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NBA Trade Rumors: What do Nets have to offer Blazers for Damian Lillard?

By Andrew Hanlon

Mikal Bridges, Phoenix Suns (left), Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Mikal Bridges, Phoenix Suns (left), Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Mikal Bridges, Brooklyn Nets (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Mikal Bridges, Brooklyn Nets (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

What players do the Nets have who would interest Portland?

  • Mikal Bridges

Any serious conversations between Cronin and Nets’ GM Sean Marks would start with Bridges.

The centerpiece of the Kevin Durant-to-Phoenix deal took a major leap after becoming the No. 1 offensive option in Brooklyn. The fifth-year pro expanded his game from a spot-up shooter to legitimate go-to scorer during his short time with the Nets.

Bridges averaged 26.1 points on 48/38/90 shooting splits after the trade, morphing into one of the league’s best young wings.

  • Cam Johnson

Johnson also got a chance to show more of his skill set with the Nets. The 6-foot-8 wing was always a dead-eye shooter, but despite his 3-point percentage taking a dip to 37.5 percent in Brooklyn, he averaged a career-high 16.6 points in 25 games.

Johnson is a restricted free agent.

  • Dorian Finney-Smith

DFS developed his shot and turned into a legitimate three-and-D wing with the Dallas Mavericks. At 6-7 and 220 pounds, he’s built like a power forward but has the quickness, athleticism, and length to guard multiple positions. He’s a “wing stopper,” perhaps the most important defensive archetype in today’s league.

Finney-Smith shot less than 32 percent from deep in his first three seasons, but has transformed into a career 36 percent 3-point shooter and hovered just below 40 percent in 2020-21 and 21-22.

  • Nic Claxton

Portland is in desperate need of an athletic center to fit coach Chauncey Billups’ scheme, and Claxton is an ideal candidate.

In a breakout 2022-23 season, the 23-year-old averaged 12.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks across 76 games.

  • Cam Thomas/Day’Ron Sharpe

Thomas showed off his ability as a scorer with three straight 40-plus point outings in February, but that’s his career highlight to date. At this point, he’s not much more than an occasional bucket-getter.

Sharpe is a 6-9 21-year-old center with a strong frame at 265 pounds. He has some bounce and athleticism to his game.

These two would be throw-in lottery tickets at the back end of any potential deal.