1. Damian Lillard
If the New Orleans Pelicans want to go all-in on making Zion Williamson happy, pairing him with another all-world performer is the way to go. If that is the route they choose to take, attempting to trade for Portland Trail Blazers star point guard Damian Lillard is the way to go.
Lillard has denied all reports that he is going to eventually request a trade, as he loves playing in Portland. However, it may be in the organization’s best interests to trade Lillard, get a boatload of assets and start rebuilding.
The Trail Blazers have been eliminated in the first round of the NBA playoffs in four of the last five years, as their current core looks to have reached its max potential. Making a Godfather offer for their best player is something New Orleans should consider.
Given how well they did when selling Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday, the Pelicans have a ton of draft capital that they can move in the deal. Brandon Ingram can also be the centerpiece of a deal as a young All-Star player that Portland could build their future around.
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A pairing of Williamson and Lillard should be enough to get the Pelicans back into the Western Conference playoff picture. The organization would still have some work building a true contender, but that would be an excellent place to start.
