The Portland Trail Blazers trade asset cupboard is more full than some people may think.
The Blazers have the fifth-best odds at landing the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft – those odds give them a 10.5 percent chance at the top selection, and they’re guaranteed to pick in the top nine. They also have the rights to the New York Knicks’ 23rd overall selection.
Not only does Portland have two first-round picks in a draft loaded with potential stars, it also has two rising stars of its own in Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe.
Damian Lillard’s take on the offseason situation was interpreted as him saying he’d like to see the team trade its draft pick to progress its timeline to match his own at age 32.
If the Blazers make a blockbuster trade this offseason in an attempt to contend immediately, a few teams stand out as ideal trade partners.
Like the Blazers, these teams must also shake things up with their respective rosters for differing reasons. These teams were highlighted because they could be good trade partners due to their varying needs and roster timelines.
For example, the Blazers appear willing to trade some of their younger assets to contend with Lillard. Meanwhile, most teams mentioned below are stuck in the middle of the pack and need younger assets to catalyze their retooling or rebuilding processes.
Team No. 1 – Chicago Bulls
Chicago, like Portland, underperformed this season. The Bulls finished with a record of 40-42. They failed to make the playoffs after losing a play-in game as the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls owe the Orland Magic their first-round pick in this year’s draft (top four protected) and a 2025 first-round pick to the San Antonio Spurs (top 10 protected).
Six-time NBA All-Star DeMar DeRozan is now 33, and it’s clear the Bulls aren’t making a deep playoff run with their current core. This team needs more draft equity. They are in a less than ideal situation with an aging star, stuck in no-man’s-land as a middle-of-the-pack Eastern Conference team.
It makes sense for them to move pieces around this offseason.
Star Zach LaVine linked to Damian Lillard
Zach LaVine has previously been linked to Lillard after their time spent together on Team USA. In the 2020 Summer Olympics, Team USA won the gold medal in Toyko.
Lillard gave LaVine a lot of credit for his ability to adapt and become more of a glue guy and role player for Team USA as opposed to filling the go-to scorer role he’s become accustomed to playing in Chicago.
Lillard had the following things to say regarding his Team USA teammate:
"It was fun to see a player of his type of ability embrace that role. Because he was so good at it. You don’t have the responsibility of scoring and doing all these things, so he was flying around defensively, catching lobs, blocking shots, hitting open threes."
If Chicago is open to trading their superstar shooting guard, Portland would make a lot of sense as a suitor. LaVine is a two-time NBA All-Star. Over the past four seasons, he’s averaged 25.5 points per game.
At age 28, he has more experience and is more developed than Simons. While it wouldn’t fix the Blazers’ defensive issues, the tandem of Lillard and LaVine might be enough to keep Dame content, as well as give them a chance at a possible playoff run.
Blazers’ draft pick situation with the Bulls
Suppose the Blazers were to make a blockbuster trade for a superstar. In that case, they’d likely have to negotiate with the Bulls regardless, because Portland owes Chicago a lottery-protected first-round pick that has those protections through 2028.
Because of the Stepien rule that states a team can’t go two consecutive seasons without a first-round pick, the Blazers flexibility is extremely limited until they can strike a deal to lift the restrictions with the Bulls.
One possible solution would be giving the Bulls the Knicks’ first-round pick in this year’s draft, which the Blazers now have the rights to after trading Josh Hart to New York at this past year’s trade deadline.
Regardless of how it gets sorted out, Portland will likely have to negotiate with Chicago if they want to make a significant trade this off-season.
Team No. 2 – Brooklyn Nets
Although the Nets finished as the sixth seed in the East, they were eventually swept in the first round by the Philadelphia 76ers. The team representing Brooklyn in the playoffs was not a very competitive playoff team.
The Nets make sense as a potential trade partner with Portland because they are a team in disarray; they don’t seem like a finished product following their trade-deadline moves.
Instead, it seemed like a step toward retooling, providing them a better opportunity and flexibility to make another move this offseason with the assets they acquired.
What makes the Nets a great match for the Blazers?
The Nets primarily make the list because they have so many wings, a prominent position of need for the Blazers. Players such as Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce O’Neal would be perfect role players in Portland. They are defensive-minded wings that can make plays and shoot when called upon and, most importantly, make up for the Blazers’ defensive flaws.
