3. 2023 NBA Draft lottery pick
When it comes to trades of any significance, there’s nothing more valuable in today’s NBA than first-round picks.
The Brooklyn Nets got four, potentially five with a swap, from the Phoenix Suns for Kevin Durant. Brooklyn gave up four and four possible swaps to acquire James Harden from the Houston Rockets. Heck, the Utah Jazz got four and a swap from the Minnesota Timberwolves – plus Walker Kessler, the Wolves’ actual first-round selection in 2022 – for Rudy Gobert.
Unless they work out a deal with the Chicago Bulls to release the protections on their first-round pick that run through 2028, the Blazers are limited in terms of future firsts to put in a deal. They do, however, have this year’s lottery pick that’s guaranteed to land in the top nine and has a 10.5 percent chance at landing at No. 1.
That would certainly be a highly valued asset around the league.