Why The Portland Trail Blazers Do The Deal 

By contrast, the Blazers would need to be pretty good by midseason to justify this deal. 

After all, it’s a straight-up win-now move. Ayton and Nurkic may be similar, but Ayton is distinctly better. He’s stronger, he jumps higher, and he’s more mobile. Unlike Nurkic, he’s a lob threat out of the pick-and-roll. Moreover, his superior mobility makes him a more versatile defender on the other end. 

Realistically, he could be a perfect addition to the Blazers. A starting lineup featuring Ayton, Jerami Grant, Josh Hart, Anfernee Simons, and Lillard looks pretty good on paper. It’s balanced, features plenty of offensive firepower, and has a pretty strong defensive frontcourt. 

On the other hand, Ayton isn’t impactful enough to carry a weak team on his back. If the Blazers aren’t in good shape by January 15th, they’ll want to consider another course of action. 

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns & Portland Trail Blazers Updates

They may be optimistic now, but everyone’s optimistic on media day: almost everyone, that is.