Good Landing Spot: Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers are a team that is looking to upgrade this offseason. They made some big changes at the deadline, trading away veterans CJ McCollum, Norman Powell, Robert Covington, and Larry Nance Jr.

They cleared a ton of cap space in that deal and added some draft capital, with their plan being a full-scale rebuild around Damian Lillard. Lillard played in only 29 games last season because of an injury to his abdomen that required surgery. That led to Portland going all-in on bottoming out hoping for a quick turnaround.

They are looking for players to fit around Lillard to help get them back in the playoff picture as soon as possible. Julius Randle is someone that they should look into acquiring, and the Trail Blazers would be a solid landing spot for him.

In Portland, he can assume the No. 2 role behind Lillard, so he won’t be stretched out as the No. 1 option as he was in New York. He showed that he can carry a team for an entire season, which will help over the long haul of an NBA season. But, knowing Lillard is there as the No. 1 option is ideal for him.

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Randle would take pressure off of Lillard as well, knowing he has another person that can get the job done. Combined with Anfernee Simons, a restricted free agent, the Trail Blazers would have a strong trio to lean on offensively. 

Lillard and Randle are a pairing that would have Portland competing for a playoff spot right away.