Portland Trail Blazers: 5 teams who could trade for Damian Lillard

Teams that could trade for Damian Lillard: New York Knicks

The New York Knicks had an unexpectedly good season this year, riding a stout defense and an out-of-nowhere season from Julius Randle to the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. They face something of a crossroads this offseason, as they could lean into the veteran half of their roster and push to compete or they could lean into their young cast of characters and play the long game.

Knowing the Knicks, and owner James Dolan, this team will likely double down on the idea of winning and re-sign their veteran players. They could make another win-now move and flip those youngsters for a Damian Lillard, a proven All-NBA guard with a taste for the theatrical, the perfect man to feature on the stage of Madison Square Garden.

Trade package: R.J. Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Dallas’ 2021 first-round pick (21), 2023 New York first-round pick to Portland; Damian Lillard to New York

The Knicks have a handful of valuable assets they could dangle to entice Portland to send Lillard their way. Chief among them are their young backcourt pieces, rising sophomore Immanuel Quickley and third-year player R.J. Barrett. Whether the Trail Blazers keep CJ McCollum or move him, they would have a long-term foundation for both guard positions.

The Knicks also have a couple of extra picks courtesy of the Dallas Mavericks, and therefore they can move one this season and still add a piece, potentially a wing to replace Barrett. The Blazers would likely be ok waiting a couple of years for the second, hoping that the Knicks aren’t as good as expected in a couple of years and the pick ends up better than the late teens.

The Knicks would be getting a fringe MVP candidate, a superstar who can allow Randle to slide into a secondary role. Bringing back Derrick Rose would give them three offensive creators to spread throughout the rotation.

This package is without a surefire future star, but it does have one final benefit for Portland: they wouldn’t have to bring back as much salary in a trade, as the Knicks will have plenty of cap space with which to absorb some of Lillard’s contract. That is a huge benefit to the Blazers that most other suitors won’t be able to offer.