Blazers to use No. 3 pick as trade bait to help improve roster around Damian Lillard?
Rival executives are closely monitoring Portland, believing that this pick is potential trade bait if the Blazers try to improve the roster and compete with Damian Lillard entering the end of his prime years. As one agent told HoopsHype following the draft lottery, “If Portland puts Lillard on the market, the entire NBA is going to stop until he’s traded.”
Source: Michael Scotto @ HoopsHype
Source: Michael Scotto @ HoopsHype
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
David MacKay @DavidMacKayNBA
Trade Damian Lillard for a haul, draft at No. 3, and commit to youth movement with Sharpe and new additions OR trade No. 3 draft pick (and probably Anfernee Simons) to get Damian Lillard help and maximize the remainder of his prime? – 1:30 PM
Trade Damian Lillard for a haul, draft at No. 3, and commit to youth movement with Sharpe and new additions OR trade No. 3 draft pick (and probably Anfernee Simons) to get Damian Lillard help and maximize the remainder of his prime? – 1:30 PM
Erik Slater @erikslater_
My take on the trade for Dame vs. blow it up discussion:
If Brooklyn can get Dame without touching these picks, I’d strongly consider it:
2027 PHX
2029 PHX
2029 DAL
2028 BKN
2029 BKN
If Portland demands several of those, I’m hanging up. If Nets can get it done with their two… – 12:15 PM
My take on the trade for Dame vs. blow it up discussion:
If Brooklyn can get Dame without touching these picks, I’d strongly consider it:
2027 PHX
2029 PHX
2029 DAL
2028 BKN
2029 BKN
If Portland demands several of those, I’m hanging up. If Nets can get it done with their two… – 12:15 PM
Aaron J. Fentress @AaronJFentress
The summer of Damian Lillard is here: Trail Blazers season review, look ahead oregonlive.com/sports/2023/05… – 12:10 AM
The summer of Damian Lillard is here: Trail Blazers season review, look ahead oregonlive.com/sports/2023/05… – 12:10 AM
Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
Does Dame or doesn’t Dame wanna be a part of a rebuild? Maybe that depends on Wemby 🧐 pic.twitter.com/1UQCy5okb5 – 10:21 PM
Does Dame or doesn’t Dame wanna be a part of a rebuild? Maybe that depends on Wemby 🧐 pic.twitter.com/1UQCy5okb5 – 10:21 PM
Chuck Cooperstein @coopmavs
Draft starts w/Vic and Miller. 3 is where it gets interesting. POR doesn’t need Scoot as long as Lillard is there. Who’s trading w/POR to take Scoot? Or is POR taking Scoot and trading Lillard (which would cause a ruckus for sure), but could accelerate a quicker rebuild? – 9:36 PM
Draft starts w/Vic and Miller. 3 is where it gets interesting. POR doesn’t need Scoot as long as Lillard is there. Who’s trading w/POR to take Scoot? Or is POR taking Scoot and trading Lillard (which would cause a ruckus for sure), but could accelerate a quicker rebuild? – 9:36 PM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
Tonight’s outcome is incredible for the NBA.
Wemby goes to the storybook Spurs.
LaMelo and Scoot sharing a backcourt will rule.
Portland can trade No. 3 for a star and take one last real run at this thing with Damian Lillard.
We don’t have to waste a top prospect on Houston. – 8:36 PM
Tonight’s outcome is incredible for the NBA.
Wemby goes to the storybook Spurs.
LaMelo and Scoot sharing a backcourt will rule.
Portland can trade No. 3 for a star and take one last real run at this thing with Damian Lillard.
We don’t have to waste a top prospect on Houston. – 8:36 PM
Ben Anderson @BensHoops
This is really one of the wildest outcomes for picks 2-4.
Does Charlotte want to pair LaMelo and Scoot?
If not, he slides to three, but do the Trail Blazers need Scoot, Dame, and Simons.
Do they trade Dame now?
Even Jalen Green and Amen Thompson is a little wonky. – 8:35 PM
This is really one of the wildest outcomes for picks 2-4.
Does Charlotte want to pair LaMelo and Scoot?
If not, he slides to three, but do the Trail Blazers need Scoot, Dame, and Simons.
Do they trade Dame now?
Even Jalen Green and Amen Thompson is a little wonky. – 8:35 PM
Jonathan Wasserman @NBADraftWass
Miller going to #2 creates another major storyline with Blazers ability to get Scoot. Could take pressure off Dame. Could deal #3 for a win-now star. Could rebuild around Scoot. – 8:33 PM
Miller going to #2 creates another major storyline with Blazers ability to get Scoot. Could take pressure off Dame. Could deal #3 for a win-now star. Could rebuild around Scoot. – 8:33 PM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
Portland jumping up to No. 3 is, imo, nearly as big a story as San Antonio getting Wemby.
The Blazers have their blue chip asset now. They have what they need to trade for a co-star for Damian Lillard if they so choose, and if the right one becomes available. – 8:31 PM
Portland jumping up to No. 3 is, imo, nearly as big a story as San Antonio getting Wemby.
The Blazers have their blue chip asset now. They have what they need to trade for a co-star for Damian Lillard if they so choose, and if the right one becomes available. – 8:31 PM
Jon Santiago @itsjonsantiago
Will the Blazers trade the No. 3 pick to get help for Dame?
Or will they trade Dame and rebuild? – 8:30 PM
Will the Blazers trade the No. 3 pick to get help for Dame?
Or will they trade Dame and rebuild? – 8:30 PM
Erik Slater @erikslater_
Would getting number one make Portland more or less likely to trade Dame?
An interesting question. – 8:23 PM
Would getting number one make Portland more or less likely to trade Dame?
An interesting question. – 8:23 PM
TJ McBride @TJMcBrideNBA
Now I’m rooting for Portland to get that top pick. Wembanyama learning from Damian Lillard to start his career would be great for his growth. – 8:21 PM
Now I’m rooting for Portland to get that top pick. Wembanyama learning from Damian Lillard to start his career would be great for his growth. – 8:21 PM
More on this storyline
The Portland Trail Blazers finished the 2022-23 season with the fifth-worst record and moved up in the lottery to land the No. 3 pick of the 2023 NBA Draft. Portland, in an effort to continue building a contending roster around its star Damian Lillard, is expected to make the pick available for a trade, league sources tell Bleacher Report. -via Bleacher Report / May 17, 2023
The franchise is in the process of evaluating the market for the No. 3 pick as well as examining incoming rookie prospects that are attainable at No. 3, sources say. “[The third pick] is significant,” Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin said. “There’s going to be some really good players at three that could be great for us or somebody else, depending on how we approach this draft.” -via Bleacher Report / May 17, 2023
Lillard, the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, has communicated to the front office of his desire to bring in veteran players to facilitate a fleet turnaround from the two previous seasons of underachieving, sources say. The Trail Blazers and Lillard seem to be on the same page right now. -via Bleacher Report / May 17, 2023