3. Damian Lillard
The Portland Trail Blazers made some head-scratching moves ahead of the NBA trade deadline as Damian Lillard remains sidelined. They traded away CJ McCollum, Larry Nance Jr., Robert Covington, and Norman Powell to signal that they are looking to shed money.
Right now, the plan is to rebuild the roster around Damian Lillard, but that is easier said than done. This year’s free-agent class isn’t the most appealing one and Portland has never really been a destination draw for free agents.
Unless the team can convince Damian Lillard that they can build a winner around him, which they haven’t been able to capitalize on yet in his career, it is hard to imagine him not requesting a trade at some point. There are plenty of teams in a better position to contend sooner than the Trail Blazers.
The Boston Celtics are a team that could try and swing for the fences to keep up with their superstar-laden Atlantic Division opponents in the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers. The Toronto Raptors and New York Knicks could also get involved.
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The San Antonio Spurs are flush with young prospects and draft capital now. If the Washington Wizards go all in to keep Bradley Beal, Damian Lillard is someone they could target to make a Big 3 along with the recently acquired Kristaps Porzingis.
In speaking of Bradley Beal…
