How This Trade Impacts Portland Trail Blazers

Trading Damian Lillard midseason seems unlikely. If a deal is going to be made, waiting until the offseason when the Portland Trail Blazers get some of their affairs in order would make sense. But, you can never rule it out. Someone could take the job and choose to get started on the rebuild right away.

If that is the case, this deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers is a solid one for Portland. Trading away a superstar is never easy, but this is a pretty solid haul that could bring them even more assets down the road.

Collin Sexton is injured, so they would have to be ensured that his rehab is going well before accepting this deal. If it is, the Trail Blazers are getting a bonafide scorer who averaged 24.3 points per game as a 21-22-year-old. Yes, he has limitations defensively, but that scoring potential is real.

Isaac Okoro would help compensate for any shortcomings Sexton has defensively. They could be the backcourt of the future in Portland, as Okoro is coming into his own in Year 2. He is showing the potential to develop into that elite 3-and-D wing that teams need to be successful in today’s NBA.

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Kevin Love is beyond his prime but has shown he can still contribute to a team. If he plays well in what would likely be an expanded role with the Trail Blazers, they could flip him again down the line for more draft picks.

Getting two first-round picks, unprotected at that, is always valuable. Even if they are outside the lottery, it will provide Portland with another chance to add young talent to the roster or use it in a trade to maneuver around the board. The second-round pick coming via the Houston Rockets will likely be in the-five of the second round as well, which would be a good chance to land a first-round talent at a reduced salary price.