6 fresh Blazers trade ideas involving No. 3 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft

No. 6: Portland fills its most glaring roster hole

The Cleveland Cavaliers, long considered one of the best young teams in the NBA, took a massive step forward and, for portions of the season, simply looked like one of the best teams in the NBA with their high-octane backcourt and defensively dominant frontcourt.

In the playoffs, however, the Cavs had a rude awakening at the hand of the New York Knicks, who dismantled them in five games. While the Cleveland defense worked during the regular season, the foundation was rattled in the playoffs, which should at least lead the team’s brain trust to explore other avenues.

If they want to stay more aligned to their age-related developmental path and fill their massive hole on the wing, the team could look to trade its most moveable young player: Jarrett Allen.

If the Cavs swapped him for Nurkic and the third pick, they’d take a moderate step back on defense but could draft Miller to fill their wing vacancy while also entrusting more responsibility on both ends to budding star Evan Mobley.

This under-the-radar trade is similar to the one with Brooklyn. Of the many players that are actually available this summer, Allen exists as one of the few who could actually turn the team into a solid defensive squad.

Okoro is more of a flier, but he has some solid defensive chops as well.

Allen’s shot-blocking alongside Grant would give the team an athletic and disciplined defensive frontcourt, which would be the perfect complement to Lillard and could lead to Portland rocketing up the standings as soon as next year.