While not a wing, 24-year-old Nic Claxton is a versatile, defensive-minded big man who’s only continued to improve. Claxton averaged 12.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 2.5 blocks, and 0.9 steals last season.
Depending on the asking price, he could also be a good trade target and fit a position of need for Portland.
Mikal Bridges was one of the lone bright spots for the Nets post-trade deadline. In his 27 games played in a Brooklyn jersey, Bridges averaged 26.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.0 steals.
If Portland decides to take the opposite route and make Lillard available for trade (or if he requests one), Brooklyn could also make a potential partner, with Bridges being the focus of the package returning to Portland.
However, this is assuming the Blazers are keen on competing for a title with Lillard. Could the Nets be open to a deal involving Bridges even without Dame in the trade? Given the Blazers’ young assets of Simons, Sharpe, and draft picks, it’s certainly possible.
But if Brooklyn considers Bridges untouchable without getting Lillard in return, they still have many other players who would be great fits in Portland.
Team No. 3 – Toronto Raptors
There has been a lot of talk regarding the Toronto Raptors as a team to watch for in terms of making a trade. There were rumors surrounding them at this season’s trade deadline and whether or not they’d trade away players, such as OG Anunoby, to retool.
Ultimately, they played it relatively safe in a deal with the San Antonio Spurs. The trade was the Raptors’ 2024 first-round pick, second-round picks in 2023 and 2025, and Khem Birch in exchange for Jakob Poeltl.
The Raptors finished the regular season at .500 with a 41-41 record and lost their first play in-game as the nine seed to the Bulls. On top of their disappointing season, the Raptors have some decisions to make concerning contracts this offseason.
Guards Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. have player options for around $23 million and $19 million, respectively. Poeltl is an unrestricted free agent.
Blazers’ options with Raptors
Given the contracts, there’s a realistic scenario in which Trent Jr. takes the player option but VanVleet decides to sign elsewhere for more money. VanVleet’s possible departure could leave Toronto vulnerable, as the Raptors aren’t a guard-heavy team.
The Blazers are an excellent trade partner match with Toronto because their team strength is guards, having Lillard, Simons, and Sharpe.
The Raptors could be interested in Simons or Sharpe because it would allow them to take a step back in their roster timeline and retool around 21-year-old Scottie Barnes.
Some possible players Portland could get back in return include star forward Pascal Siakam or Anunoby. Both have been involved in trade deadline rumors and would provide the Blazers with more length, physicality, defense, and scoring to complement Lillard.
Portland forward Jerami Grant is an unrestricted free agent, but if the Blazers can retain him, the lengthy combination of Grant plus Siakam or Anunoby at the forward positions is highly intriguing.
Team No. 4 – Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves could make sense as a trade partner because of their problem of a 2022-23 season.
Their new President of Basketball Operations, Tim Connelly, sent a hefty package in exchange for Rudy Gobert last offseason. In the trade, Minnesota sent Utah Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Leandro Bolmaro, Walker Kessler, Jarred Vanderbilt, a 2023 first-round pick, a 2025 first-round pick, a 2026 first-round pick swap, a 2027 first-round pick, and a top-five protected 2029 first-round pick.
Minnesota sacrificed many of its future assets in a win-now move. The result? A 42-40 record and a first-round playoff exit.
They had no reason to rush their timeline and sacrifice their future. Now, Minnesota has to recoup its lost future assets.
What makes the Timberwolves a great match for the Blazers?
Minnesota is a trade partner candidate for Portland because of the two franchises’ differing timelines. The Timberwolves need to get back on the same roster timeline as their superstar Anthony Edwards, who is only 21. Lillard is 32.
The Blazers have young assets in Sharpe, Simons, and draft picks available to trade if they can secure a co-star to pair with Lillard. With the two teams going in seemingly opposite directions, they could help each other get there.
Star big man Karl-Anthony Towns finished with the 135th-best real plus-minus rating in the NBA this season at 0.42. Gobert finished closer to expectations with a 5.10 real plus-minus, the 24th-best in the league.
The RPM ratings support what the eye test shows when you watch the Timberwolves play – and what we assumed would happen when they made the Gobert trade in the first place; the frontcourt pairing of Towns and Gobert is an awkward fit.
Given their lack of future assets, the awkward Towns-Gobert pairing, and the fact that their superstar in Edwards is still only 21, the Timberwolves are certainly a team to watch as one that could shake things up.
