Grade the trade: Trail Blazers stock up, Lillard joins Zion in wild proposal

Would the Portland Trail Blazers accept this trade for Damian Lillard?

The Blazers focus on getting younger and stockpiling draft capital. Dyson Daniels and Kira Lewis Jr. were both lottery picks in recent years. Lewis Jr. is on the verge of falling out of the league, but Daniels showed promise as a rookie. The 20-year-old point guard is 6’8 with a 6’11 wingspan. He could become a two-way force in the right environment and gives the Blazers some needed size in the backcourt.

Norman Powell and Marcus Morris Sr. are two quality rotation pieces for the Blazers this season, and Brandon Boston Jr. shot 41.4 percent from 3-point range last season in a limited sample as a 21-year-old. Portland also picks up three first-round picks to position themselves further. The Trail Blazers owe the Bulls their first-rounder in 2024, but this deal gives them enough draft capital to acquire a star.

Portland gets a stronger return, but they won’t let C.J. McCollum go to LA for two role players and a former second-round pick. The Blazers could get a protected first-round pick from the Clippers to sweeten this deal.

Grade: C

The Portland Trail Blazers want a massive package for Damian Lillard, and this feels a bit light. They could get three first-round picks and Tyler Herro from the Miami Heat. It would be easier to flip Herro for more draft capital than Norman Powell and Dyson Daniels. Accepting this trade only makes sense if the Blazers think Dyson Daniels turns into a star.

Will the Trail Blazers trade Damian Lillard before the start of the season? Does he wind up in Miami? Stay tuned to find out.

10 Worst Portland Trail Blazers moves of the Joe Cronin era

The Portland Trail Blazers have a massive move on the horizon, but what does GM Joe Cronin’s track record suggest about the outcome?