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NBA Trades: 3 more trades to continue the Trail Blazers’ roster overhaul

By Josh Cornelissen

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 06: Jerami Grant #9 of the Detroit Pistons reacts during a preseason game against the San Antonio Spurs at Little Caesars Arena on October 06, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 06: Jerami Grant #9 of the Detroit Pistons reacts during a preseason game against the San Antonio Spurs at Little Caesars Arena on October 06, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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NBA Trades: 3 more trades to continue the Trail Blazers' roster overhaul
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JUNE 18: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers calls out a play against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half of game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at State Farm Arena on June 18, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia, NBA Trades: 3 more trades to continue the Trail Blazers’ roster overhaul. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

The Portland Trail Blazers have clung to the middle of the NBA standings for years now, occasionally winning a playoff series, but generally just perpetuating a cycle of competing without contending. That isn’t a bad life to live, but at some point, the organization needs to take a different path.

They took a step in that direction Friday, trading Norman Powell and Robert Covington for salary relief and a rookie project in Keon Johnson. At that time, it seemed at least possible that the deal would be the entirety of their trade deadline activity, giving them enough cap space this summer to re-sign Anfernee Simons and Jusuf Nurkic.

The Portland Trail Blazers are finally taking major steps to overhaul their roster. What NBA trades can they still make to continue down that path?

That proved not to be the case. Tuesday morning they agreed to a deal with the New Orleans Pelicans to deal CJ McCollum, Larry Nance Jr., and Tony Snell for Josh Hart, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Tomas Satoransky, along with draft compensation. Now will they be done?

Portland should take advantage of this moment, with a superstar in Damian Lillard injured but still coveted around the league, and tear it down. Reset the entire roster, stock the cupboard with draft picks, and rebuild around Simons.

It’s not the most likely course of action, both because teams are hyper-reluctant to trade superstars until they force their way out, and because Portland is being run by an interim GM. Yet, it would give this team a breath of fresh air and a new outlook moving forward.

Let’s cook up three more NBA trades to further overhaul the roster, giving the Blazers an entirely new rotation and plenty of draft capital to face the future. We’ll start with the blockbuster – Damian Lillard heading to a new destination.

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