As Damian Lillard continues to monitor his situation in Portland, the pressure is mounting for Trail Blazers GM Joe Cronin to make a move and prove to the world that they can compete for a championship with Dame at the center. So far, the Blazers have done nothing to change their roster, but landing the no. 3 pick in this summer’s draft has given them something new to work with.
In the days leading up to Thursday’s draft, the Blazers are expected to be fielding calls for the no. 3 pick, and the Pelicans are one team that could get involved. It’s uncertain right now what exactly New Orleans would be willing to give up but one report from The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor suggests the Blazers would rather have Zion in any trade talks with the Pels for their lottery spot.
“Most reports have said the Hornets favor the forward Miller over Henderson, so if that’s true it would make sense they’d want a more advanced version of Miller in Ingram, who will still only be 25 years old next season. As for Portland, my sense from league sources is that Portland’s preference is Williamson, who’d be a weapon in the pick-and-roll and in handoffs alongside Damian Lillard (should he stick around) and Shaedon Sharpe.”
Zion Is The Perfect Fit For The Blazers
At just 22 years old, Zion hasn’t even scratched the surface of his NBA potential. When healthy, the guy is utterly dominant, and we saw that when he was leading the Pelicans to the top seed in the West.
Of course, with Zion, things are much more complicated. Thanks to a flurry of health issues, Williamson is barely on the court for his team, and it’s no wonder why the Pelicans are growing tired of his routine amid another summer of wild trade rumors.
In Portland, it’s unlikely that Williamson would suddenly stop being injury prone, but maybe a change of scenery is what he needs to get back on track and get his weight under control. At the very least, Zion would thrive alongside a sharpshooter like Damian Lillard, who would by far be the best teammate Williamson has ever had.
Everything considered, it’s a risky trade for Portland, but they are a franchise that needs to take a big risk like this if they want to fulfill their promise to Lillard and build him a team that stands a chance.
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