How This Trade Impacts Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers would improve their future outlook if they accept the reality that they are not contending this season. If they accept that before the NBA trade deadline, they could acquire some good assets to move forward with.

CJ McCollum is someone that has been mentioned in some trade rumors recently and it makes sense. They are 21-30 on the season and Damian Lillard is sidelined for the foreseeable future after undergoing surgery on his abdomen. Making this a gap year to gear up for next season isn’t the worst idea.

Having their first-round pick, the Trail Blazers would be afforded the chance to bring Tim Hardaway Jr. along slowly as he recently underwent ankle surgery. He will bring some much-needed size to Portland’s backcourt, as their regular starting lineup has three players 6’3” or shorter.

He can help improve the team’s defense, just as Reggie Bullock will. Bullock is only a year removed from being one of the premier 3-and-D wings in the NBA with the New York Knicks when he knocked down 41 percent of his 3-point attempts. His defense will be welcome with open arms, as Portland has the 28th ranked defense.

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The Trail Blazers also get under the luxury tax with this deal. Since the Mavericks have a trade exception big enough to absorb Larry Nance Jr. into, Portland doesn’t have to take back matching salary. Moving McCollum also opens the door for Anfernee Simons to continue blossoming as he had the best month of his career in January.

The draft picks are what push this deal to the finish line. Portland gets pieces back to remain competitive but adds more future assets to help put the team on a better path.