, and up till the trade deadline. He is only 24, he is athletic, can guard multiple positions, and has a developing shot.

Though he still makes sense theoretically for this Blazers team, because Norman Powell is likely to be the starting three if he gets re-signed this off-season, it could make Jones Jr redundant in some ways.

The Blazers instead need a true four / five who can fit next to Jusuf Nurkic, or to Robert Covington in some lineups. Larry Nance Jr, of the rebuilding Cleveland Cavaliers, comes to mind as an option.

Nance is a six-foot-seven power forward who can do a bit of everything. Still only 28, Nance has yet to play on any good teams. Still, he has had impressive production on the Cavs, and the Los Angeles Lakers who he played for previously.

Operating as a four or small-ball five, he is an excellent passer out of the low or high post. He can defend out to the perimeter, and because of his crazy athleticism, he is also a threat in transition.

Nance has worked hard on his shooting, and as a result, is now up to 34.6 percent in his time in Cleveland. He got up to a career-high 36 percent last season.

On a great contract of around 10.6 million, that descends next season, Nance is a value proposition for any team, hence the first-round pick going out from Portland.

The Cavs could clear his salary for next year, and then get younger with the 24-year-old Jones. The Cavs still lack defenders, so could use Jones to line up next to their exciting young offensive guards.