The Portland Trail Blazers are entering one of the most tumultuous off-seasons in recent memory. After losing to a shorthanded Nuggets team in the first round of the playoffs, superstar Damian Lillard seems completely put off by the idea of playing one more minute for Rip City. His rumored trade request put fans into a tail spin, last week. The request also spurred a legitimate question surround Dame’s potential trade value.
Should the Trail Blazers mimic the Thunder and trade off everything to rebuild?
Fans from many different markets have posted trade scenarios for their teams’ to acquire Damian Lillard, but many of them are low-ball offers to underestimate the point guard’s true value. The 76ers and General Manager Daryl Morey seem dead-set on trading for Dame, but Ben Simmons, a few other players and conditional draft picks aren’t too appealing.
Then you have the Golden State Warriors. They have two picks in the first round of the NBA Draft, this year. Add one more pick, Andrew Wiggins and James Wiseman, and this would be an incredibly intriguing offer for Damian Lillard. Trouble with this scenario is Golden State’s position in the western conference. This would guarantee their sustained dominance in the West for another three years.
Maybe blowing up this version of the Trail Blazers isn’t the best move for Neil Olshey. Dame is technically under contract from another two years, and he won’t conceivably ask for a trade till the end of this season.
Olshey would be smart to push all his chips onto the table and get another superstar, at all costs. No guarantee Neil Olshey will do this, though…
