3 Players the Portland Trail Blazers gave up on too soon

3. Nickeil Alexander-Walker

The Blazers originally acquired Nickeil Alexander-Walker as part of the CJ McCollum deal with the New Orleans Pelicans. They sent McCollum, Larry Nance Jr., and Tony Snell in exchange for Josh Hart, Tomas Satoransky, Didi Louzada, NAW, and draft compensation.

The following day, Portland flipped NAW to the Utah Jazz as part of a three-team trade in which they received Joe Ingles, Elijah Hughes, and a second-round pick. ESPN's Zach Lowe on The Lowe Post was questioning why the Blazers were so eager to part ways with NAW. Lowe called NAW a "smart flier for a team to take," later emphasizing how the trade made even less sense for Portland because Ingles was "injured and on an expiring contract."

NAW was only 23 and still an up-and-coming guard when the Blazers got him from the Pelicans. He was also coming off arguably the best season of his career in New Orleans, averaging 12.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. Now, NAW is a pivotal role player for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He's a solid two-way guard who also shot 39 percent from three this season. Lowe was right about this being a mistake for the Blazers.