Portland Trail Blazers Receive: G Spencer Dinwiddie, G Tim Hardaway Jr., F Josh Green, 2024 First-Round Pick (DAL), 2025 First-Round Pick (Swap – DAL), 2026 First-Round Pick (DAL), 2027 First-Round Pick (Swap – DAL), 2028 First-Round Pick (DAL)
Dallas Mavericks Receive: G Damian Lillard
This deal finds its roots in the Brooklyn Nets’ James Harden trade. No, not the one where they moved The Beard to the 76ers. The one where they acquired him from the Houston Rockets just a season and change earlier.
In that deal, the Nets traded, in essence, control of their draft through to 2027 to the Rockets in exchange for their superstar. Here, the Portland Trail Blazers and Dallas Mavericks come to a similar arrangement. If the Blazers are willing to accept that, following Lillard’s departure, they’ll be rebuilding, this could be the move for them.
They’re not interested in either of the veterans they’re acquiring here. They’re included for the purposes of matching money. On the other hand, Josh Green is intriguing as a young, high-energy defensive wing. If he ever gets his three-ball to drop consistently, he’ll be a starter in this league.
Still, this is mostly about draft capital for the Blazers. If they’re willing to really focus on the present, it’s great value.
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On the other hand, this team is known to keep an eye to the here-and-now. If they’d prefer to target young players, the Mavericks are pretty light on them. It may take a three-team deal to satisfy Portland’s needs in that event.
