Grade the Trade: Blazers take no-brainer swing in proposed Lillard deal

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The Trail Blazers should trade Damian Lillard for New Orleans' Zion Williamson.

Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

Portland Trail Blazers trade Damian Lillard to Pelicans for Zion Williamson

If Cronin gets this proposed offer (via FanSided.com) from David Griffin, his counterpart in New Orleans, he should say “Yes,” immediately hang up the phone and dial the league office to confirm it.

While Miami’s best trade chip is 23-year-old guard Tyler Herro, who the Blazers don’t want or need, the Pelicans’ best trade chip is a former No. 1 overall pick that, if healthy, is a pure NBA superstar.

(The “if healthy” part is, admittedly, a major sticking point.)

Lillard, paired with star Brandon Ingram, former backcourt mate CJ McCollum and young, ascending players such as Herb Jones, Jose Alvarado, Dyson Daniels, Kira Lewis Jr. and Jordan Hawkins, would make the Pelicans a legitimate contender in the West.

New Orleans would have a chance to make a run; that’s all Dame has said he wants – a chance.

For the Blazers, the idea of adding a big like Zion to a backcourt trio of Scoot Henderson, Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe is drool-worthy.