Does this trade make sense for the Portland Trail Blazers?
For years, CJ McCollum and Damian Lillard have been one of the better backcourts in the entire NBA, so tearing this duo apart may ultimately cause Lillard to move on with his career, but what other assets do the Portland Trail Blazers really have?
Robert Covington, Norman Powell, and Jusef Nurkic are their three other key talents, and none of them really hold much weight in terms of being tradable assets.
For this team to add more talent that they need to contend in the Western Conference, either Damian Lillard or CJ McCollum must be moved, and Portland is not going to trade Dame unless he wants out.
The whole point of trading CJ McCollum would be to add more talent around Lillard, but this trade really does not help them that much.
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Malcolm Brogdon is a better defender than CJ McCollum, which will help the Portland Trail Blazers, but they still would be behind the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, LA Clippers, and even the Golden State Warriors when they are at full strength in terms of being a real threat in the Western Conference.
Ben Simmons may really end up being the best pure talent the Trail Blazers can add in exchange for McCollum to get Lillard the help he wants, but at this point, who knows if that is even an option anymore.
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If this trade is on the table by midseason, the Portland Trail Blazers may not be fools if they accept this offer, but it really does not help them too much in the grand scheme of things.
