Denver Nuggets Receive: G Kyle Lowry, G Tyler Herro
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: F Michael Porter Jr., G Bones Hyland, 2023 First-Round Pick (MIA), 2027 First-Round Pick (MIA), 2028 First-Round Pick (MIA)
Miami Heat Receive: G Damian Lillard
Trade packages flipping Michael Porter Jr. for Damian Lillard are nothing novel. With that said, they’ve usually got Lillard landing in Mile High City.
This three-team formation has the Nuggets picking up Tyler Herro instead. Ordinarily, pairing him with Jamal Murray in the backcourt would make for too much scoring and too little playmaking. With Nikola Jokic in the middle, nothing ordinary applies to this team.
Doubling down on backcourt scorers makes sense when your primary playmaker is your center. This Nuggets attack ought to be unstoppable. Of course, they won’t form it if the Blazers are out on Michael Porter Jr.
They may well be. Porter Jr.’s history of back injuries is troubling for a player his age. If the Blazers are optimists, they’ll hope that he can turn it around. They’re getting a player with clear star potential if so.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: NBA Executive Doesn’t Hold Back About Miami Heat Star Kyle Lowry
Otherwise, this deal is dead in the water. In all likelihood, any Lillard deal is anyway. The Blazers (and Lillard himself) seem committed to trying to make this thing work. If they’re content with another early playoff exit, it probably will.
