Portland Trail Blazers superstar Damian Lillard has put together an All-NBA-worthy season, yet the team is more likely to have a top-5 draft pick than a playoff berth this year. As it stands, the Blazers need a strong influx of talent to balance their roster and create a team that can truly contend for a championship.
This offseason presents a unique opportunity for the team to make a big move, and many potential trades could help do just that.
Some of these trade scenarios are more likely than others, and the market may force Portland General Manager Joe Cronin to make smaller moves instead of a big splash.
In the NBA’s most recent superstar trade, the Brooklyn Nets received two promising young players plus four unprotected future first-round picks and a pick swap for Kevin Durant and T.J. Warren.
Using the what the Nets got for Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns, we can speculate on the cost of a superstar.
In a perfect world, though, these are four trades that the Blazers could explore to acquire a second star player and create a truly formidable roster.
Note that all of these trades would require working out the protection on the first-round pick Portland owes to the Chicago Bulls (lottery-protected through 2028) so the Blazers can trade future firsts.
If Portland can talk Chicago into taking the 2023 first-round pick it acquired from the New York Knicks (perhaps with some kind of sweetener attached, if needed) in exchange for removing those protections, the Blazers could offer future first-round picks beginning in 2024 – however, Portland would have to hold on its own first-rounder in 2023 in order to do so.
Trade No. 1: Acquire Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid is both younger and more durable than Durant at this point in his career. Embiid is at the height of his powers, and the Sixers would want a massive haul for him.
The Trail Blazers are the fourth-worst rebounding team in the NBA this season. They’re also 27th in defensive rating. Their lack of size is apparent when watching them face off against teams that feature a big, athletic frontcourt.
This problem gets remedied in one trade if the Blazers can pull off the miracle that would be a deal for 76ers superstar Embiid.
Admittedly, the Blazers trading for Embiid is the ultimate dream scenario. But, if Embiid wants out of Philadelphia, the Blazers would need to take the big swing to try and acquire him.
If the Sixers flame out again this postseason and James Harden opts out of his contract to leave Philly, it’s possible that Embiid forces his way out as well. If he does, we know that he’s a fan of Lillard.
Embiid is the current odds-on favorite to win the NBA MVP Award this season, and his averages of 33.3 points and 10.2 rebounds – as well as his 54.5 percent shooting and 108 defensive rating – are worth trading it all to give Portland the best chance at competing while Dame is still in his prime.
If Embiid becomes available, it will cost everything; but when the opportunity to acquire an MVP-caliber player comes up, you take that chance 10 times out of 10.
Potential lineup following this trade: Damian Lillard, Matisse Thybulle, Jerami Grant, Jusuf Nurkic, Joel Embiid
Trade No. 2: Acquire Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown
Jaylen Brown is not quite the star that Embiid and Durant are, but he’s a two-time All-Star likely on the bubble of being chosen for an All-NBA team this season. He’ll be valued as such in any trade the Boston Celtics consider for him.
Brown’s recent quote concerning his future with the team via The Ringer has caused a lot of trade speculation.
"We’ll see how they feel about me over time and I feel about them over time. Hopefully, whatever it is, it makes sense. But I will stay where I’m wanted. I will stay where I’m needed and treated correct."
While it’s unlikely the Celtics want to break up The Jays – Brown and Jayson Tatum – Brown could force their hand entering the last year of his current deal.
Brown would be both “needed and treated correct” in Portland as one of the best two-way wings in the NBA. His 27 points, 7 rebounds, 49.4 percent shooting, and perennial All-NBA level defense would be a welcome addition at guard or forward.
The Celtics would likely want close to an Embiid-level haul for Brown, and the Blazers could do it. It’s unlikely they could avoid trading both Simons and Sharpe to get Brown.
Potential lineup following this trade: Damian Lillard, Jaylen Brown, Matisse Thybulle/Cam Reddish, Jerami Grant, Jusuf Nurkic
Trade No. 3: Acquire Mikal Bridges and Nic Claxton from the Brooklyn Nets
The Nets have three first-round picks in the 2023 draft, but no 2024 first-round pick. They also have no first-round pick in 2026, so they would likely be interested in loading up on the Blazers’ future picks after their competitive “Dame window” closes.
Including more picks allows the Blazers to possibly retain Shaedon Sharpe.
If the Nets decide it’s time to embrace a rebuild after Durant’s and Kyrie Irving’s departures, this trade would surely give them the assets to do so.
While neither Bridges nor Claxton are true superstars, the combination of the two would give the Blazers much-needed improvement at both the three and the five positions.
Bridges is shooting an impressive 49.6 percent from the floor and 41.2 percent from three since joining the Nets at the trade deadline, but his 26.8 points a night in those 20 games may not be sustainable for him given his career numbers.
It’s more likely that Bridges is who he has always been – a top-tier role player that can go off for 30-plus points on any given night. The Nets could sell high on him to gain the maximum amount of assets.
Claxton has played well in his first season as a full-time starter. His 109 defensive rating and 9.2 rebounds per game would be welcome additions to the Blazers’ lineup. At 6-foot-11, he also brings the size and athleticism that the Blazers are sorely missing in the frontcourt.
The best-case scenario here is that the Blazers can avoid trading Sharpe by including a bounty of draft picks.
In this scenario, Nurkic either starts ahead of Claxton, becomes one of the best backup center options in the NBA, or can be used in another trade to obtain depth pieces.
Since the Nets would be signaling a full rebuild with this trade, strong draft capital would be required. Bridges and Claxton are ready to contribute now, which is what the Blazers need.
Potential lineup following this trade: Damian Lillard, Shaedon Sharpe, Mikal Bridges, Jerami Grant, Nic Claxton/Jusuf Nurkic
Trade No. 4: Acquire Phoenix center Deandre Ayton
The Suns traded away their picks in 2023, 2025, 2027, and 2029 to acquire Kevin Durant, so they would likely be interested in filling up their coffers. Ayton oozes with potential but has yet to make even an All-Star team.
He’s only 24 years old with five years of NBA experience, however, so he can be valued as a future star if he reaches the potential that made him the 1st overall pick in 2018.
Just because Ayton signed a four-year, $132.9 million deal this year doesn’t mean he wants to be in Phoenix. The Suns matched an offer sheet to keep him and the star center may still want out.
If the Suns can’t make a run this postseason while boasting a roster of Devin Booker, Durant, Chris Paul, and Ayton, he may lose faith in their chances. Leaving would also allow him to be featured as a first or second star rather than being the fourth-biggest name in Phoenix.
Ayton is an intriguing talent who can own the boards and score from the inside at will. Although he’s yet to make an All-Star game, he has the talent to do it, and being the second scoring option for the Blazers while eating up Dame’s missed shots could get him there.
The Suns could ask for a bounty for Ayton, but they may opt for an offer that keeps them in playoff contention. Simons could be the successor to the 37-year-old Paul and be one of the best sixth-man options in the NBA until then.
Nurkic would be a downgrade from Ayton, but with Durant and Booker, the Suns would still contend.
Ayton’s career averages of 16.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 59.7 percent shooting would make the Blazers a lot more dangerous next season.
This trade gives the Suns back two of the draft picks, and potentially a third, that they gave up to acquire Durant. The idea here is that Ayton forces his way out and the Blazers capitalize.
Potential lineup following this trade: Damian Lillard, Shaedon Sharpe, Matisse Thybulle/Cam Reddish, Jerami Grant, Deandre Ayton