Blazers’ options with Timberwolves
Towns or Gobert would fit in exceptionally well with the Blazers’ roster needs for opposite reasons.
Trading for Towns would mean doubling down on the Blazers’ team identity of offense and shooting. He’s one of the best shooting big men of all time. So far in his eight seasons in the NBA, Towns has shot 39.5 percent from three and 83.5 percent from the charity stripe.
KAT could play the five for Portland and provide the Blazers with an upgrade in shot creation and floor spacing over current center Jusuf Nurkic. If Portland went this route, they would likely have to address the other side of the ball by pursuing a defensive-minded wing.
However, the pick-and-roll tandem of Lillard and Towns would be a nightmare for opposing teams to defend.
Assuming the Blazers retain Grant in this scenario, their three best players – Lillard, Grant, and Towns – would be excellent offensively. All three averaged at least 20 points per game while hovering between 36-40 percent shooting from three last season. Towns is a three-time NBA All-star, giving Lillard the secondary co-star he’s made clear he wants.
Gobert is another solid option for the Blazers to pursue. Minnesota could be willing to trade him due to their rollercoaster season with the Rudy experiment, which was capped off when he punched teammate Kyle Anderson.
However, Gobert fits the Blazers’ roster even better than Towns. Portland needs a defensive-minded big man to cover for their guards’ defensive flaws. This season, Gobert tied for sixth in the Defensive RAPTOR rating with a positive 3.5 points. He is arguably the best defensive player of the past decade, with three NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards and six NBA All-Defensive First Team awards on his resume.
Like Towns, Gobert also has three NBA All-Star appearances.
With Lillard initiating the offense and Gobert leading the defense, the Blazers would have both sides of the ball covered and would be a more well-balanced team than in prior years.
Team No. 5 – Miami Heat
The Miami Heat are still battling the Knicks in the second round of the playoffs despite entering the postseason as the eighth seed in the East. Everybody must give the Heat props for their consistently competitive culture and for defeating the No. 1-seeded Milwaukee Bucks.
But that doesn’t negate the fact that they are a team needing to make a move.
Jimmy Butler has been playing like peak “Playoff Jimmy,” but one has to wonder how many seasons like this he has left at age 33. In addition, Kyle Lowry is 37, and Kevin Love is 34.
This team is loaded with veterans but lacks the superstars and offense necessary to be considered true championship contenders. To make matters worse, Victor Oladipo has no timetable to return after recently undergoing patellar tendon surgery on his left knee.
Perhaps it’s time to retool in Miami.
Because of its ability to attract free agents, the Heat doesn’t necessarily need a complete roster overhaul, but there’s no denying the team needs to get younger. It needs to get out of this no-man’s-land as an eighth seed trending in the wrong direction regarding age and timelines.
Blazers’ options with the Heat
Bam Adebayo is the one player who would be a perfect fit for Portland. Similar to Gobert, Adebayo would provide the Blazers with that defensive-minded center.
However, Bam is more versatile than Gobert on both ends of the floor. This season, Adebayo averaged 20.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.8 blocks on 54 percent shooting from the field and 80.6 percent from the free throw line, earning his second NBA All-Star appearance.
The two statistical categories that stand out for how the Blazers could implement Bam are his assists and steals.
Regarding his assists, Adebayo’s offensive playmaking ability would allow him to play a Draymond Green-type role.
This video perfectly encapsulates Adebayo’s playmaking skill set, highlighting his tendency to go to dribble handoffs (DHOs) early in transition.
It’s easy to imagine how that would translate into Portland’s offense. He can become a distributor at the top of the key in transition and half-court sets while Lillard and others come off screens.
The steals also stand out because he is defensively versatile as a center. Bam can effectively guard out on the perimeter in switching situations, which is something Nurkic and Portland need to improve on.
There’s also a report regarding Adebayo’s trade availability and how it’s not off the table. In that article, there’s an encouraging quote for Blazers fans:
"The notion of trading Adebayo cannot be entirely ruled out, wrote Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald."
Sure, Bam is 25 years old, so on the surface it doesn’t make sense for the Heat to get rid of its youngest All-Star in an attempt to get younger.
However, if needed, the Blazers can offer an enticing package of Simons (23 years old), Sharpe (19), and multiple first-round picks. In the long run, the Heat might be better off retooling around the Blazers’ young assets and 23-year-old shooting guard Tyler Herro.