NBA Trades: 10 win-now deals Portland can make to give Dame a co-star

Co-star #10: DeMar DeRozan

With the Chicago Bulls failing to make the playoffs and likely to lose their lottery pick, the team could look much different next season. Starting center Nikola Vucevic could leave in free agency, and there have been rumblings that DeMar DeRozan could also look to leave by requesting a trade. If he does, he could link up with Dame and Portland.

Trading for a 34-year-old probably doesn’t seem like a wise move for the Blazers, but if their goal is to improve next season, then acquiring DeRozan could help them do just that. After all, he is still a highly skilled scorer and playmaker and would help shoulder some of Dame’s offensive load. Moving on from DeRozan would allow the Bulls to begin to reset after failing to do much with the Zach LaVine, DeRozan, and Vucevic trio.

Acquiring Jusuf Nurkic would give the Bulls a younger replacement for Vucevic, whom they opted not to extend. They could still look to bring him back this summer, but he may want at least $20 million per year, an amount Chicago may balk at.

Although Nurkic’s contract is pricey, he will make under that amount for the next three seasons, and the salary cap is set to spike after next season. Additionally, they would receive two first-round picks, one for DeRozan and the other for taking back Nurkic’s contract, helping Chicago make up for two bad trades that cost them several assets.

As for the Blazers, they’d be able to keep Simons, Sharpe, and the third overall pick while getting off of Nurkic’s contract, all while adding a six-time all-star to pair with Lillard. It may not make them a contender, but it would help them improve, hold on to some of their assets, and potentially keep Dame happy.