The Portland Trail Blazers are going to look to make a splash this offseason. The team bottomed out during the 2021-22 NBA season following Damian Lillard having to undergo surgery on his abdomen. But, they are looking to turn things around as soon as possible.
Portland cleared out a ton of cap space and picked up some assets ahead of the trade deadline in deals with the LA Clippers and New Orleans Pelicans.
Gone is Lillard’s long-time backcourt mate CJ McCollum, who was traded to New Orleans along with Larry Nance Jr. Norman Powell, who signed a five-year deal last year in free agency, was sent to Hollywood along with Robert Covington.
While the player return wasn’t elite, Portland accomplished its goal of slashing payroll. They will be buyers in free agency in a few weeks with the cap space to sign a max player should they convince one that the greater northwest is where they should be.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: 2 Trade Packages To Send Pistons’ Jerami Grant To Portland Trail Blazers
They want to rebuild things around Lillard, but he is not getting any younger as he turns 32-years old in July. So, the team needs to be aggressive when looking for an upgrade. Two players to keep an eye on according to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer are Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards and Zach LaVine of the Chicago Bulls.
“Bradley Beal and Zach LaVine are potential targets, according to sources. Lillard befriended Beal through their experience with Team USA, and the Wizards star has a player option for next season. So he could make his way to Portland either as a free agent or via trade. Though Beal and LaVine present some similar defensive issues as CJ McCollum did next to Lillard, either of them would undeniably make the Blazers better with their shot-creation.”
Replicating the roster construction that they just tore down would likely disappoint some people. But, it wasn’t the pairing of Lillard and McCollum that led to shortcomings. Instead, it was the front office’s inability to put the right pieces around them.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: 2 Trade Packages To Send Pistons’ Jerami Grant To Portland Trail Blazers
Under new management with Neil Olshey being removed from his positions during the season, this is a chance for a new front office to redeem themselves. The organization is dead set on building things up around Lillard and adding Beal or LaVine to the mix would certainly help.
The No. 7 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft would be a good asset to start with. Restricted free agent Anfernee Simons could also be used, as Portland has plenty of avenues to continue reshaping this roster around Damian Lillard this offseason.
