- The Trail Blazers got four players and three first-round picks for Damian Lillard after flipping Jrue Holiday
- The team looks well set up for the future
- Deandre Ayton can be an X-factor for the squad
This summer, we finally saw Damian Lillard get traded by the Portland Trail Blazers. He was sent to the Milwaukee Bucks, and there is no doubt that this was a good destination for Lillard that will give him a real chance of winning a championship.
The Trail Blazers have come out of this trade as winners as well. One of the pieces that they got from the Bucks in the trade is Jrue Holiday, and the Trail Blazers recently traded Holiday to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams, and two first-round picks. When combined with the other pieces that the Trail Blazers received, it is easy to see that Portland successfully set them up in the future. Here is what the team ultimately got by sending out Damian Lillard.
“Final tally on Lillard trade: Portland gets Deandre Ayton, Robert Williams, Malcolm Brogdon, Toumani Camara, three first-round picks 2024 (Golden State, Top-4 protected), 2029 (Bucks and Celtics unprotected) and 2028 and 2030 Milwaukee pick swaps.”
Final tally on Lillard trade: Portland gets Deandre Ayton, Robert Williams, Malcolm Brogdon, Toumani Camara, three first-round picks 2024 (Golden State, Top-4 protected), 2029 (Bucks and Celtics unprotected) and 2028 and 2030 Milwaukee pick swaps.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 1, 2023
There is no doubt that this is a fantastic haul for one player. One thing to note is that the Portland Trail Blazers could flip Robert Williams and Malcolm Brogdon later on, and acquire even more assets from teams that need a win-now player. The draft compensation here is important as well, as they got two unprotected first-round picks, and one pick with very light protections from the Warriors. The swaps come far in the future as well and could end up falling in the lottery.
It will be interesting to see where the Trail Blazers will go from here. They have the flexibility to either be competitive or tank next season, and we’ll see how this upcoming season plays out for them. Ultimately, the team has a lot of young talent on the roster that will help them be successful in the long run.
Damian Lillard Was Willing To Return To The Trail Blazers
Even though the Portland Trail Blazers ultimately decided to move Damian Lillard, the superstar was willing to come back to the franchise. Lillard actually wanted a Trail Blazers return after the failed trade talks with the Heat, but GM Joe Cronin refused his request. Though it is unfortunate that Lillard’s time with the franchise ended this way, the team’s ultimate goal was clearly a rebuild, and trading Lillard was the best way to achieve that goal.
It remains to be seen how the Portland Trail Blazers do without Damian Lillard next season. Though they might get worse in the short term, the team could clearly become a contender in the future, especially if Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe develop into stars.
Deandre Ayton Could Be A Steal For The Portland Trail Blazers
Though a lot of people have soured on Deandre Ayton during his time with the Phoenix Suns, the center is only 25 years old and coming off a solid season. He still has some untapped potential.
Last year, Ayton averaged 18.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game, while shooting 58.9% from the field. He will enjoy a bigger role on the Trail Blazers and could be a candidate for a breakout season.
Having Scoot Henderson on the roster could definitely help Deandre Ayton, as Henderson is a gifted playmaker who knows how to run an offense. Their pick-and-roll partnership should be dynamic.
Recently, Deandre Ayton claimed that he is truly excited to be in Portland, joking that he feels as though he just got drafted. The center is clearly in positive spirits ahead of the next season. Hopefully, we see Ayton thrive and showcase all of his abilities, and perhaps the center will be able to prove that he can be a star-level player.
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