5 Players Trail Blazers could target in Lillard trade to become contenders

Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors

At this point last season, one of the more premiere young assets in the NBA was Scottie Barnes. His stock was so high that the Toronto Raptors were reportedly unwilling to include him in a possible deal for Kevin Durant. After taking a bit of a step back during his sophomore season in the NBA, you can’t help but wonder if the Raptors would be willing to include him in a possible package for Damian Lillard. From the Raptors’ perspective, a big three of Lillard, Pascal Siakam, and OG Anunoby would be an intriguing threat in the Eastern Conference.

For the Trail Blazers, they’d be huge winners too in adding Barnes to their strong core of young players. Barnes would immediately play a big role in Portland and wouldn’t be stuck behind veterans on the totem pole as he is in Toronto. The Trail Blazers would also emerge as one of the more exciting teams to watch in the Western Conference this season.

Barnes is probably no longer the surefire budding star that many perceived him to be after his rookie campaign, but he still has a great skillset and the athleticism to develop into one in the right environment. Maybe that’s Portland.