Portland Trail Blazers: 4 reasons to trade 1st-round pick
By Ty Delbridge
![General Manager Neil Olshey of the Portland Trail Blazers sits with Damian Lillard #0 during warmups before Game Six of the Western Conference Semifinals (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) General Manager Neil Olshey of the Portland Trail Blazers sits with Damian Lillard #0 during warmups before Game Six of the Western Conference Semifinals (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/1126074926879436096ca94b552b2ae35b6a5a9645328400aa4d8a97ed17560d.jpg)
The Portland Trail Blazers own one pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. With their selection being towards the end of the first round at No. 25, here are four reasons they should consider trading the pick.
The Portland Trail Blazers head into the 2019 offseason after making the Western Conference Finals and being swept by the defending NBA champions Golden State Warriors. This was the first time the Blazers had been to the West Finals since 2000.
This 2018-19 season will definitely be remembered as a success throughout the organization and fanbase.
The organization recently announced head coach Terry Stotts and president of basketball operations Neil Olshey have been giving multi-year contract extensions based on their success the past few years.
Damian Lillard was named to the All-NBA second team and is now qualified to receive the supermax extension that would likely keep him in Rip City for the rest of his career.
Lillard has expressed plenty of interest in signing that deal. However, there is still work to be done to improve the other parts of the roster, so this team can look to take the next step in the playoffs.
Now that the key figures in the front office, coaching staff and roster for the franchise are going to be under contract for a few more years, it’s time for the team to make some moves.
One way or another they have to do something that gives them a chance at being elite and being a contender before the prime years of their star Damian Lillard are gone.
The first opportunity for the Blazers to do anything to the roster will start at the NBA Draft. They own one pick in the first round and here are four reasons why the Blazers should look to trade their selection.