Heading into the offseason, the Portland Trail Blazers will be under pressure to add another difference-maker next to Damian Lillard. Who could they target?
A little more than a year ago, the Portland Trail Blazers made the conscious decision that it was going to retool around Damian Lillard. The team started off that decision by trading C.J. McCollum to the New Orleans Pelicans at last year’s NBA Trade Deadline. They carried that decision into the offseason by acquiring Jerami Grant from the Detroit Pistons.
Despite their efforts, it’s hard to look back at those two big decisions that the Blazers made and view them as successful. This is not to say that the Blazers were wrong in both those moves but there is still of work that needs to be done to prove otherwise.
With just a few regular season games left, the Blazers are practically eliminated from playoff contention and will be selecting in the top 10 of the 2023 NBA Draft. In short, their efforts to retool around Lillard have fallen short.
Damian Lillard is not interested in a rebuild
In his words, Lillard is not interested in a rebuild. That’s not what he plans on doing at this point in his career. If that is indeed accurate, and the Blazers want to keep Lillard on the roster, this is a team that is almost definitely going to have to target a star. If they want to keep Lillard happy, they need to figure out a way how to acquire one during the offseason.
Assuming that acquiring a star will be at the top of Portland’s to-do list heading into the offseason, we explore four top targets that would be good fits next to Lillard.
Draymond Green, free agent
Heading into the summer, the Portland Trail Blazers are not a team that is projected to have much salary cap space. They’ll likely be able to re-sign their own players and not do that much else. But perhaps they could work some sort of sign-and-trade with the Golden State Warriors to secure a Draymond Green signing.
He’s a player that would fit nicely next to Damian Lillard and one that would offer a playmaking element in the frontcourt that the team doesn’t currently have on its roster. Of course, the big question is whether or not the Blazers would want to give Draymond the big-money contract that he’s likely going to demand during his offseason on the open market.
Draymond just turned 33 but perhaps a two-year max deal would be enough to secure him in free agency? I’m not sure he’d be worth it but he is a presence that could help change the tune of the locker room and he’s still productive at this point in his career even though he’s beyond his prime.
Draymond likely wouldn’t be Portland’s first choice of adding a star this offseason but he would certainly be a player that could make some sense. Especially on the defensive end of the floor.
OG Anunoby, trade traget
At this year’s NBA Trade Deadline, there was some belief that OG Anunoby was going to be traded. The Toronto Raptors ultimately decided against it but I don’t think this is the last we’ve heard about this narrative. I firmly believe that the Raptors are going to at least test the trade market for Anunoby. Whether they end up trading him remains to be seen but if he is shopped, the Portland Trail Blazers are without question a team that should be interested.
Anunoby is one of the NBA’s most underrated players and is just 25 years old. You can make the case that he has yet to hit the ceiling of his potential and is still growing as a budding star. This season in Toronto, Anunoby averaged 17 points and five rebounds on 47 percent shooting from the field and 38 percent shooting from 3-point range. Oh, and all while playing terrific defense on the other end of the floor.
Anunoby could end up driving the chaos this offseason. And if that does end up being the case, the Blazers should do what they can to get in on the action. He’d be an excellent addition next to Lillard.
Bradley Beal, trade target
If the Portland Trail Blazers go through the offseason without at least making a call to the Washington Wizards regarding Bradley Beal, it would be viewed as a massive misstep. This could finally be the year where the Wizards end up trading Beal and if that is indeed so, the Blazers should be interested in coupling him with Damian Lillard.
Even though Beal has struggled over the past two seasons, mostly due to injury, he is still a player that is in the midst of his prime. He’s still just 29 years old and is coming off two “down” seasons in which he’s still been incredibly productive. This season, Beal is averaging 23 points, five assists, and four rebounds on 51 percent shooting from the field and 37 percent shooting from 3-point range. Not bad for a down year, huh?
A backcourt duo of Lillard and Beal would be extremely fun to watch and would add a lead element that Lillard has not had since McCollum was on the roster. Even then, I think it’s safe to say that Beal would be an upgrade over McCollum.
If Beal somehow becomes available during the offseason, the Blazers should be one of the interested teams.
Paul George, trade target
This is the pipe dream situation that all Portland Trail Blazers fans should be hoping for. Considering what has transpired over the last few seasons in LA and considering their salary cap situation, there’s a very real chance that the Clippers could decide that it’s time to hit the rebuild button.
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George will both be expiring contracts after next season and with their injury history and their on-court disappointment as a duo, it would be surprising if the Clippers decided to sign them to long-term extensions this summer.
And if there is somewhat of a firesale that goes on this summer in LA, the Blazers should be one of the teams that poke around. Again, this is a pipe dream. That means it’s highly unlikely that it happens.
That said, I can’t help but get excited about the potential pairing of Lillard and PG. Not only would he bring a dynamic element to the wing position on the offensive end but he’s also one of the most underrated defenders in the league.
The Blazers need to make a move this offseason, ideally for a star. This is a team that, at the very least, should be active during the offseason.