Portland Trail Blazers: 5 teams who could trade for Damian Lillard

Trail Blazers</a>‘ handling of the situation (<a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/30/portland-trail-blazers-damian-lillard-6/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/28/chauncey-billups-hire-trail-blazers/">you can read about that here</a>). This piece is here because all of the dust kicked up has brought with it the possibility of something catastrophic for Portland: Damian Lillard might want to leave.</p> <h2>Rumors are swirling that Damian Lillard may request a trade out of town. Which teams could make an offer that the Portland Trail Blazers would accept?</h2> <p>The rumor first truly gained steam with the <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/30/portland-trail-blazers-damian-lillard-6/"https://sports.yahoo.com/sources-coaching-process-inability-to-build-title-contending-roster-may-push-damian-lillard-out-of-portland-203407770.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">publishing of an article</a> by Chris Haynes, long known to be a confidante of Lillard. He postulated (reported?) that the fan backlash after the Billups hiring and the Trail Blazers’ team struggles recently could drive Lillard out the door. That is, the longtime Portland hero could demand a trade.</p> <h3>Teams that won’t trade for Damian Lillard</h3> <p>While every team would want Damian Lillard, most of the teams in the league either wouldn’t have enough to offer or wouldn’t be a worthy landing spot. Lillard is a Portland icon; in the midst of a nasty media cycle they won’t generate more bad blood by dumping Lillard on a rebuilding team. That means the likes of the Orlando Magic, OKC Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers are out no matter the trade package they can provide.</p> <p>The Trail Blazers also won’t trade Lillard for pennies on the dollar. The Los Angeles Lakers, the LA Clippers, the Milwaukee Bucks — these teams don’t have much of anything to offer in a trade. That narrows the list of potential suitors significantly.</p> <p>Here are five teams that can compete with Lillard, but also put together a reasonable trade package. None of them are perfect, but there probably isn’t a perfect trade sitting out there for Lillard. Other contenders drained their assets trading for players such as Anthony Davis, Paul George and Jrue Holiday. These five teams have a shot.</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/2021/06/30/portland-trail-blazers-damian-lillard-6/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> New York Knicks </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_431610" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-431610" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/30/portland-trail-blazers-damian-lillard-6/"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%2F2018%2F08%2F1313558039.jpeg" alt="R.J. Barrett, New York Knicks" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1313558039.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1313558039-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Portland Trail Blazers, R.J. Barrett, New York Knicks. Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Teams that could trade for Damian Lillard: New York Knicks</h2> <p>The New York Knicks had an unexpectedly good season this year, riding a stout defense and an out-of-nowhere season from Julius Randle to the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. They face something of a crossroads this offseason, as they could lean into the veteran half of their roster and push to compete or they could lean into their young cast of characters and play the long game.</p> <p>Knowing the Knicks, and owner James Dolan, this team will likely double down on the idea of winning and re-sign their veteran players. They could make another win-now move and flip those youngsters for a Damian Lillard, a proven All-NBA guard with a taste for the theatrical, the perfect man to feature on the stage of Madison Square Garden.</p> <p><strong>Trade package: R.J. Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Dallas’ 2021 first-round pick (21), 2023 New York first-round pick to Portland; Damian Lillard to New York</strong></p> <p>The Knicks have a handful of valuable assets they could dangle to entice Portland to send Lillard their way. Chief among them are their young backcourt pieces, rising sophomore Immanuel Quickley and third-year player R.J. Barrett. Whether the Trail Blazers keep CJ McCollum or move him, they would have a long-term foundation for both guard positions.</p> <p>The Knicks also have a couple of extra picks courtesy of the Dallas Mavericks, and therefore they can move one this season and still add a piece, potentially a wing to replace Barrett. The Blazers would likely be ok waiting a couple of years for the second, hoping that the Knicks aren’t as good as expected in a couple of years and the pick ends up better than the late teens.</p> <p>The Knicks would be getting a fringe MVP candidate, a superstar who can allow Randle to slide into a secondary role. Bringing back Derrick Rose would give them three offensive creators to spread throughout the rotation.</p> <p>This package is without a surefire future star, but it does have one final benefit for Portland: they wouldn’t have to bring back as much salary in a trade, as the Knicks will have plenty of cap space with which to absorb some of Lillard’s contract. That is a huge benefit to the Blazers that most other suitors won’t be able to offer.</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/2021/06/30/portland-trail-blazers-damian-lillard-6/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Miami Heat </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_431609" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-431609" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/30/portland-trail-blazers-damian-lillard-6/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1302524710.jpeg" alt="Tyler Herro, Miami Heat" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1302524710.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1302524710-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Portland Trail Blazers, Tyler Herro, Miami Heat. Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Teams that could trade for Damian Lillard: Miami Heat</h2> <p>The Miami Heat are brought up anytime a star player is on the market or approaching free agency. A major reason is they are a proven destination for players and in the era of player agency that gives you leverage in trades and contract negotiations.