Portland Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin isn't afraid to include valuable draft capital to acquire an established player if the deal makes sense. That was apparent when Portland acquired Deni Avdija for two first-round picks and Malcolm Brogdon last summer, a once-polarizing decision that looks better by the day for the Blazers.
However, those types of deals come with extreme risk attached. Avdija exceeded expectations in his first year in Rip City, but if he didn't pan out, that deal would've significantly set back Portland's rebuild.
Finding another Avdija-type steal will be challenging, as he was the perfect player to acquire, given his age, contract, and the fact that his versatility addressed several of Portland's needs. At some point, the Blazers will have to take on some risk to land another high-caliber player, as their current roster, despite internal developments, isn't talented enough to become a legitimate contender.
Cronin will have to find another missing piece to help put them over the top, but it's also essential that the Blazers emphasize patience. Everyone is eager to get back to the playoffs, but rushing back into them by making a win-now for someone who isn't an ideal fit, like Avdija was, is counterproductive.
B/R pitches trade that sends Devin Booker to Rip City
Bleacher Report's Andy Bailey recently proposed five wild NBA trades that can happen right now. In one of these proposals, the Blazers find that missing star, making an aggressive move for Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker.
Here's what the deal entails:
In the deal, Portland surrenders a 2028 first-round pick swap, a 2029 first-round pick swap, a 2030 first-round pick, and a 2031 first-round pick. It's a steep price to land the four-time All-Star, but Bailey makes the case for why the Blazers would consider paying it.
"That doesn't mean it's too much for Portland to surrender. Even after giving up this package, the Blazers would have a wing/forward trio of Booker, Deni Avdija, and Toumani Camara that would likely have this team competing for a playoff spot as early as next season. Depending on the development of Scoot Henderson and Donovan Clingan, they might even be ready for more than that within the next couple years," wrote Bailey.
Portland would surround Booker with versatile two-way wings in Avdija and Camara, reminiscent of the Booker-Cam Johnson-Mikal Bridges trio that meshed well and resulted in an NBA Finals appearance for the Suns.
The idea of adding arguably the best shooting guard in the game is always intriguing. For what it's worth, Booker also gave the Blazers organization high praise after they acknowledged him at the Moda Center for becoming the Suns' all-time leading scorer, saying, "he'll always have a love for this place."
But for as great as Booker is and as entertaining as this would make the Blazers in the short term, it's too much to sacrifice for Portland's long-term outlook.
Assuming Portland could get a first-round pick for Simons, that's three first-rounders and two swaps included in this deal. That's not to mention having to part ways with Sharpe, who ended the season on the verge of a breakout and is still Portland's best bet to become an All-Star outside of Avdija.
Adding Booker could be enough to make the playoffs, but it's also the exact type of trade we advised against, as it would result in long-term purgatory. Booker is 28 and doesn't fit into Portland's timeline well, as they are still years away from making significant noise. The Blazers have no reason to make an all-in move at this point in their rebuild.
Grade: D+