The Portland Trail Blazers are one team that people are keeping an eye on near the top of the 2023 NBA Draft. It is no secret that they are looking to move the No. 3 pick to bring in some more experienced talent around their superstar point guard, Damian Lillard.
This is the same game plan that the Trail Blazers went into the 2022 offseason with and things didn’t go as planned. While they reshaped the roster, the results during the season were the same; that is why Portland is selecting No. 3 overall in the 2023 NBA Draft. But, a tweak to their strategy could do wonders in filling out the roster.
Last season the front office spent a large chunk of their money to bring back Anfernee Simons and Jusuf Nurkic. The only real addition that was made was Jerami Grant being acquired from the Detroit Pistons. If the Trail Blazers can retain Grant, a trade like the one suggested by Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report would make a lot of sense.
In his mock draft, Buckley suggested that the Trail Blazers make a trade with the Orlando Magic. They would acquire Wendell Carter Jr. and Gary Harris along with the No. 6 and No. 11 overall picks in the 2023 NBA Draft. Simons and the No. 3 pick would be heading to Orlando.
While some people may not consider this a blockbuster deal, it would change the trajectory for both franchises. Portland would accomplish its goal of upgrading around Lillard as Carter and Harris are plug-and-play veterans. Not to mention, the Trail Blazers pick up more premium assets with two lottery selections in this year’s draft.
NBA TRADES, DRAFT NEWS & RUMORS: Scoot Henderson, Orlando Magic & Portland Trail Blazers Updates
Those picks can be used to add some high-upside younger players to the roster or as sweeteners in a trade to bring on more established talent. Packaging one of those picks along with Nurkic, who would no longer be needed with Carter’s arrival, could be one route of action.
For the Magic, they would do this trade solely to add another potential franchise cornerstone in Scoot Henderson. Adding him to a lineup alongside the reigning Rookie of the Year, Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Simons would give Orlando one of the best young groups in the NBA.
NBA TRADES, DRAFT NEWS & RUMORS: Scoot Henderson, Orlando Magic & Portland Trail Blazers Updates
Don’t forget, the team would still have an impressive trio of point guards in Markelle Fultz, Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs. One of those players could be packaged to better balance out the roster after the addition of Henderson; a center could be a need with Carter on his way out of town.
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