*Disclaimer: Portland is trading Milwaukees pick back to the Bucks. The Blazers are keeping their own '28 and '29 firsts.
The main objective of the Portland TrailBlazers offseason at this point is those Bucks picks they have. These picks are the most valuable picks in the NBA at the moment, because everyone knows the Bucks are desperate to get them back in a Giannis deal. The Blazers must get max return out of these picks, and the other assets they would be dealing, and getting a second team all-nbaer in Jaylen Brown is as close as you can get to peak return. Key #1: Get max return out of Bucks firsts Key #2: Significantly improve the roster without getting into the luxury tax (ultra cheap owner) Key #3: Keep own assets (Portlands own 1sts)
Trade #1: Jaylen Brown to Blazers, Giannis to Celtics blockbuster Blazers get: Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser, #40 Bucks get: Jerami Grant, Shaedon Sharpe, Yang Hansen, Jordan Walsh, Luka Garza, 4 1sts including '28 and '29 1sts back, 1 2nd Celtics get: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis, Kris Murray, 3 2nds
What a trade this would be for each of these teams. For Portland, this deal gets you someone who can at the very least play 1a/1b with Deni Avdija, and proved last year he can be a #1 on a top team in a conference. Including Sam Hauser into this trade saves Boston some money, and provides Portland much needed shooting for 3 2nds. Portland also gets the #40 pick in this draft to get a young guy onto the roster. I find this trade to be perfect for Portland, as they actually keep Bucks 2030 1st and maintain all own 1st round picks. A+ move imo, but let me know in the comments how you feel Blazers fans.
Trade #2: Move back in 2nd round, trade #40 to Nets for #43, '28 Nets 2nd
Much smaller of a trade, but just a move to get back some of those lost assets from the Brown trade.
Pick #43: Izaiyah Nelson from USF Izaiyah Nelson is an intriguing prospect, with a big frame and provides a ton of energy, scoring, and defense. Nelson can come in and immediately make an impact in the G-League, and I can see him being a rotational player in the league some day.
Free Agency Re-Sign Rob Williams, and Matisse Thybulle Williams and Thybulle were key pieces for this team last season, mainly on the defensive end. Williams is a fantastic lob threat and rim protector for his $9,500,000 a year value, although his value is lower because of injuries. Thybulle is a lockdown defender, but brings little to no offensive value.
Sign Jose Alvarado and Charles Bassey The guard rotation already has plenty, but why not add a gritty 3&D NBA champion who fits exactly what the identity of the Portland team has built last season. Jose will find ways to be impactful at all times. Bassey is needed big man depth behind Clingan and Rob Will, though I made his contract only $500,000 guaranteed if the Blazers need to add more money and they get too tight to the luxury tax.
Starters PG: Damian Lillard SG: Jrue Holiday SF: Jaylen Brown PF: Deni Avdija C: Donovan Clingan Bench: Scoot Henderson, Jose Alvarado, Sam Hauser, Toumani Camara, Robert Williams, Matisse Thybulle, Vit Krejci, Sidy Cissoko, Izaiyah Nelson, Charles Bassey
Luxury Tax: $2,333,913 million under Luxury Tax
This team is awesome on paper, as there is defense and scoring everywhere within the starting lineup, and even the bench has Scoot as a microwave scorer, and Rob Will, Camara, and Alvarado as quality defense. Sam Hauser can light it up from three as well. Let me know how I could've improved this team differently in the comments below. I think this was phenomenal for Portland. Thanks for reading, have a great day!