Why The Portland Trail Blazers Do The Deal
The Portland Trail Blazers are at a fork in the road – or, if you prefer, a trail. Could they try to walk a line between the present and the future? Sure. Scoot Henderson could be ready to contribute as a sophomore, and Lillard may not have aged out of his prime by then. Maybe. Possibly. We don’t know.
All we can say is this: it feels pretty risky to us. In all likelihood, it’s time for the Blazers to start from scratch. This deal helps them do it. They’re bringing in a platoon of talented young players in Barrett, Quickley, and Toppin.
Adding them to a young core that already features Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, and Anfernee Simons will give them one of the best young cores in the NBA. It won’t be hard to read their intentions after this deal.
There isn’t a viable pathway for the Blazers to contend for an NBA title in the short-term, whether they keep Lillard or not. When taking sentimental feelings out of the equation, it makes the most sense for both sides to part ways. Obviously, we understand there’s more to it than that.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Damian Lillard, New York Knicks & Portland Trail Blazers Updates
Lillard has repeatedly grown frustrated with the Blazers in private, mulled over a trade request, then ultimately opted to avoid “running from the grind.” Will he choose to stay this time? At some point, enough is enough, and it feels a lot like Kevin Garnett’s Minnesota Timberwolves exit.
