The Portland Trail Blazers land a new running mate for Damian Lillard
Why the Trail Blazers do it:
Jerami Grant has everything you would want in a second banana for Dame. He’s a long, athletic, versatile defender who can guard multiple positions.
On offense, Grant can space the floor and create for himself and others. He proved so last year as the number one option for the Pistons. He also proved that he’s best off as a Robin to somebody’s Batman.
This season, he’s averaging 20 points, 4.8 boards, and 2.5 assists while shooting 41 percent from the floor, 33 from deep, and 84 from the stripe. I’m willing to bet that those efficiency numbers will climb once Grant is back on a team with multiple offensive weapons.
Kelly Olynyk is not just salary-filler here either. Before going down with an MCL sprain, Kelly O was putting up 12.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and handing out 2.3 dimes per game, while slashing an impressive 46/34/60.
Olynyk gives the Blazers a legitimate stretch-big who can hold his own on the boards and on defense. He’ll give Portland the option to play five-out without sacrificing any size.
Why the 76ers do it:
Even with Tyrese Maxey’s emergence, it’s still abundantly clear that the Philadelphia 76ers are an elite perimeter creator away from being true title threats. CJ McCollum is exactly what they need.
McCollum offers the Sixers a solution for all of their ailments: bogged down half-court offense, lack of perimeter creation, difficulty scoring down the stretch.
Philly also has the perfect personnel to cover for CJ’s weaknesses, an elite defensive backline to erase any mistakes he makes on that end of the court.
Plus, they nab the three first-rounders they were originally seeking from Portland and no longer have to deal with the Ben Simmons headache.
Why the Pistons do it:
The Pistons have found their franchise cornerstone in 2021 first-overall pick, Cade Cunningham. Despite the rookie’s slow start shooting-wise, he’s clearly proved why he was the number one selection over other generational talents like Evan Mobley and Jalen Green.
Cunningham’s control of the game, passing vision, and overall versatility are years beyond his age. His touch is starting to come around as well. In his last two games, Cade’s put up 22.5 points, hitting 64 percent of his field goals including 66 percent from deep.
The quicker they can assemble young talent around Cade, the quicker they’ll return to the playoffs.
Ben Simmons could be the perfect pairing for Cade; a defensive beast that can create shots for Cunningham when he wants to play off-ball.
The two would make for a devastating pick-and-roll pairing and could switch interchangeably on defense.
Detroit also only gives up two first-rounders to land Simmons with Portland’s help in this one and only loses two veterans they don’t have in their future plans.