How This Trade Impacts The Trail Blazers
This trade would be a tough one for the Portland Trail Blazers. Shaking things up is something that needs to happen for this team to get to the level they are capable of. The backcourt pairing of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum has probably run its course and it is time to try something new.
Trading CJ McCollum is the best way to shake up the roster, as it is the quickest way to balance the roster out. In this scenario, Portland upgrades the backcourt spot alongside Damian Lillard with Bradley Beal.
Beal is arguably the best shooting guard in the NBA. He can score with the best of them, finishing second in the NBA last season in points per game behind Stephen Curry. He is in a tier above McCollum, but is he enough of an upgrade to help get the Trail Blazers over the hump?
The offense has never been Portland’s issue. They can score the basketball, it is keeping opponents from doing the same that they have struggled with. Bradley Beal is a slightly better defender than CJ McCollum, which is a positive.
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Ultimately, if there is a chance to land a superstar such as Beal, you take that chance. This is the kind of move that would appease Lillard and make him want to stay with the organization.
Surrendering Anfernee Simons, Nassir Little and multiple first-round draft picks, in addition to McCollum, is steep but worth it for Portland. Beal is enough of an upgrade that he should help push Portland up the standings in the Western Conference.
