The Blazers have desperately been shopping Lillard. I think this package gives them the best of everything, as well as 4, technically 5 coveted first round picks.
The Brooklyn Nets have been needing two things this offseason. Scoring, and playmaking. Why not kill two birds with one stone? Bringing in Lillard would give the Nets just that, along with a clutch veteran leader.
Trade Summary
Portland Trailblazers Receive:
Ben Simmons
Cam Thomas
Day’Ron Sharpe
Noah Clowney
2025 PHX frp
2027 PHX frp
2029 PHX frp
2030 BKN frp
Brooklyn Nets Receive:
Damian Lillard
Why The Blazers Do This
It’s safe to say the Blazers have a Damian Lillard problem. Dame has reportedly only want to go to Miami, but he has no NTC to have a say where he goes. Additionally, it’s hard to get a great value for a 33 year old on a max contract. This trade helps the Blazers find a way around all of that, and find a Lillard trade worth their time. The Blazers are getting an absolute haul. 4 future firsts and Clowney, Brooklyn’s draft pick this year, meets the Blazers asking price, along with a trio of players that can help the Blazers long term.
Ben Simmons, while questionable in the past couple of years, is still a solid playmaking big who can fit right into the Blazers rotation. Simmons was an all star just 2 years ago, and if he could get back to playing form, Simmons can be a huge piece in the Blazers’ rebuild. If he doesn’t, the Blazers have 40 million off the books a couple summers from now in a loaded free agent class. Cam Thomas has great potential and could also be a great addition for the Blazers long term. While only 21, he’s an amazing scorer who’s proven to be able to drop 40 on any given night. His addition would allow the Blazers to start Sharpe without losing any bench scoring. Thomas can also be moved for more firsts, if he doesn’t work of course. Sharpe is also a solid young big, which the Blazers are lacking. In the event Nurkic gets moved at the deadline, Sharpe could easily be a rotation big for the Blazers. Once again, he’s only 21 years old.
Why The Nets Do This:
The Nets have lacked any kind of consistent scoring after the deadline. The Nets ranked 23rd in offensive efficiency post-deadline, and during the playoffs were the second worst scoring team out of the 16 teams. Bringing in Lillard would help with that. Lillard is one of two players in the league who can get you a bucket from anywhere, and a 32 PPG scorer who’s notoriously clutch. The Nets also lack a true leader, and Lillard’s veteran presence could help that on a team with half their players becoming Nets in the last calendar year.
The Nets, while on paper are doing so, aren’t giving up much. 3/4 firsts they’re giving up aren’t even theirs, and they don’t have their picks in the coming years, so it makes sense to use them in a trade for a star. Noah Clowney, while only 19, wasn’t a stand out player for the Nets. Ben Simmons has barely even played, and relying on him to suddenly come back and play great again isn’t a liable option. Cam Thomas and the 2030 pick are the only real valuable assets to Nets in this trade, but to a team with win-now talent, like Bridges (27), Johnson (27), O’Neal (29), Dinwiddie (30), and Dorian Finney Smith (30), it doesn’t make sense surround your core with rookies rather than more experienced depth, in this case a superstar in Damian Lillard.
The Portland Trailblazers’ Rotation:
Starters:
Scoot Henderson
Anfernee Simons
Matisse Thybulle
Jerami Grant
Jusuf Nurkic
Bench Rotation:
Ben Simmons
Cam Thomas
Shaedon Sharpe
Nassir Little/Kris Murray
Day’Ron Sharpe/Noah Clowney
The Brooklyn Nets’ Rotation:
Starters:
Damian Lillard
Mikal Bridges
Cam Johnson
Dorian Finney-Smith
Nic Claxton
Bench Rotation:
Spencer Dinwiddie
Lonnie Walker IV
Royce O’Neal
Dariq Whitehead
Trendon Watford