NBA Trades: 3 Damian Lillard trade to reset the Trail Blazers

Portland Trail Blazers organization has been a mess all season long. Not only that but the many issues involving the franchise date all the way back to the offseason.</p> <p>Damian Lillard could be out for the season, the Blazers had to fire their GM, Neil Olshey, and heated words from rookie head coach Chauncey Billups towards the team even <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/02/nba-trades-damian-lillard-trail-blazers/"https://www.sportscasting.com/chauncey-billups-rips-blazers-words-send-damian-lillard-running-hills/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">popped up</a>.</p> <p>Now, recent NBA rumors have revealed that everybody on the roster outside of Lillard is considered available for trade. But what if that’s backward?</p> <p>At this point, it’s fairly clear that this current Blazers core won’t win a title. So, instead of building around Lillard, here are three NBA trades that would help reset the franchise by trading Lillard away.</p> <h2>NBA Trades: 3 Damian Lillard trades to reset the Trail Blazers – Philadelphia 76ers</h2> <p><strong>76ers receive: Damian Lillard</strong></p> <p><strong>Trail Blazers receive: Ben Simons, Matisse Thybulle</strong></p> <p>This is the most obvious trade that’s out there. The Philadelphia 76ers want to get a superstar in return for Ben Simmons, and the Portland Trail Blazers should be focused on rebuilding.</p> <p>Lillard is the ideal player for the Sixers to pair next to big man Joel Embiid. He’s an elite perimeter presence who can take care of things from the outside while Embiid works down low.</p> <p>Meanwhile, the Blazers would get two young players that they could build around. Simmons is an elite, young, All-Star-caliber talent, and Matisse Thybulle is one of the best defenders in the NBA.</p> <p>Philadelphia might not want to part ways with Thybulle in this trade, but it would be worth it if they are getting Lillard. And for the Blazers, this is a nice reset for them.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/02/nba-trades-damian-lillard-trail-blazers/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Trade #2 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_441539" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-441539" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/02/nba-trades-damian-lillard-trail-blazers/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1303357008.jpeg" alt="NBA Trades: 3 Damian Lillard trade to reset the Trail Blazers " width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1303357008.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1303357008-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">PORTLAND, OREGON – FEBRUARY 20: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers works against Rui Hachimura #8 of the Washington Wizards in the fourth quarter at Moda Center on February 20, 2021 in Portland, Oregon, NBA Trades: 3 Damian Lillard trade to reset the Trail Blazers. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>NBA Trades: 3 Damian Lillard trades to reset the Trail Blazers – Washington Wizards</h2> <p>Wizards receive: Damian Lillard, Ben McLemore</p> <p>Trail Blazers receive: Deni Avdija, Rui Hachimura, Thomas Bryant, Spencer Dinwiddie, 2022 First-Round Pick, 2024 First-Round Pick, 2026 First-Round Pick</p> <p>This trade would see the Washington Wizards commit to building around Bradley Beal, while the Portland Trail Blazers would begin a long-awaited rebuild.</p> <p>Recent NBA rumors have revealed that Beal doesn’t plan to sign an extension with Washington before the end of the year. However, that doesn’t mean he won’t be back next year.</p> <p>If the Wizards went out and got Lillard, though, then Beal would almost certainly be convinced to stay. This would give Washington one of the most deadly backcourt pairings in the league.</p> <p>Meanwhile, the Blazers would be hitting the reset button in a big way here. They’d get two very promising young players and a whole boatload of draft picks.</p> <p>Deni Avdija is super talented on both ends of the floor. He’d be able to grow in Portland next to Anfernee Simons and the rest of the youth on the Blazers.</p> <p>The same can be said about Rui Hachmura. The young forward spend the summer dominating at the Tokyo Olympics and has shown flashes of great potential.</p> <p>Reportedly, the Wizards don’t even want Spencer Dinwiddie on the team anymore, so he’d be a nice piece for the Blazers to add in order to match salary.</p> <p>Throw in three unprotected firsts, and this is a solid haul for Lillard. Both teams would accomplish a goal and start heading in different directions.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/02/nba-trades-damian-lillard-trail-blazers/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Trade #3 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_441538" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-441538" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/02/nba-trades-damian-lillard-trail-blazers/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1298248156.jpeg" alt="NBA Trades: 3 Damian Lillard trade to reset the Trail Blazers " width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1298248156.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1298248156-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">PORTLAND, OREGON – JANUARY 24: RJ Barrett #9 of the New York Knicks works against Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers in the second quarter at Moda Center on January 24, 2021 in Portland, Oregon, NBA Trades: 3 Damian Lillard trade to reset the Trail Blazers. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>NBA Trades: 3 Damian Lillard trades to reset the Trail Blazers – New York Knicks</h2> <p><strong>Knicks receive: Damian Lillard</strong></p> <p><strong>Trail Blazers receive: RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin, Quentin Grimes, Evan Fournier, 2023 First-Round Pick, 2025 First-Round Pick</strong></p> <p>If the New York Knicks want to catapult themselves into title contention, this is surely one way to do that. Meanwhile, just like with the rest of these deals, the Portland Trail Blazers would rebuild.</p> <p>The Knicks have severely underperformed this season, and adding someone like Damian Lillard would definitely help turn that around immediately.</p> <p>Julius Randle has struggled as the number-one option, but adding Lillard to the team would shift Randle into being the second option – maybe he’d be better in that role?</p> <p>Losing RJ Barrett would hurt most Knicks fans, but that’s the price you have to pay to add someone as elite as Lillard is. This trade would also give the Knicks the superstar point guard they’ve wanted forever.</p> <p>Portland would get Barrett, and in turn, could build around him and his strengths. At his peak, Barrett has shown the ability to be an All-Star-caliber player, and maybe more.</p> <p>Obi Toppin would get a chance at more opportunities with the Blazers. He’s been solid in New York this year, but his chances are somewhat limited in Tom Thibodeau’s rotations.</p> <p>Lastly, Quentin Grimes is a nice young scorer for the Blazers to take a chance on. He’s shown some real flashes of potential in his rookie year this season.</p> <p>Overall, just like the previous two trades, this helps each team continue in the direction they wish to be going in – the Knicks would start competing and the Blazers would start rebuilding.</p> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="3 CJ McCollum trades to shake things up in Portland" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/05/nba-trades-cj-mccollum-trades/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/02/nba-trades-damian-lillard-trail-blazers/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/05/nba-trades-cj-mccollum-trades/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> 3 CJ McCollum trades to shake things up in Portland </a> </div> </div><!—pageview_candidate—>">