One NBA writer has come up with a way for the Toronto Raptors to acquire Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers. Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade idea between the Blazers and Raptors:
Toronto Raptors receive: Damian Lillard
Portland Trail Blazers receive: Scottie Barnes, Gradey Dick, Dennis Schröder, Chris Boucher, Thaddeus Young and 2028 first-round pick
“This isn’t on here simply for the shock value, though. While Toronto has split from head coach Nick Nurse and floor general Fred VanVleet this offseason, the organization still doesn’t seem super keen on rebuilding,” Buckley wrote in his latest NBA trade column. “If the Raptors are going to push forward with the likes of Pascal Siakam and O.G. Anunoby, though, they have to find a difference-maker who could give this core a chance to compete at a high level. Lillard would simultaneously scratch itches for spacing, scoring, shot-creation and star power, all while giving the organization clarity. Add him to the fold, and now re-signing both Siakam and Anunoby becomes a no-brainer. Lillard would lift this offense in all facets, and Toronto’s supporting cast would provide the defensive protection he has all too often been without in Portland.
“The Raptors would need to develop some depth, but a starting five of Lillard, Anunoby, Siakam, Gary Trent Jr. and Jakob Poeltl looks plenty formidable on paper. The trio of Anunoby, Siakam and Poeltl alone might deliver a top-five defense, and a Raptors offense that finished 13th in efficiency last season might jump an entire tier with a talent like Lillard, who just spent his age-32 season posting personal bests in points (32.2), threes (4.2) and true shooting percentage (64.5).”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors Updates
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.
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.
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.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors Updates
If the Raptors find a way to acquire Lillard, everyone in the NBA will pay attention to how the point guard acts in Toronto.
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