5 Moves Blazers should make after trading Damian Lillard

Portland Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports
Portland Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports
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Portland Trail Blazers, Jrue Holiday
Portland Trail Blazers, Jrue Holiday. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

1. Trade Jrue Holiday

Holiday does not fit the Blazers timeline and the two-time All-Star is likely not interested in leading a rebuilding squad. Portland is already in talks of rerouting him with the Heat and Sixers being linked among the suitors (subscription required).

Can the Blazers get two first-round picks for Jrue Holiday? Do they go for one first and a talented young player? What are teams willing to offer? The Heat have multiple firsts available to trade and want a third star to pair with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. Is Portland willing to engage them in talks on Holiday after not being eager to deal Dame to South Beach?

The Blazers, Suns, and Bucks finalized the Damian Lillard deal on Wednesday night, so Jrue Holiday cannot be aggregated in a new deal. Portland can trade him without attaching any other player or wait two months for the restriction to be lifted. They were in no rush to deal Dame, but will they go the same route with Holiday as training camp gets underway?

General manager Joe Cronin and the Portland Trail Blazers should be exploring their options with Holiday. If they can get a monster return right now, make the move, but there is zero harm in waiting for the right deal.

What do the Blazers do next? The rebuild is just beginning in Rip City, so stay tuned for all the latest.