How This Trade Impacts Portland

The Portland Trail Blazers are going to do everything they can to make sure they hold onto their star player, Damian Lillard. He has already said he will be in Portland and likes head coach Chauncey Billups, but how much longer can he take not making some noise in the postseason?

If the Trail Blazers start the season slow and fall out of the playoff race, his tune could change. Lillard is someone everyone around the league is keeping an eye on, as a trade involving him would cause a seismic shift in the NBA.

In this hypothetical deal, things reach a boiling point and he leaves. For Portland, this is the kind of package they would be looking for in return for him.

Ben Simmons has his flaws, but as a 25-year old multi-time All-Star and All-Defensive Team member, he provides Portland with a building block for the future. He has the potential to be an elite, top-5 player in the league, he just has to put in the work to realize it.

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: 3 Factors Must Play Out Before 76ers Trade Ben Simmons

Tyrese Maxey is another high-ceiling player being acquired in this deal. He looked magnificent in his start at point guard in the season opener against the New Orleans Pelicans. Given Simmons’ versatility defensively, Maxey could theoretically start for the Blazers if Billups chose to.

The two first-round picks are a nice addition as well. Portland could use them to add some affordable talent to the roster with rookie contracts. Or, they could swing for the fences on another trade, using the picks as sweeteners in the deal.

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: 3 Factors Must Play Out Before 76ers Trade Ben Simmons

Portland’s goal in any trade they made was to remain competitive. They would do that even by losing Lillard in this deal. Simmons and Maxey give them two legitimate rotation players and can help them where they are weakest on the defensive side of the ball.