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NBA Trades: 3 Damian Lillard trade to reset the Trail Blazers

By Jack Simone

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 21: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on December 21, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 21: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on December 21, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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NBA Trades: 3 Damian Lillard trade to reset the Trail Blazers
PORTLAND, OREGON – FEBRUARY 20: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers works against Rui Hachimura #8 of the Washington Wizards in the fourth quarter at Moda Center on February 20, 2021 in Portland, Oregon, NBA Trades: 3 Damian Lillard trade to reset the Trail Blazers. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

NBA Trades: 3 Damian Lillard trades to reset the Trail Blazers – Washington Wizards

Wizards receive: Damian Lillard, Ben McLemore

Trail Blazers receive: Deni Avdija, Rui Hachimura, Thomas Bryant, Spencer Dinwiddie, 2022 First-Round Pick, 2024 First-Round Pick, 2026 First-Round Pick

This trade would see the Washington Wizards commit to building around Bradley Beal, while the Portland Trail Blazers would begin a long-awaited rebuild.

Recent NBA rumors have revealed that Beal doesn’t plan to sign an extension with Washington before the end of the year. However, that doesn’t mean he won’t be back next year.

If the Wizards went out and got Lillard, though, then Beal would almost certainly be convinced to stay. This would give Washington one of the most deadly backcourt pairings in the league.

Meanwhile, the Blazers would be hitting the reset button in a big way here. They’d get two very promising young players and a whole boatload of draft picks.

Deni Avdija is super talented on both ends of the floor. He’d be able to grow in Portland next to Anfernee Simons and the rest of the youth on the Blazers.

The same can be said about Rui Hachmura. The young forward spend the summer dominating at the Tokyo Olympics and has shown flashes of great potential.

Reportedly, the Wizards don’t even want Spencer Dinwiddie on the team anymore, so he’d be a nice piece for the Blazers to add in order to match salary.

Throw in three unprotected firsts, and this is a solid haul for Lillard. Both teams would accomplish a goal and start heading in different directions.

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