</p> <p>Fresh off a tumultuous, COVID-wrecked season with a brutal ending, the Heat will look to turn over every stone to improve heading into next year. This was supposed to be the summer where the Heat signed their third star, and they kept the powder dry for such a moment. Unfortunately, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, Anthony Davis and Paul George all took themselves off the market. Unless Kawhi Leonard decides to leave the LA Clippers, the Heat need another avenue to a star.</p> <p><strong>Trade package:</strong> <strong>Goran Dragic, Tyler Herro, Precious Achiuwa, 2025 and 2027 first-round picks to Portland; Damian Lillard to Miami</strong></p> <p>This deal ends up something like “everything but the kitchen sink” as the Heat try to stack enough assets to bring back Damian Lillard. Dragic has a team option that the Heat will pick up in order to match enough salary to make this work. He is a useful enough guard that the Trail Blazers can start him if they want to stay competitive.</p> <p>Tyler Herro had a down season after his hot streak in the NBA Bubble, but he is still a valuable piece in the trade and could become an All-Star down the line if things break right. Precious Achiuwa, the Heat’s 2020 first-round pick, is an energetic big with three more years on his rookie contract. Finally, the Heat can trade their 2025 and 2027 first-round picks now if they remove the restrictions on their 2023 pick owed to Oklahoma City (or if they work out a balance with Portland on protections).</p> <p>Trading for Lillard would give the Heat a trio of stars to rival any in the league. The Heat would be left with a four-player core of Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, Lillard and Duncan Robinson and would need to build out a rotation from there. Ring chasers would surely love to set up shop in South Beach.</p> <p>From the Portland side, this would give them a guard with a chance to grow into a star, and a collection of talent around him. It’s probably not the best total package, but it’s appealing because they get a very talented young player on a cheap contract.</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/2021/06/30/portland-trail-blazers-damian-lillard-6/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Boston Celtics </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_431608" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-431608" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/30/portland-trail-blazers-damian-lillard-6/"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%2F2018%2F08%2F1231070673.jpeg" alt="Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1231070673.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1231070673-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Portland Trail Blazers, Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics. Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Teams that could trade for Damian Lillard: Boston Celtics</h2> <p>The Boston Celtics find themselves under new management, with former head coach Brad Stevens ascending to the front office and Brooklyn Nets assistant Ime Udoka taking over as head coach. Stevens has already started making moves, sending point guard Kemba Walker to the Oklahoma City Thunder for center Al Horford.</p> <p>That leaves something of a hole at point guard, although Marcus Smart is a reasonable option to slide over there. Instead, Stevens could look to replace Walker in a different and splashier way, trading from the Celtics’ strength on the wing to bring in Damian Lillard.</p> <p><strong>Trade package: Jaylen Brown, Tristan Thompson, Aaron Nesmith, future first-round pick to Portland; Damian Lillard to Boston</strong></p> <p>The Boston Celtics would get to pair an elite scorer in Damian Lillard with Jayson Tatum, giving the Celtics a deadly offensive combination. There is no better cover for Lillard on defense than Marcus Smart playing at the 2. The Celtics could re-sign Evan Fournier to play the 3, start Tatum at the 4 and Horford or Robert Williams at the 5. The Celtics would instantly vault up the ranks in the Eastern Conference.</p> <p>Portland would do this trade if it was confident in building around Jaylen Brown. Wings are the most valuable commodity in the league, and the Blazers haven’t had one as good as Brown since Brandon Roy. He is a two-way contributor who is growing into a star on offense, making his first All-Star appearance this past season. His age (just 24 years old) gives the Blazers the ability to compete now and later. Thompson comes on an expiring to make the contracts work, while Nesmith is a 3-and-D prospect who could grow into a low-end starter alongside Brown.</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/2021/06/30/portland-trail-blazers-damian-lillard-6/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Denver Nuggets </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_431607" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-431607" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/30/portland-trail-blazers-damian-lillard-6/"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%2F2018%2F08%2F1309853500.jpeg" alt="Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1309853500.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1309853500-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Portland Trail Blazers, Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets. Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Teams that could trade for Damian Lillard: Denver Nuggets</h2> <p>The Denver Nuggets were rolling in the weeks following the trade deadline. Newly acquired forward Aaron Gordon fit the rotation like a glove and both Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. were balling out alongside Nikola Jokic, in the heart of his MVP campaign. Title aspirations were forming into expectations.</p> <p>Then disaster struck as Jamal Murray tore his ACL, robbing him of this postseason and much of next year, if not all of it. This team is only going to get more expensive, and a notoriously stingy owner will be even less likely to greenlight deep luxury tax payments if the team’s star point guard is out of commission.</p> <p>In a bold move, the Nuggets could swing for the fences and compete for a title in this upcoming season. It would take the Trail Blazers committing to a season in the dregs, and a hard sell to the Denver fan base.</p> <p><strong>Trade package: Jamal Murray, Bol Bol, future first-round pick, two first-round pick swaps to Portland; Damian Lillard to Denver</strong></p> <p>The Nuggets would be an offensive firehose, with teams stretched past their breaking point defending Jokic and Lillard at the same time. The team would have to re-sign Aaron Gordon at this point or risk no plus defenders in the starting lineup. They would be in the mix for the top seed in the Western Conference and the title. The window wouldn’t stay open forever, as Lillard will turn 31 before the season starts, but it will be wide open right now.