NBA Trades: 6 Deals Portland must consider for Damian Lillard
By Cal Durrett
NBA Trades #2: Brooklyn Nets
Unlike the Heat, the Brooklyn Nets are an underdog to land Lillard. Also, unlike the Heat, the Nets have plenty of assets needed to make a deal. Ironically, this comes after they cashed in most of their assets to form a big three with James Harden, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving.
Fortunately for them, they turned Durant and Irving into six first-round picks and could use some of those assets to acquire Dame from the Blazers. There is still a holdover from that big three-era, Ben Simmons, and despite being a negative asset, he would make a potential trade with Portland easier due to his large salary.
A package centered around Simmons, Dorian Finney-Smith, Royce O’Neale, and three first-round picks for Lillard and Nurkic might entice the Blazers. Portland would be stuck with Simmons, who might be a lost cause at this point, but he would have a massive expiring contract after next season, possibly making him a future trade asset.
As could veterans O’Neale and Finney-Smith, allowing the Blazers to add to the three first-rounders that they’d receive in the proposed deal. Overall, the Nets package might be light on young prospects, but receiving three future firsts and three potential future trade assets should interest Portland.