NBA Trade Grades: Grading three-team Lauri Markkanen sign-and-trade
By Duncan Smith
NBA Trade Grades for the Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers acquired Larry Nance Jr. in this deal in exchange for Derrick Jones Jr. and a lottery-protected 2022 first-round pick.
It’s hard to see how this deal makes them significantly better, especially in an offseason that was so crucial considering Damian Lillard’s increased urgency to win and the utter bungling that general manager Neil Olshey committed at every opportunity.
Nance is a nice addition to the frontcourt and will likely come off the bench behind Robert Covington, but he’s not a needle-mover. Losing Jones doesn’t really matter much, and that lottery-protected pick is also not a significant asset, but what was really accomplished here?
Larry Nance Jr. struggles to stay healthy and stay on the floor, never having played more than 67 games in an 82-game season, and playing just 35 games in last season’s 72-game campaign. Availability matters when you’re a depth piece, but it can’t be relied upon in Nance’s case.
Ultimately, this deal is fine, but if it’s Olshey’s “big get” to show Lillard and prove that he’s serious about winning, he’s doing it all wrong.