A blockbuster trade proposal has the Portland Trail Blazers dealing All-Star point guard Damian Lillard to a big market team in the Eastern Conference.
Lillard has been the subject of trade rumors for several years now, but the future Hall of Famer has remained keen on staying with the only NBA team he’s ever known. The Blazers got a huge boost when they landed Scoot Henderson with the No. 3 selection in Thursday’s NBA Draft.
At NBA Analysis Network, James Piercey proposed a massive trade scenario that would see the Trail Blazers send their franchise star to the New York Knicks in exchange for R.J. Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin and 2028 and 2030 first-round draft choices:
“The Blazers are at a fork in the road – or, if you prefer, a trail. Could they try to walk a line between the present and the future? Sure.
Henderson could be ready to contribute as a sophomore, and Lillard may not have aged out of his prime by then. Maybe. Possibly. We don’t know. All we can say is this: it feels pretty risky to us. In all likelihood, it’s time for the Blazers to start from scratch.
This deal helps them do it. They’re bringing in a platoon of talented young players in Barrett, Quickley, and Toppin. Adding them to a young core that already features Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, and Anfernee Simons will give them one of the best young cores in the NBA.”
General manager Joe Cronin has already made it clear that he doesn’t intend to trade Lillard. But of course, that mindset could always change if a team like the Knicks come forward with an offer that Portland can’t refuse.
The Knicks are coming off one of the franchise’s most successful seasons of the 21st century. They finished fifth in the East with a 47-35 record and upset the Cleveland Cavaliers in the opening round of the postseason before falling to the Miami Heat in round two.
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Lillard turns 33 years of age next month. In 58 games last season, the seven-time All-Star averaged 32.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game.
