Portland Trail Blazers
Trade assets: 1. Damian Lillard 2. Anfernee Simons 3. 2023 NBA draft pick (3rd overall)
The Portland Trail Blazers are another team that has some big decisions to make this offseason, Will they attempt to continue to build or retool around Damian Lillard or will they finally pivot toward a rebuild and try to maximize Lillard’s trade value? At this point, neither decision would be all that surprising.
If the Blazers did want to pivot toward a rebuild, there’s reason to believe that it would greatly benefit them. And one of the biggest reasons why is because of the one trade chip that’s sitting atop their asset briefcase. That’s Lillard. The Blazers would likely get a colossal return for Lillard if they traded him this offseason. Couple the Lillard return package with the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft (the team’s third-best trade asset), and the Blazers could be on to something.
Of course, Anfernee Simons is another asset on their roster that would likely be worth something special on the open market as well. Though, you’d have to assume that he’s part of the team’s short and long-term plans.