NBA superstar Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers is as good as gone. Isn’t he? By now, it feels inevitable that Lillard will join the Miami Heat. With that said, it feels likely that Portland would prefer to keep their longtime franchise player if they could.
In theory, they could. The Blazers have an impressive collection of young players. If they wanted to, they could still acquire some win-now help that could convince Lillard to stay.
They won’t be trading Scoot Henderson. At this point, that feels like a non-starter. Still, the Blazers have the pieces to put a more competitive team together if they so choose. Here are three deals that could convince Lillard to stay in Rip City.
Trade No. 1
Toronto Raptors Receive: G Anfernee Simons
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: F OG Anunoby, F/C Thaddeus Young
Heading into the draft, the Raptors and Blazers were widely expected to make a major deal. It never materialized. Is it too late? We don’t think so. If Portland has any intention of trying to appease Lillard, they could still make a deal with the Raptors.
This move makes sense for both sides. The Raptors need a shot-creating guard. Simons is ideal, and he’s young enough to grow alongside Scottie Barnes as part of their young core.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: OG Anunoby, Toronto Raptors, Damian Lillard & Portland Trail Blazers Updates
On the other hand, so is Anunoby. Meanwhile, the Blazers may want a bigger fish. Perhaps there’s another deal that these two sides could strike that would make even more sense. In all likelihood, you know what’s coming next.
Trade No. 2
Toronto Raptors Receive: G Anfernee Simons, G/F Shaedon Sharpe, 2026 First-Round Pick (POR), 2028 First-Round Pick (POR)
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: F/C Pascal Siakam
You may be asking yourself a question here. If the Raptors wouldn’t trade Siakam for the rights to select Scoot Henderson, why would they trade him now? Well, things change. It feels like the Raptors are likely to move Siakam anyway. By now, they’re not likely to find a package as valuable as Henderson.
Besides, it may be that Portland wasn’t willing to move Henderson. Either way, it’s a moot point now. The question is whether this deal makes sense for both parties.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors, Damian Lillard & Portland Trail Blazers Updates
It does – if the Blazers intend on trying to keep Lillard. Of course, it’s always possible that the Raptors will change their mind about trading Siakam. If so, the Blazers will still have options.
Trade No. 3
Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: G Anfernee Simons, G/F Matisse Thybulle, 2026 First-Round Pick (POR), 2028 First-Round Pick (POR)
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: F/C Karl-Anthony Towns
Is Karl-Anthony Towns the type of player that Lillard covets? By all indications, no, he is not. After all, Lillard has rallied for Portland to acquire a two-way star in the past. Towns, to put it politely, is a one-way star. He’s one of the best offensive big men in NBA history, but he offers little resistance on defense.
That’s fine. Towns and Lillard would be one of the best offensive duos in the NBA. In all likelihood, they’d be able to outscore opponents on a regular basis.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves, Damian Lillard & Portland Trail Blazers Updates
On the other hand, Towns is still fairly young. If this doesn’t work, and the Blazers are forced to move Lillard anyway, Towns would be a more suitable co-star for Scoot Henderson. Meanwhile, he may just be good enough to convince Lillard to stay if a trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves works out.
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