Rumors surrounding Damian Lillard's availability are heating up as more teams around the league have expressed interest. The Portland Trail Blazers are quiet for now, but it's no secret the organization is looking to conduct a blockbuster trade. It's more likely they trade CJ McCollum, but if the right offer is made for Lillard, the Blazers may pull that trigger. The New Orleans Pelicans young stars have grown frustrated after missing out on the postseason this year. Zion Williamson's family indicates he's unhappy with the organization, while Lonzo Ball's family is saying the same.
Ball is set to hit free agency as a restricted free agent, so he's likely to be on a new team regardless. However, the Pelicans have a chance to mend the relationship with Williamson by acquiring a big-name player like Damian Lillard.
New Orleans has a young core, but a superstar like Lillard could elevate the Pelicans to new heights. To make a deal happen, NOLA will have to move quite a bit of capital to gain interest from the Trail Blazers. With that said, here is the perfect trade the Pelicans must offer the Blazers for Damian Lillard.
Trade Brandon Ingram, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Kira Lewis Jr., the 10th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft and a 2022 first-round pick for Damian Lillard
This would be a haul for Portland. Brandon Ingram emerged in 2020 and won the Most Improved Player Award, then maintained that consistency this year. He's an elite scorer and at just 23 years old, still has room to expand his game. Additionally, Nickeil Alexander-Walker is a prospect who took a big jump in production in his second year in the league with the Pelicans. He's on the path to becoming a solid contributor in the NBA, as he has the potential to become a star one day.
Kira Lewis gives Portland fantastic depth at point guard while the 10th overall pick allows the Trail Blazers to add another young piece to the roster. The Trail Blazers walk away with a ton of potential stars and could add one more to the roster in the 2021 NBA Draft. The additional 2022 first-round selection is a cherry on top of what is already a massive haul.
As for the Pelicans, they create an intriguing lineup consisting of Damian Lillard, Zion Williamson, and Jaxson Hayes. That could prove to be a deadly trio in New Orleans and should be a playoff contender after acquiring some solid role players in free agency. Zion becomes happy as he now has an elite player as a teammate while Jaxson Hayes possibly develops into a top center in 2022.
This is a deal that should make both teams very happy. The Trail Blazers acquire talented players to remain competitive while also adding youth and longevity to the roster, while the Pelicans receive a superstar talent to pair alongside their superstar power forward. The Pelicans will easily become a playoff-caliber team with Lillard on the roster, and they would still have future draft stock to continue building the team. Thanks to the Anthony Davis trade, the Pelicans have a ton of draft stock for the future. Giving up two first-round picks would be an easy move for New Orleans.
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