Portland Trail Blazers Receive: G Collin Sexton, G/F Isaac Okoro, F/C Kevin Love, 2022 First-Round Pick (via CLE), 2022 Second-Round Pick (via HOU), 2024 First-Round Pick (via CLE)
Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: G Damian Lillard, F Robert Covington
This would be a landscape-altering trade for the NBA. It would signal that a rebuild was underway with the Portland Trail Blazers and would push the Cleveland Cavaliers from a nice story thus far in the 2021-22 season to legitimate playoff threats.
Cleveland would be adding an All-NBA performer in Damian Lillard to help take their offense to the next level. Currently ranked 20th in offensive rating, the Cavaliers would quickly improve adding someone as dynamic as Lillard to the mix.
Wing production has been an issue for them throughout the season. While Robert Covington won’t light things up offensively, he is a solid 3-pointer shooter and ace defender. He could handle the top defensive assignment each night, maintaining Cleveland’s elite level on that end of the court.
Portland is getting quite a haul here as well. Collin Sexton, who is out for the remainder of the season after tearing his meniscus, has shown he can be a bonafide scorer in this league. He averaged 24.3 points per game last season.
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Isaac Okoro was the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. He is the kind of two-way wing that teams need to succeed at this level. He is coming into his own this season. Kevin Love is included mostly to help match salaries, but he could find himself with a bigger role. If he played well in it, that would be another chance for the Trail Blazers to cash in and flip him for more assets.
Getting three draft picks in return is also solid. Unprotected first-rounders always have a ton of value and the Houston Rockets’ second-round pick is likely to be near the top of that round where plenty of first-round talent will be available.
How will this deal impact each team? Let’s take a look at it from each of their perspectives, starting with the Trail Blazers.
