In the wake of Damian Lillard requesting a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers, one NBA writer is proposing that the Toronto Raptors acquire the seven-time All-Star in a blockbuster trade.
Our own James Piercey of NBA Analysis Network proposed the following trade between the Blazers and Raptors:
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: OG Anunoby, Gary Trent Jr., Chris Boucher, Precious Achiuwa, 2026 First-Round Pick, 2028 First-Round Pick, 2030 First-Round Pick
Toronto Raptors Receive: Damian Lillard
Lillard has demanded that the Blazers trade him to the Miami Heat. However, Portland doesn’t have to honor the request since Lillard doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract.
NBA TRADE, NEWS & RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers & Toronto Raptors Updates
Back in the summer of 2018, the Raptors acquired Kawhi Leonard from the San Antonio Spurs despite Leonard making it known behind the scenes he wanted the Spurs to trade him to the Los Angeles Lakers or Los Angeles Clippers. Masai Ujiri took a huge risk trading for a player with one year left on his contract.
The gamble paid off, as Leonard guided the Raptors to the 2019 NBA championship over the Golden State Warriors in six games.
Even though Leonard left for the Clippers in the summer of 2019, he’s still a Raptors legend. Maybe Ujiri can recreate his Leonard magic with Lillard, who averaged 32.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists last season for the Blazers.
NBA TRADE, NEWS & RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers & Toronto Raptors Updates
Lillard would likely be upset if he got traded to the Raptors. Lillard’s agent, Aaron Goodwin, has been advising non-Heat teams to not trade for his client. The Blazers have not been impressed by the Heat’s trade package for Lillard, so it appears a third NBA team will need to get involved for Lillard to land in Miami.
If the Raptors find a way to acquire Lillard, everyone in the NBA would pay attention to how the point guard acts in Toronto.
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