Portland Trail Blazers Receive: G Jamal Murray, F Michael Porter Jr., 2029 First-Round Pick (DEN) 

Denver Nuggets Receive: G Damian Lillard, G/F Josh Hart, F Justise Winslow 

If there’s a tier of players that are valued almost as highly as superstars, it would have to be potential superstars. 

After all, out of 30 teams in the NBA, only one wins a championship every season. Meanwhile, in a given year, there are typically only a handful of teams who have a real chance at doing so. Normally, those are the teams with true superstars on their rosters. 

Every other team in the NBA is trying to figure out how to join their ranks. Some have hopes of doing so within the next couple of seasons, while others are thinking further ahead.

Still, the Larry O’Brien Trophy is at the forefront of every front office’s mind. 

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers & Denver Nuggets Updates

The Denver Nuggets may already be on the list of teams with a real shot at walking away from 2022-23 with it. At the same time, they’re not widely regarded as one of the foremost championship contenders, either. 

Does this deal put them in that company?