All of the 29 other NBA teams would love to have Portland Trail Blazers’ All-Star guard Damian Lillard on their team if the price was right. But of course, only one club can have the future Hall of Famer on their roster at any given time.
On July 1, Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN reported that Lillard requested a trade from the only NBA team he’s ever played for.
It has been widely reported that Lillard wishes to play for the reigning Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat, but Pat Riley and company haven’t been able to reach the finish line there. What if one of Miami’s Southeast Division rivals came in unexpectedly to win the Lillard sweepstakes?
At Fadeaway World, Eddie Bitar projected the best trade offer that every NBA team could offer Portland for Lillard. Regarding the Orlando Magic, Bitar proposed the idea of Miami’s state rivals offering Wendell Carter Jr., Jonathan Isaac, Markelle Fultz and 2024 and 2025 first-round picks for Lillard:
“Jonathan Isaac, known for his defensive prowess and versatility, could become a valuable asset for Portland on the defensive end of the floor. Wendell Carter Jr brings frontcourt depth and potential upside, providing a solid presence in the paint and on the boards. Markelle Fultz, once fully recovered from his injury, offers a talented playmaker and ball handler who could contribute significantly to the Blazers’ backcourt…
This trade allows the Magic to make a bold move toward contention while the Trail Blazers gain assets to build for the future. It offers a win-win situation for both teams as they align their roster strategies and set themselves up for success in the long term.”
Orlando finished 34-48 last year and missed out on the postseason, but there’s a promising core in place led by 2022 first overall pick Paolo Banchero, 21-year-old guard Franz Wagner as well as Carter Jr. and Fultz.
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This trade definitely makes sense on paper for both teams. Acquiring Lillard would help the Magic jump into annual postseason contention, while Portland would be getting several valuable pieces to help accelerate their rebuild.
