After missing out on Victor Wembanyama, the Trail Blazers will be looking to trade the No. 3 pick. What are the best packages they could bring in?
The NBA Draft Lottery almost certainly locked in two scenarios. The Spurs won the lottery and selecting Victor Wembanyama seems like the obvious choice. And, after moving up but not winning the lottery, the Trail Blazers will be putting their No.3 pick on the market.
Damian Lillard has made clear that he'd like the Blazers to trade the pick for immediate, veteran help and they should have numerous options. A lot still depends on whether or not they're able to re-sign Jerami Grant but we can expect them to pursue established contributors to bring them closer to a title. Here are a few options, ranging from outside the box to plainly probable.
Trail Blazers trades with the No. 3 pick: 3. Swing for Rudy Gobert
The Timberwolves made a big gamble trading for Rudy Gobert last summer and fell flat, making the playoffs but rarely looking like even a dark horse contender. Karl-Anthony Towns has been mentioned in trade rumors but Anthony Edwards is the only piece that matters and unloading Gobert could be just as important for a rebuild, albeit a lot more challenging.
However, the Blazers are one of the very few teams who could see Gobert as a viable path to contention. Even if he's far from the singular force he was with the Jazz he's still a defensive anchor and Lillard, Grant and Shaedon Sharpe leave the Blazers enough offensive flexibility to try and make it work. They'd need McDaniels to step up as a bench contributor, a lot of improvement from Sharpe and some backcourt shooting from the free-agent market. But if they can't land one of their two preferred wing candidates this might be the most viable Plan C.
Trail Blazers trades with the No. 3 pick: 2. Go get OG Anunoby
The Trail Blazers' interest in OG Anunoby was a big part of trade rumors at the last deadline and assuming the Raptors are willing to entertain offers again, the Blazers can make a compelling one. This package would allow the Raptors to explore sign-and-trade options to get something back for Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. and potentially install a backcourt of the future with Anfernee Simons and Scoot Henderson with the No. 3 pick. Put that together with Pascal Siakam, Jakob Poeltl, Scottie Barnes, Precious Achiuwa, the No. 23 pick and you have a competitive team with upside.
For the Blazers, they swap Simons for Anunoby an elite two-way wing with versatility at both ends of the floor. Anunoby may not be the self-creator or pure scorer that Simons is but he's still developing at that end, he's a dangerous spot-up threat and one of the best wing defenders in the league. Pairing him with Grant and Sharpe gives Portland a long, flexible wing and forward rotation with defensive dynamism and upside to get Lillard back to the playoffs. Throw in Thad Young as a little more veteran depth and it might be as good as Portland can do.
Trail Blazers trades with the No. 3 pick: 1. Whatever it takes to get Mikal Bridges
Lillard attended one of the Nets playoff games and the presumption was that he was there to signal his interest in Bridges. This deal is similar to the Anunoby above with many of the same benefits to Portland. However, instead of Young, they get a dangerous spot-up shooter in Harris and a two-way wing with even more offensive upside than Anunoby. Bridges emerged as a true primary threat after being traded to the Nets. For that added value, they'd need throw in young wing Keon Johnson as well as Simons and both of their first-round picks.
The Nets might not want to give up a budding two-way star like Bridges this is an opportunity to add a lot of young talent in one fell swoop. Simons becomes a starting backcourt scorer to build around with Nic Claxton, the No. 3 pick can bring in Scoot Henderson, a starting point guard for the future. And then Brooklyn would still have three consecutive first-round picks (No. 21, No. 22, No. 23) to add more upside and future potential.
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