The Portland Trail Blazers have the No. 3 overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft but they also have a more significant decision to make. The franchise has to decide whether to try building around Damian Lillard once again or to trade him away potentially.
If they want to put a contender around Lillard, they must make some big trades. A competent center and an elite defensive wing are both profiles they could use. And unsurprisingly, this has led to links to the Phoenix Suns’ Deandre Ayton.
“The Trail Blazers have also had an interest in trading for Deandre Ayton of the Phoenix Suns in the past,” Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reported. “It’s unclear if acquiring Ayton could be a part of a deal that sees Portland move on from other players. The Blazers are considering trading Anfernee Simons and the third overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.”
The No. 3 overall and Anfernee Simons for a player like Ayton who isn’t an All-Star seems like a bit of an overpay. But giving Lillard a serious inside presence with potential might just work out for the Blazers as well. It’s hard to say if a move like that could work, although the pick and Simons could both prove to be quite valuable for the Phoenix Suns.
Damian Lillard Is Getting Frustrated With The Blazers
Damian Lillard was a top offense by himself for the Blazers last season but it wasn’t even enough for them to grab a play-in spot. A Lillard pick-and-roll last season was the 6th most efficient play of the last 15 years in the NBA, and he just needs a partner to help him compete. It’s not surprising that his frustration has been growing exponentially in recent times, something he has vocalized.
“I want to have an opportunity to win in Portland. Right now, we got an opportunity, asset-wise, to build a team that can compete. That would be the No. 1 thing. If we can’t do that, and I have said this for months now, then it’s a separate conversation we would have to have.”
The Blazers would reportedly trade Lillard to the Eastern Conference team of his choice if he wanted a move but surely he would prefer to build in Portland. His loyalty has been the stuff of legend and he deserves another shot at contention with Portland. Whether 18 points and 10 rebounds are the answer to that is more difficult to answer, but the Blazers will have to attempt a move at some point.
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