5 Trades Portland Trail Blazers can make to improve their tank

The Portland Trail Blazers won four of their first 15 games and are rebuilding after trading Damian Lillard to Milwaukee. They have a strong young core of Scoot Henderson, Anfernee Simons, and Shaedon Sharpe, but the Blazers need to give them time as they continue to add talent. Portland will make their veterans available before the trade deadline, and general manager Joe Cronin should be busy.

Trades help the Blazers on two fronts. Without their veteran talent, wins will be hard to come by, which improves draft position. Portland should be looking for draft capital in return as well. They can then use it to add young talent to their roster or in a trade to acquire an established player.

Here are five trades the Trail Blazers should already be looking at to improve their lottery odds in 2024.

5. Heat give up 1st for Brogdon

The Miami Heat are looking for another star to pair with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, but they have not been able to acquire one. Damian Lillard wanted to go to South Beach, but the Blazers had no interest in a deal. Could the two sides complete a different trade?

The reigning Sixth Man of the Year is playing well in Portland but is not part of their long-term plans. Brogdon turns 31 in December and has a lengthy injury history. The Blazers would be wise to sell now, especially if they can get a first-round pick in return.

Portland would likely waive Kyle Lowry and let him explore the buyout market. They get a 2027 first-round pick from Miami with the hope that the Heat take a step backward in a few years. Butler is 34 years old, so he could be declining by the 2027 draft.

The Portland Trail Blazers have multiple veterans worth exploring, including one they just re-signed in restricted free agency.