Starters:

PG: Damian Lillard

SG: Norman Powell

SF: Demar Derozan

PF: Jerami Grant

C: Mason Plumlee

Bench:

PG: Rajon Rondo

SG: Shake Milton

SF: Carmelo Anthony

PF: Marvin Bagley III

C: Nerlens Noel

Derozan signs for 4 years $23 mil per year, Noel signs for 3 years $6 mil per year, Powell signs for 4 years $18 mil per year, and Melo signs for 1 year $8 mil.

Total cap hit: $143 mil (right at the hard cap)

Trade 1 (Pistons): Simons, Collins (S&T 3 years $1.6 mil per year), and a 2022 SRP for Kris Dunn, Rudy Gay (S&T 3 years $8 mil per year), and pick #60

Trade 2 (Pelicans): DJJ, Nas, and a 2024 unprotected first for Barnes and pick #48

Trade 3 (Warriors): Kanter (S&T 3 years $6 mil per year) and pick #60 for Plumlee and pick #43

Trade 4 (Clippers): CJ, RoCo, Dunn, a 2026 unprotected first, a 2028 top 10 protected first, pick #43, and pick #48 for Jerami Grant, Marcus Morris, and Rondo

Trade 5 (76ers): Rudy Gay, C.J. Elleby, and 2027 SRP for Shake Milton and Nerlens Noel (S&T $6 mil per year)

Trade 6 (Pistons): Marcus Morris and Harrison Barnes for Demar Derozan

Trade 7 (Clippers): Jusuf Nurkic for Marvin Bagley III and 2024 Suns unprotected first

Draft assets:

2022: FRP (POR)

2023: FRP (POR)

2024: FRP (PHO), SRP (ATL)

2025: FRP (POR)

2026: SRP (POR)

2027: FRP (POR)

2028: SRP (POR) and (FRP is top 10 protected)

Explanation: I got a legit star next to Dame in Derozan, who can provide necessary defense, shot creating, and size. Having Powell to fill in for CJ and provide great scoring on less shots with better defense will help Dame thrive. Jerami Grant is a upgrade over Covington in every aspect except rebounding, but switching Nurkic for a player that proved himself as a elite rebounder this season in Plumlee will help fix that. The biggest improvement here and the reason why I gave up 2 first round picks is our bench improvement. Having Rondo to provide playmaking and defense, Shake to provide more size and defense at the SG spot, Melo to do his thing on offense at his natural SF position, with Bagley stretching the floor and grabbing rebounds, while Noel protects the rim will make the Blazers very hard to beat... especially in a deep playoff run where bench depth and vet leadership is huge. Giving up nearly all my seconds and my firsts in 2024, 2026, and 2028 is less than ideal... but getting back the Phoenix pick in 2024 and having the 2028 pick top 10 protected (because who knows where we will be at that point) makes it not as bad. Overall the team improves defensively and with their bench, while getting a legit second star next to Dame.

Team totals (based on stats from last season):

Points: 153 (1st in NBA from 5th)

Bench points: 51 (1st in NBA from 20th)

Rebounds: 48 (3rd in NBA from 12th)

Assists: 35 (1st in NBA from 30th)

Blocks: 6.5 (2nd in NBA from 13th)

Steals: 8 (9th in NBA from 25th)

FG %: 47.07% (7th in NBA from 4th)

3pt Made: 13.3 (12th in NBA from 2nd)

3pt %: 37.35% (9th in NBA from 1st)

Link to a trade showing the finances work and exactly what we gave up/got back: https://fanspo.com/nba/s/blazers/trades/5vQDbDRsJm2mDi/blazers-gm-for-fanspo-off-season-picks-not-included

The squad on 2k: https://2kmtcentral.com/21/lineups/298991/blazers-2021-22