Trade machines and rumors trying to project a Damian Lillard trade have been hot following the All-NBA point guard’s trade request from the Portland Trail Blazers. He’s made it known that his preferred destination is the Miami Heat, but time will tell if that becomes the case.
Regardless of which team lands Lillard, the Blazers should focus on these five players as under-the-radar trade targets to acquire in exchange.
There’s a common theme among these five players. They play for teams that could reasonably make a trade, whether for Lillard directly or as a third team that gets another player because they need a shake-up.
These players would also fit the Blazers’ rebuilding timeline and provide positional length and much-needed defense.
Blazers Lillard trade target No. 1: Onyeka Okongwu, Atlanta Hawks
Onyeka Okongwu, a 22-year-old forward for the Atlanta Hawks, is an underrated gem in the NBA. At 6-foot-9, Okongwu’s skill set and impact on the court have yet to receive the recognition they deserve.
Drafted as the No. 6 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Okongwu has quickly proven his worth. He averaged 9.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game on 64/31/78 shooting splits last season.
Okongwu’s defensive prowess is evident with his +1.0 defensive RAPTOR rating and 3.5 wins above replacement. While he may fly under the radar, Okongwu’s contributions and potential make him an invaluable asset to the Hawks.
As he continues to develop and showcase his skills, it is only a matter of time before he receives the recognition he deserves as one of the league’s most promising young players.
Now would be the perfect time for the Blazers to pounce on a promising player like Okongwu. The Hawks still have Clint Capela and don’t necessarily need Okongwu if they want to try to contend now around Trae Young and Dejounte Murray. Lillard likely wouldn’t be sent to Atlanta due to Young being there, but the Hawks could still be involved as a third team in a trade.
Okongwu would perfectly fit in Portland – the team has been desperately searching for a versatile center that can switch out onto the perimeter and guard multiple positions. As he averaged only 23.1 minutes per game last season, Portland could unlock Okongwu’s full potential with an increased opportunity as a starter.
Blazers Lillard trade target No. 2: Robert Williams III, Boston Celtics
Robert Williams is a 25-year-old center for the Boston Celtics. Despite playing an average of only 23.5 minutes per game last year, Williams has proven to be a valuable asset to his team. He has showcased his skills on both ends of the court, contributing significantly to the Celtics’ success.
Williams averaged 8.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game on 75/0/61 shooting splits last season. At 6-foot-9, Williams’ ability to impact the game with his rebounding, shot-blocking, and scoring efficiency makes him a vital component of the Celtics roster.
Injury history is a concern; he only played 35 games in 2022-23 and has only played more than 50 games in two of his five seasons. He’s had a multitude of injuries, including a torn meniscus.
Although he has an injury history, Williams’ potential as a two-way center is undeniable. According to FiveThirtyEight’s RAPTOR rating, Williams is a positive 1.7 on defense and 2.9 wins above replacement.
He still has room to improve, but Williams could be an excellent piece to add to the Blazers young core. Williams would likely be relatively cheap, given his injury history. He’d also fit perfectly in terms of what the Blazers have been missing as a rim-protecting center.
The Celtics weren’t mentioned in Lillard’s list of preferred teams to be traded to. However, they are certainly in win-now mode with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Even Tatum is currently trying to recruit Lillard to Boston.
Does Boston have enough to get Lillard? It’s a fair question, but Robert Williams III would almost certainly have to be included.
Blazers Lillard trade target No. 3: Terance Mann, Los Angeles Clippers
Terance Mann is a 26-year-old, 6-foot-5 guard for the Los Angeles Clippers. Despite playing only 23.1 minutes per game this season, Mann contributed significantly to the team’s success, averaging 8.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game.
Mann’s shooting splits of 52 percent from the field, 39 percent from beyond the arc, and 78 percent from the free-throw line highlight his efficiency as a scorer.
Defensively, Mann’s contributions cannot be overlooked. His 6-5 frame allows him to guard multiple positions effectively, providing flexibility on the defensive end. He possesses the agility and quickness to stay in front of his opponents and disrupt their offensive rhythm.
