The Portland Trail Blazers traded Damian Lillard to the Bucks and flipped Jrue Holiday to the Celtics this week. It helped them to get a monster haul for Dame to kick off their rebuild, but Portland is not done. The Blazers just acquired Malcolm Brogdon and are fielding calls on the veteran guard.
Boston nearly traded Brogdon in the Kristaps Porzingis deal before things fell apart. The Celtics pivoted to including Marcus Smart, but opposing teams were interested in Brogdon. Portland won’t get a massive haul, but they should be able to find a contender willing to part with a protected first-round pick.
It will be weird not seeing Damian Lillard in a Blazers uniform, but the show must go on. Portland needs to maximize their assets as they build around Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, and Anfernee Simons, so what is next?
Malcolm Brogdon trades the Portland Trail Blazers should already be exploring
5. Bulls dump Lonzo to try to contend
The Bulls already ruled Lonzo Ball out for the season and were granted a disabled player exception. He won’t play, but Chicago wants to contend. Could they move on from the talented guard and upgrade their roster?
Ball has two years and $41.8 million remaining on his contract. Portland is in no rush to contend and may be willing to take on his deal for the right price.
Is one unprotected first-rounder enough? The Blazers could gamble that the Bulls are rebuilding by 2027, and it turns into a top-ten pick. Portland has a talented young backcourt and zero reasons to keep Brogdon. Turning him into an unprotected first-round pick is the ideal scenario, even if they have to take on a negative contract to do it.
The Chicago Bulls are unlikely to part with Lonzo Ball and give back the disabled player exception, but this is a trade worth exploring for both sides.
4. Blazers get 1st from Pelicans
Jonas Valanciunas has been the block this summer, and the Pelicans need another shot-creator to pair with Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and C.J. McCollum. They are looking to trade Kira Lewis Jr. and could be just the team to take on Brogdon.
The Pelicans have a ton of draft capital but would put a top-20 protection on their 2024 first-rounder before trading it. The Blazers may not get a better offer and could look to flip Valanciunas before the deadline.
The Blazers do not have room to play Lewis Jr., but a fresh start could be the best thing for his career. If he is dominating in the G League, Portland could look to call him up and potentially flip him at the deadline for another draft asset.
The Portland Trail Blazers should be all-in on collecting draft capital and pieces that fit around Scoot Henderson. Jonas Valanciunas has some value, and Joe Cronin should not hesitate in turning him into the best available offer.
It will be a slow rebuild in Portland. They are unlikely to be back in the playoff picture for multiple seasons, so why not add draft picks and flippable players like JV?
The New Orleans Pelicans would be hesitant to make this move without a center replacement. Portland may offer Robert Williams and expand this trade, but Woj reported the Trail Blazers want to keep the former Celtics big man.
3. Raptors search for FVV replacement
The Toronto Raptors lost Fred VanVleet in free agency this summer, but have not waived the white flag. Pascal Siakam is entering the final year of his contract, and OG Anunoby has a player option next summer. The Raptors must lock them in long-term or look to move on. It is a crossroads season in Toronto, but the team has chosen to contend thus far.
Do the Raptors get aggressive and trade more draft capital for Brogdon? They signed Dennis Schroder, but need another ball-handler and shot-creator to round out their roster. Fans hope for point Scottie Barnes, but adding a secondary creator like Brogdon could do wonders for their offense.
Portland would have zero interest in Chris Boucher and Thaddeus Young. They are involved strictly to make the math work but could provide leadership to the young Blazers for however long they stay in Rip City. Getting another first-round pick is the prize for Portland here.
Convincing the Raptors to give one up could be difficult. Massai Ujiri and company have not picked a lane. Are they contending or rebuilding? Toronto missed the playoffs last season and has not made a massive splash this summer. Until they decide which way to go, do not expect to see the Raptors offering up first-round picks.
2. Blazers finally work out a trade with the Heat
Damian Lillard wanted to be traded to the Miami Heat. He made that clear to the Blazers front office, but Joe Cronin and company refused to send him to South Beach. It turned out to be a wise move because the Bucks gave the Blazers significantly more, but his refusal to engage the Heat left Miami stunned. The Heat were in on Jrue Holiday too, but again got denied by Portland.
Could the two sides finally work out a package? The Heat want a star, but they may have to settle for someone like Malcolm Brogdon. They might decide to run it back. Their current core just won the Eastern Conference. The Heat lost Gabe Vincent and Max Strus, but no team is better at finding undervalued talent. Could they pull off this trade to supplement it?
Miami is ready to move on from Kyle Lowry, but he would be a fantastic mentor for Scoot Henderson. The Heat would have to give up a first-round pick, which damages their future odds of acquiring a star, but it is the price to upgrading, especially when acquiring the reigning Sixth Man of the Year.
If Miami is unwilling to bite on Malcolm Brogdon, there is certainly one team that is interested in Malcolm Brogdon. Consider them the early favorites in acquiring the 30-year-old guard.
1. Clippers finally get Brogdon
The Clippers worked out a deal for Brogdon before the draft, but it fell through as there was not enough time for him to complete his physical. The two sides continued to engage in discussions (subscription required), but no deal was reached. In the initial offer, the Clippers gave up the 30th overall pick in 2023, Amir Coffey, and Marcus Morris Sr., and that would likely be the benchmark for the Blazers in talks.
The Clippers would likely put a top-20 protection on the pick, but this is their chance to solve an ongoing problem. They have had point guard and ball-handling issues since acquiring Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Malcolm Brogdon has proven he can run an NBA offense and is comfortable starting or coming off the bench.
This would signal the Clippers giving up on their James Harden pursuit. Brogdon is not the same player but is a clear upgrade for LAC.
The Portland Trail Blazers received a ton for Damian Lillard, but they are not done yet. Expect them to extract some value from Malcolm Brogdon, and Deandre Ayton could take his game to new heights in Rip City. What can Joe Cronin get for Brogdon? Stay tuned to find out.
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