Sometimes, a situation just gets messy. Things go too far. Nobody wants that to happen, but at times, it’s inevitable. As a matter of fact, it even happens to NBA teams.
Take the Portland Trail Blazers. This organization has got a mess on its hands. Damian Lillard wants to be traded. He only wants to join the Miami Heat. That makes it difficult for Portland to get market value for their star guard. How can they create a competitive market when Lillard is creating a market of one?
Unless that is, another team would trade for Lillard. Recently, it’s surfaced that the Chicago Bulls and the Toronto Raptors are interested in Lillard. Apparently, either organization would consider trading for Lillard whether he wants to join them or not. Here’s a deal that sends him to the Windy City.
The Trade Proposal
Brooklyn Nets Receive: G/F Zach LaVine
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: F/C Ben Simmons, F Patrick Williams, 2025 First-Round Pick (PHX via BKN), 2027 First-Round Pick (PHX via BKN), 2029 First-Round Pick (BKN)
Chicago Bulls Receive: G Damian Lillard
It sounds crazy. To some, it won’t make sense. How could a team acquire a player that’s unwilling to play for them? In what world does that make any sense?
Well, the Bulls would have to do their homework here. If Lillard and his people make it perfectly clear that they won’t report to training camp, they can’t make this deal. With that said, doing so would violate league rules. We’re not saying Lillard won’t do it, but we are saying that he’ll surely be aware of the consequences of his actions.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers, Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls & Brooklyn Nets Updates
We’ve seen this before. It was reported that Kawhi Leonard wasn’t interested in joining the Raptors. He joined them anyway, and they’ve got a championship to show for it. It’s possible that Lillard will be forced to concede and play for whichever team acquires him. He’s surely not ready to retire, and if the Heat can’t make a deal, he may have to play elsewhere. Could he really play for the Bulls?
Why The Chicago Bulls Do The Deal
Some Bulls fans will hate this suggestion. They’ll suggest that their team ought to be rebuilding. One could certainly make that case. The Bulls had a wildly disappointing 2022-23 season.
With that said, Lillard is an upgrade over LaVine. As dynamic of a scorer as the Bulls’ off-guard is, Lillard is one of the best offensive players in the NBA. He should make the Bulls a better team. If he develops chemistry with DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic, and Alex Caruso, this could actually make the Bulls a dark horse contender.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers, Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls & Brooklyn Nets Updates
After all, Lillard is a better basketball fit here as well. LaVine is a capable off-ball player, but Lillard is lethal. The defensive attention that he commands from beyond the arch would open up a lot of room for DeRozan to operate with the ball. If the Bulls want to take a risk, this could pay off in a major way. Should the Nets facilitate that risk?
Why The Brooklyn Nets Do The Deal
The Nets may be playing third party here, but they’re integral to the deal. They’re sending Portland all of the draft capital that they’re receiving for Lillard. That’s a hefty price to pay, but it’s a worthwhile one for the Nets.
After all, they’re turning Ben Simmons into Zach LaVine. Simmons fell out of this team’s rotation altogether in 2022-23. LaVine will not. In fact, he’d be Brooklyn’s first option. Surrounded by elite defensive players and paired with Mikal Bridges, LaVine could carry this Nets team far.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers, Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls & Brooklyn Nets Updates
That’s key for Brooklyn. They could be the best or worst team in the NBA this year – they’re sending the Houston Rockets their first-round pick regardless. That will hold true for the foreseeable future. With no incentive to tank, the Nets might as well make this massive win-now upgrade. Should the Blazers help them make it?
Why The Portland Trail Blazers Do The Deal
One of the major sticking points in negotiations with the Heat seems to pertain to Tyler Herro. By all accounts, Portland isn’t interested in adding him. That makes sense. Portland has a surplus of young guard talent. On the other hand, they could use a quality young wing.
They’re getting one here. Williams is the prototypical modern wing. He’s been injury-prone throughout his career, but when healthy, he’d be a perfect compliment to this roster. By adding him to a roster with Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, and Anfernee Simons, the Blazers would be putting together one of the best young cores in the NBA.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers, Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls & Brooklyn Nets Updates
Yet, that’s less important than the draft capital. The Blazers are landing three unprotected first-round picks here. In tandem with Williams, that ought to be tough to inspire them to move off of Lillard. If nothing else, they’ll finally be putting an end to a messy situation.
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