NBA Trade Rumors: It appears that the Portland Trail Blazers may be trying to move the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and Anfernee Simons for a star.
The next few weeks should be extremely telling for the Portland Trail Blazers. They don’t have much time to figure out how they’re going to approach the offseason. And there is so much at stake for both the Blazers and Damian Lillard.
If the Blazers are going to keep Lillard in Portland, they’re going to have to make a big splash this offseason. Short of the Blazers adding another “star-level” player, it’s looking more and more like Lillard is going to end up on the trade block.
But it’s pretty clear that both sides would much rather find a way to build a contender in Portland than move on. Whether that ends up coming to fruition remains to be seen, but the Blazers are at least entering the offseason in hopes of accomplishing that.
From all indications, it seems as if the package that the Blazers are floating on the open market in an attempt to land a star revolves around the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and Anfernee Simons.
The big question is, will this tactic work with less than two weeks before the NBA Draft?
The clock is ticking for the Portland Trail Blazers in their search for a star-level trade
You’d have to imagine that if the Blazers are going to find a trade, it will either come just before the NBA Draft or on draft night (perhaps when Scoot Henderson officially falls to No. 3). Could they find a trade after the NBA Draft, sure? But it becomes much more complicated if something isn’t finalized before that.
It would seem that at least by the start of free agency, something needs to be figured out by the Blazers. Especially with another huge decision to make regarding Jerami Grant, who is a free agent.
My concern for the Blazers is that the package of the No. 3 pick and Simons may not be enough to warrant a star in return. That package likely has to include either Shaedon Sharpe or a few more future first-round picks.
For what the trade market for a star has turned into recently, the Blazers will have their work cut out for them this offseason.
The next few weeks should be interesting. And the Blazers will be a team worth keeping a close eye on.