One NBA writer is proposing that the Portland Trail Blazers trade Damian Lillard to the New Orleans Pelicans for Zion Williamson.
Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report proposed that the Blazers send Lillard to the Pelicans for Williamson, Kira Lewis Jr., Garrett Temple and a 2024 first-round pick. Lillard and Pelicans shooting guard CJ McCollum were teammates on the Blazers and are very close friends.
“A backcourt of Lillard and McCollum could finally win a title together, especially with Brandon Ingram, Jonas Valančiūnas, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III, Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance Jr., Jose Alvarado, Naji Marshall and Jordan Hawkins by their side,” Swartz wrote. “This also ends the guessing game of Williamson’s availability for New Orleans and gives the Pels a proven superstar coming off a 32.2 point-per-game season.
For the Blazers, the objective of this trade would be to add rebuilding pieces in order to focus their efforts around Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, and Anfernee Simons. Portland would immediately embrace an exciting youth movement.
“For a rebuilding Blazers team eager to add young frontcourt talent around Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe and Anfernee Simons, perhaps no player has as high of a ceiling as Williamson. The 22-year-old power forward would get a fresh start with Portland and is just starting a five-year deal. The ideal pick-and-roll partner for Henderson, Zion would make the Blazers must-watch TV every night and give them one of the best young cores in basketball.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans, Damian Lillard & Portland Trail Blazers Updates
Lillard has requested a trade from the Blazers and wants to get traded to the Miami Heat. However, Portland doesn’t have to trade Lillard to Miami since the superstar point guard doesn’t have a no-trade clause.
Meanwhile, the Pelicans almost traded Williamson before the 2023 draft to move up and select Scoot Henderson. Williamson has only played in 114 games with the Pelicans since being selected as the first overall pick in the 2019 draft out of Duke. There have been several questions about Williamson’s diet and commitment to basketball.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans, Damian Lillard & Portland Trail Blazers Updates
Lillard has career averages of 25.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 6.7 assists, while Williamson has career averages of 25.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists. Zion signed a five-year, $194.3 million designated rookie contract extension with the Pelicans in July 2022.
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