In a way, both the Denver Nuggets and the Portland Trail Blazers had “gap years” in the 2021-22 NBA season.

The Nuggets knew they’d be in roughly that position heading into the season. Jamal Murray started the year on the sidelines. When Michael Porter Jr. joined him shortly after, it became obvious that this team wouldn’t go far in 2021-22.

Meanwhile, the Blazers expected to be as competitive as usual in 2021-22. Those expectations proved futile. The Blazers were already subpar when Damian Lillard suffered an injury. When he did, they pivoted into some supposedly short-term rebuilding moves.

Most observers expect them to pivot back into win-now mode this summer. It feels likely that the Blazers will use the assets they accumulated in Lillard’s absence to build a new team around him.

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Still, some would suggest that they’d do better to cut their losses and move on from their franchise player.

If the organization heeds that call, here are three trades that send Lillard to the Denver Nuggets.