Portland Trail Blazers Receive: F/C Jaxson Hayes, C Jonas Valanciunas, G Devonte’ Graham, F/C Larry Nance Jr., 2022 First-Round Pick (LAL), 2023 First-Round Pick (LAL), 2024 First-Round Pick (NOP), 2026 First-Round Pick (MIL)
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: G Damian Lillard
That’s a long list of acquisitions on the Portland Trail Blazers’ side of the ledger. They shouldn’t expect anything less in return for their franchise player.
Granted, they’ve got minimal use for some of what they’re receiving here. Of all the incoming players, the only one that’s likely of interest to them is Jaxson Hayes. Otherwise, they’re receiving veterans they don’t need now that they’re a rebuilding team.
They’re only in this deal to make the money work. Portland would likely receive varying degrees of value for Valanciunas, Nance Jr., and Graham in separate transactions.
Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans reunite Lillard and McCollum after not even a full season apart. That could be appealing for them: they certainly have ample experience together, and they’ve never had such a strong supporting cast backing them.
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At the same time, the Blazers did split up the two guards for a reason. On defense, they were a disaster together. If the Pelicans would rather avoid a similar headache, there could be another way for them to bring Lillard in.
