- The Heat would finally land Damian Lillard in this blockbuster trade
- Brandon Ingram would make his way to the New York Knicks
- The Portland Trail Blazers get a package centered on Julius Randle
This summer, we have heard a lot about stars potentially moving on to other teams, and there is a good chance that we see at least one big-name player switch teams before the start of the NBA season.
The most prominent name on the trade market has been Damian Lillard, who reportedly wants to go to the Miami Heat. The Heat don’t necessarily have the assets to land him, and perhaps a multi-team trade construction is the answer. This trade framework sends Lillard to the Heat while moving Brandon Ingram to the Knicks, and Julius Randle to the Portland Trail Blazers.
Miami Heat Receive: Damian Lillard
New York Knicks Receive: Brandon Ingram
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Tyler Herro, 2024 First-Round Pick (NYK)
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Julius Randle, Duncan Robinson, Jamie Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic, 2027 First-Round Pick (MIA), 2029 First-Round Pick (MIA)
There is no doubt that this deal has benefits for all four teams that are involved. It could be an opportunity for all of these teams to achieve their goals, and here is why this trade should be under consideration for all parties.
The Miami Heat Finally Land Damian Lillard
There is no doubt that point guard Damian Lillard is the Miami Heat’s dream target. They have consistently been linked with him throughout the offseason, and it is easy to see why they want him.
The Miami Heat lost point guard Gabe Vincent in free agency, which is already a blow. On top of that, the team struggled with offense all throughout the playoffs, and Damian Lillard could be the solution to that issue. Ultimately, you need talent to win NBA championships, and adding Damian Lillard would increase the star power on the Miami Heat roster.
This past season, Damian Lillard averaged 32.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 7.3 assists for the Portland Trail Blazers in 58 games. He is an elite 3PT shooter that can also double as a floor general, and he will certainly take some of the pressure off of Jimmy Butler during the regular season. Though his defense could be an issue, the other elite defenders on the Miami Heat should be able to compensate for that.
In this scenario, the Miami Heat would have to send out a number of young players, as well as Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, and two first-round picks. That is a small price to pay to land a superstar like Lillard, especially with two All-Star talents already on the roster. The Miami Heat could win a championship with Damian Lillard, and this is the move to maximize the Jimmy Butler era.
New York Knicks Land A Star-Level Shot-Creating Forward
Throughout the last few championships, there has been a trend of the winning team having an elite wing player. The 2023 Nuggets had Michael Porter Jr., the 2022 Warriors had Andrew Wiggins, and the 2021 Bucks had Khris Middleton. Overall, it is clear that wing forwards who can create their own shot and be solid defensively are an archetype that contributes to winning.
This trade would get the New York Knicks Brandon Ingram, who fits that mold as a player. He is one of the most complete offensive wings in the game, averaging 24.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists for the New Orleans Pelicans last season, while shooting 39.0% from 3PT range. Ingram has shown that he has an All-NBA upside as a player, but obviously, the key for him is to stay healthy.
The New York Knicks would be giving up Julius Randle, and a first-round pick in this trade scenario. Though Randle is a solid player who is great during the regular season, he has frequently played poorly in the playoffs. If the Knicks want to take the next step as a team, they need a different player that can raise their overall ceiling. Brandon Ingram could be that player.
New Orleans Pelicans Land A Solid Return For Their Star Player
The New Orleans Pelicans would likely not trade Brandon Ingram unless it was due to his contract situation. The star only has two years left on his current deal, and if the team doesn’t think he’ll re-sign, then the best option is moving him now while they can still get a solid return.
The key player that the New Orleans Pelicans would get in this deal is Tyler Herro, who is one of the better shooting guards in the league. This past season with the Miami Heat, he put up 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, while shooting 37.8% from 3PT range. He notably is an elite 3PT shooter who knows how to play off-ball, which bodes well for his fit with superstar Zion Williamson. On top of Tyler Herro, the New Orleans Pelicans would also land a first-round pick.
For the New Orleans Pelicans, this deal is about taking the long-term vision. Trading Brandon Ingram for Tyler Herro could help them in the long run, even if Herro is a worse player right now. Moving Ingram could allow them to reset their timeline, and give time for young players like Trey Murphy and Herb Jones to develop. Those two and Herro next to Williamson could be the recipe for a competitive team in a few years.
The Portland Trail Blazers Get A Huge Trade Package For Damian Lillard
The Portland Trail Blazers get a huge trade return for Damian Lillard in this scenario. The deal features multiple players and picks heading their way, and this is a solid trade from a value perspective.
The key player that the Portland Trail Blazers would get is Julius Randle, who is an All-NBA-level power forward who averaged 25.1 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. Even though he struggles in the postseason, the goal for the Portland Trail Blazers next year will simply consist of being a solid team in the regular season. If Randle gets them too many wins and they want to tank, then they can simply move him to another squad at the trade deadline.
The team would also get two solid young players in this deal: Jamie Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic. Both players are relatively unknown prospects as of right now, but they could develop with playing time on the Portland Trail Blazers. The draft compensation in this deal would consist of two first-round picks, both sent by the Miami Heat.
This deal might not consist of huge amounts of draft compensation, but if the Portland Trail Blazers simply want to amass picks, then they can trade Julius Randle and Duncan Robinson (included in the deal for salary purposes). That will get them a few more picks that can help with their rebuild around Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe.
This Trade Satisfies All The Teams Involved
This potential trade could be a smart move for all four teams that are part of this deal. The New York Knicks and the Miami Heat would both get star-level players that raise their ceilings and allow them to gain an edge in an increasingly competitive Eastern Conference.
Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans and the Portland Trail Blazers get a solid package that allows them to win in the future, and add draft picks to their chest of assets.
It remains to be seen if the four teams come together on a trade with this framework. Multi-team trades in the league are notoriously hard to execute, but anything can happen in the future.
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