Portland Trailblazers: Time is running out on the current core
By Jack Simone
The Portland Trailblazers change up everything outside of Damian Lillard
The first option for Portland is to try and drastically switch things up around Damian Lillard. If they want to remain loyal to their franchise superstar, then they will be forced to change everything else.
The current version of the Trailblazers is not working. The organization needs to acknowledge that, and the first step in doing so was probably firing Terry Stotts last season.
However, instead of changing things up even more, the organization simply hired a new coach and kept the roster. They made a couple of tweaks, but the majority of the squad is still the same.
This process would almost certainly involve trading CJ McCollum. McCollum is a phenomenal player, but if the Trailblazers want to really give Lillard a chance, change will be needed.
One idea for a McCollum trade would be one that many people have brought up time and time again. That would be offering McCollum to the 76ers in exchange for Ben Simmons.
This would give the Trailblazers an elite defender who can lead the team on that end of the floor. Simmons would also have some much better spacing around him.
Other potential destinations for McCollum could include the Pacers, Pelicans, and Clippers, all of whom could use a change to their roster as well.
The Trailblazers could also look to deal players such as Jusuf Nurkic, Nassir Little, and Anfernee Simons. All are great players, but they could also be packaged together to get an even better player in return.