</p> <p>The Trail Blazers do this deal because Jamal Murray may be the most proven player available in a trade, and he plays the same position as Lillard. They could trade for Murray, rest on their laurels for a season, and add a high draft pick to the roster for the next season, when Murray returns fully healthy and they make another push back into the playoffs. Bol Bol, the pick and the swaps build this into enough of a return to make it worth it for the Trail Blazers.</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/2021/06/30/portland-trail-blazers-damian-lillard-6/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Golden State Warriors </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_430567" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-430567" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/30/portland-trail-blazers-damian-lillard-6/"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%2F2018%2F08%2F1309974474-1.jpeg" alt="James Wiseman, Golden State Warriors" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1309974474-1.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1309974474-1-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Portland Trail Blazers, James Wiseman, Golden State Warriors. Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Teams that could trade for Damian Lillard: Golden State Warriors</h2> <p>The Golden State Warriors have missed the playoffs for two straight seasons after reaching the NBA Finals for five straight. They are hungry to get back into contention and compete for a title. With Klay Thompson set to return early in the season they have their core three stars in Thompson, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green to build on.</p> <p>The Warriors would love to add a fourth player to that mix by trading their collection of assets. They saw last season how difficult it is to balance winning with player development, and they would welcome a chance to move on from their young prospects and draft picks in return for a win-now star.</p> <p><strong>Trade package: James Wiseman, Andrew Wiggins, 2021 first-round pick (7th), future first-round pick, two first-round pick swaps to Portland; Damian Lillard to Golden State</strong></p> <p>The idea of pairing Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard in a backcourt is mind-blowing to consider. The difficulty defending Curry or Lillard alone breaks defenses; both together is an impossibility, before one even adds Thompson back into the mix. Three of the four or five best shooters in the league — three top-10 shooters all-time — all sprinting off of screens and racing around the arc. Defensive coordinators would quit and go home.</p> <div class="related-categoryright"><div class="related-main-title">More from <span class="related-name">Portland Trail Blazers</span></div><ul><li> <a class="related-link" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/30/portland-trail-blazers-damian-lillard-6/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/08/17/damian-lillard-returns-new-blazers-team/" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="related-category-shortcode">Damian Lillard is returning to an unrecognizable Trail Blazers lineup</a> </li><li> <a class="related-link" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/30/portland-trail-blazers-damian-lillard-6/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/07/10/damian-lillard-portland-trail-blazers/" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="related-category-shortcode">Grading the Damian Lillard contract extension with Portland Trail Blazers</a> </li><li> <a class="related-link" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/30/portland-trail-blazers-damian-lillard-6/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/23/jerami-grant-traded-whats-next/" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="related-category-shortcode">After the Jerami Grant trade, what is next for the Portland Trail Blazers?</a> </li><li> <a class="related-link" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/30/portland-trail-blazers-damian-lillard-6/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/23/nba-trades-og-anunoby-portland-trail-blazers/" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="related-category-shortcode">NBA Trades: 3-team trade that lands OG Anunoby on Portland Trail Blazers</a> </li><li> <a class="related-link" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/30/portland-trail-blazers-damian-lillard-6/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/12/nba-trades-portland-trail-blazers/" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="related-category-shortcode">NBA Trades: 3 trades for the Portland Trail Blazers with the 7th pick</a> </li></ul></div> <p>Defensively there would be questions that needed answering, and the team would need to find a wing to replace Wiggins in the rotation, be that re-signing Kelly Oubre Jr. or signing someone with the tax-payer midlevel. In this iteration the Trail Blazers opt for a future pick instead of 14 this year to relieve any roster crunches; that could give the Warriors a player to help as well.</p> <p>Would Portland agree to this deal? It likely depends on what they think of James Wiseman. Last year’s second overall pick plus another top-10 pick to choose any player they like is a strong centerpiece. Add in a future pick, perhaps late enough for there to be the risk of age-related decline for the Warriors, and it’s an attractive package.</p> <p>It would have to be, because the Blazers are also taking back Andrew Wiggins. A year ago that would have been an impossibility, but he had such a good season his contract is simply a mild overpay for a good player, instead of an inexplicable overpay for a bad player. He could start on the wing and be a two-way option moving forward.</p> <p>In the end, the Trail Blazers have to hope they won’t have to move Lillard now or in the future. Yet if things go from rocky to broken he could be on the move, and these five teams could be options that work for both Lillard and Portland. It will be wild to see him in any other uniform, but it will probably be really fun to watch.</p> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="NBA Draft: LaMelo Ball goes first in 2020 NBA Redraft" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/29/nba-draft-lamelo-ball-2020-redraft/" 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/2021/06/30/portland-trail-blazers-damian-lillard-6/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/29/nba-draft-lamelo-ball-2020-redraft/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> NBA Draft: LaMelo Ball goes first in 2020 NBA Redraft </a> </div> </div><!—pageview_candidate—>">