The best Portland Trail Blazers trades in recent memory

With the NBA season rapidly approaching and rumors of, a Portland Trail Blazers and Philadelphia 76ers trade scenario increasing, here are some recent memorable trades that were good for the Blazers, and quite likely they got the better end of them.

2021, Larry Nance Jr.:
The most recent trade Portland made. You probably remember how it went down, but if not, the Blazers traded Derrick Jones Jr. to the Chicago Bulls, who sent Lauri Markkanen to the Cleveland Cavaliers, for Larry Nance Jr. Draft picks were also involved. We don’t know at this point how well Nance Jr. will do in Portland, but his career 8.3 points and 6.7 rebounds are very appealing.

"“Larry is a talented and versatile player that impacts winning on both ends of the floor,” President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey said at the time via a team news release."

2017, Jusuf Nurkic:
The Blazers sent center Mason Plumlee and a 2018 second-round draft pick to the Denver Nuggets, for Jusuf Nurkic and a 2017 first-round pick. This trade clearly without a doubt favored Portland, as Nurkic is still Portland’s starting center and Plumlee has since played for the Detroit Pistons (2020-2021)and now the Charlotte Hornets this coming season.

2012 New Jersey Nets top-three protected first-round pick:
This has to be the best trade the Blazers pulled off this past decade, or perhaps the best trade in franchise history. Before the 2012 trade deadline, the Blazers sent forward Gerald Wallace, who was a favorite of some, to the New Jersey Nets, in exchange for center Mehmet Okur, forward Shawne Williams, and New Jersey’s 2012 first-round pick, top-3 protected.

The Nets finished the season 22-44 (this was because of a shortened season) and were awarded the sixth pick, which went to the Blazers who used it on Weber State point guard Damian Lillard. We all know how that player turned out for Portland. Brooklyn (formerly New Jersey)is probably wishing they kept that pick. Wallace appeared in 85 games for the Nets.

2006 NBA Draft:
The draft which acquired the players who many thought would help lead the Blazers to many championships. First, Portland traded Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliff and a second-round pick to the Boston Celtics for, Randy Foye (seventh pick), Dan Dickau, and Raef LaFrentz. Foye that same night would be traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves for University of Washington guard Brandon Roy. The same evening, Portland drafted Louisiana State forward Tyrus Thomas fourth and sent him, along with forward Viktor Khryapa to the Chicago Bulls for forward LaMarcus Aldridge drafted second overall.

Portland trades for a six-time champion and future hall of famer:
On October 1, 1999, the Blazers sent Kelvin Cato, Walt Williams, Stacey Augmon, Carlos Rogers, Ed Gray and Brian Shaw to the Houston Rockets for Scottie Pippen. Houston reportedly traded Pippen because, he was disgruntled in Houston and called out Charles Barkley, who was a teammate of Pippen’s at the time for, “his selfishness and the lack of hunger to win.”

"“This is a great fit for me,” Pippen said via the Los Angeles Times in 1999. “If I had my choice, I would probably choose this team because I feel like they’re more on the verge of winning a championship.”"

Pippen also said at the time, his new team was, “the best he has ever seen.”

Time will tell if the Blazers/76ers trade will go down and where it would rank trade-wise this decade, or team history if it were to take place.