How This Trade Impacts Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers need to balance out their roster. They are undersized in the backcourt and starting five with Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum and Norman Powell all being listed at 6’3” or shorter. Moving on from any of them could help take the team to the next level. In this scenario, it is McCollum on the move.
Tim Hardaway Jr. and Reggie Bullock both provide Portland with some much-needed size at the shooting guard and wing positions. Bullock is the three-and-D wing that Portland has coveted for a while now and he can step right into the starting five and be an asset. If he can refind the production he had in The Big Apple, Portland will be ecstatic.
Chauncey Billups would have some options when it came to the starting guard spot alongside Lillard. He could shift Powell there and make Hardaway the team’s sixth man. Or, if he wants more size in the starting five, it can be Hardaway starting with Powell coming off the bench as their new sixth man.
Dallas would certainly miss the dynamic scoring that McCollum provides, but the team will be much more balanced. They may sacrifice some offense, but their defense will be much improved with Bullock entering the mix. He, Powell, and Robert Covington would give the Trail Blazers three versatile, plus defenders to rely on.
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Portland would also be receiving a future first-round pick in the trade. They could use that to further upgrade the roster down the line with another trade. Another point guard could be needed eventually as McCollum handles a lot of point guard duties when Lillard is off the court.
