A rebuilding NBA team can have competing priorities. They need mentors for their young players. At the same time, they need assets. This can be a difficult balance to strike. Should you keep your veterans to mentor your young players if you could get assets for them?
The Portland Trail Blazers should be asking themselves that question at the moment. This team made a flurry of moves recently. As a result, they’ve got Malcolm Brogdon on their roster.
He could be a perfect mentor for the young players on their team. At the same time, if he’s playing well this year, the Blazers could get some invaluable assets for him.
What if they could split the difference? If the Blazers are clever, they could flip Brogdon for an asset and still get a mentor back. They’d need to find a less impactful veteran player that a team was willing to move.
Could the Golden State Warriors be willing to move Chris Paul?
NBA Trade Proposal — Golden State Warriors Land Malcolm Brogdon
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: G Chris Paul, 2026 First-Round Pick (Top 4 Protected – GSW)
Golden State Warriors Receive: G Malcolm Brogdon, C Robert Williams III
That’s not the only conflict of interest facing a rebuilding team. They want to develop their young talent properly, but at the same time, they want to maximize their lottery odds.
Some teams choose to “tank,” while others resist that urge. Which route will the Blazers take? This team is at the beginning of a rebuild. The decisions that they make now could impact the next decade of their organization. This isn’t an easy call to make.
The Blazers already have plenty of young talent. Could they field the most competitive roster and let the chips fall?
LATEST NBA TRADE RUMORS: Malcolm Brogdon, Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors Updates
Perhaps. On the other hand, the Blazers won’t compete for an NBA title this season. It would be a shock if they even made the playoffs. While they’re in this position, shouldn’t they maximize their lottery odds?
Does this deal help them accomplish that goal?
Why The Portland Trail Blazers Do This Deal
We think so. Paul is one of the best point guards of all time, but he’s nearing the end of his career. At this point, he shouldn’t be as impactful as Brogdon – yet, along with Brogdon and Williams III combined. This deal should help the Blazers surge to the bottom of the league’s standings.
At the same time, Paul is still a perfect mentor for Scoot Henderson. This is one of the sharpest minds in the history of the game. Paul has an endless reserve of knowledge to pass on to Henderson.
Meanwhile, Henderson has athletic gifts that Paul never had. By putting these two together, Portland could do wonders for Henderson’s development.
LATEST NBA TRADE RUMORS: Malcolm Brogdon, Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors Updates
Yet, Portland mostly does this deal for the protected pick. They aren’t likely to get a protected first for Brogdon and Williams III. Their combined injury concerns are too severe. With that in mind, this should be market value for them – an expiring deal and a protected first.
Should the Warriors give up that much for this duo?
Why The Golden State Warriors Do This Deal
The Warriors do this deal for Williams III as much as they do it for Brogdon. It’s been suggested that this team would like to trade for a big man. Williams III could be perfect.
When healthy, he’s one of the best defensive bigs in the league. He’s also a solid passer who should thrive in Golden State’s motion system.
Still, Brogdon is a fantastic addition as well. It’s been said that the Warriors will have “six starters” this year. We’ll see how that looks. Unlike Paul, Brogdon is comfortable coming off of the bench. In fact, he’s the league’s reigning Sixth Man of the Year.
As a combo guard, he can sub in at either guard spot. Finally, the Warriors are flipping one rotation player for two here. That added depth is invaluable to a title contender.
LATEST NBA TRADE RUMORS: Malcolm Brogdon, Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors Updates
Sure, both Brogdon and Williams III are injury-prone. At 37, isn’t Paul as well? If everyone were healthy, this deal would make the Warriors a better team. Right now, that ought to be their only priority.