Mann’s defensive presence, coupled with his offensive prowess, solidifies his value to the Clippers lineup.
Although the Blazers already have a solid guard rotation, Mann’s positional size and versatility could make him a valuable addition to their roster. At 6-5, he has the ability to play the small forward position, providing the team with more options and flexibility.
Considering the Clippers’ desire to contend while Paul George and Kawhi Leonard are still in their primes, they might be open to making moves to strengthen their roster.
With the Blazers currently in a rebuilding phase, Mann fits their roster timeline while offering floor spacing, playmaking, defense, and positional size.
Blazers Lillard trade target No. 4: Patrick Williams, Chicago Bulls
Patrick Williams would be a great addition to the Blazers’ roster in terms of positional needs and fitting the new-look timeline as they head into a rebuild. Williams, the fourth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, is still just 21 years old.
Williams has displayed promising statistics so far in his three-year NBA career. Last season, he averaged 10.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.9 blocks, and 0.9 steals per game on impressive 46/42/86 shooting splits. While Williams has improved his free-throw shooting from 73.2 percent to 85.7 percent, his progress since his rookie season hasn’t met some expectations.
Nevertheless, he has maintained similar numbers and is already a solid starting forward.
Williams boasts a defensive real plus-minus of 1.74, highlighting his defensive contributions on the court. With a 6-foot-8 frame, Williams is a switchable and versatile defender. He’d be a great fit next to the Blazers’ emerging core of guards.
Henderson, Sharpe, and Simons could provide the scoring punch, while Williams can be the complementary two-way forward, providing the intangibles associated with winning outside of scoring.
Portland needs help at the forward positions regardless, but another factor that would make Williams a great addition is the future of Jerami Grant. Grant just signed a lucrative five-year, $160 million contract. However, his future in Portland is murky following the news of Lillard’s trade request.
Williams can play alongside Grant if he stays, but would be an addition as insurance for the forward position if Portland decides to move on from Grant eventually.
Chicago is a team in need of a shake-up; it could make sense for them to get involved in a trade with the Blazers, likely as the third team that receives someone outside of Lillard.
Blazers Lillard trade target No. 5: Devin Vassell, San Antonio Spurs
According to his recent comments, San Antonio has emerged as a dark horse team to acquire Damian Lillard. Lillard supposedly has a “deep respect” for the Spurs.
The Heat is Lillard’s preference here. But he also has a deep respect for the San Antonio Spurs organization, sources told ESPN. https://t.co/IXhiZwJ24V
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) July 1, 2023
It might be unreasonable to expect the Spurs to make an all-in type move for Lillard, as they just selected No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama. Here’s the (likely unpopular) argument against that – Wembanyama is considered a generational prospect who may not require the same developmental timeline as other former No. 1 overall picks.
There’s certainly a scenario in which Lillard is still in his prime and Wembanyama is an All-Star-level player, giving the Spurs a legitimate chance as a contender with that duo.
Whether the Spurs are trading directly for Lillard or playing the role of the third team in a deal, a trade target the Blazers should vigorously pursue is Devin Vassell.
Like Patrick Williams, Vassell is entering his fourth year as a member of the 2020 draft class. He was selected No. 11 overall by San Antonio. So far in his young career, Vassell has become a tremendous and underrated pick.
Last season, he averaged 18.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.1 steals on 44/39/78 shooting splits.
Acquiring Vassell would come with a similar concern mentioned with Terance Mann. Both are 6-foot-5 and could be considered questionable fits alongside Portland’s guard trio of Henderson, Sharpe, and Simons. While a bit undersized as a small forward, Mann or Vassell could play the position due to their three-and-D skill sets.
A projected lineup of Henderson, Sharpe, and Vassell, with Simons (or one of the other guards) coming off the bench is highly intriguing. They’d have a great combination of almost everything you want in an emerging core between All-Star potential, defense, playmaking, shooting, and athleticism.