The Blazers didn’t win the lottery this year, but they were lucky to have a third overall finish with the fifth-best odds. This greatly increases their leverage in business negotiations considering the talent drop after the third pick. As of now, the consensus is #2 and #3 are the best players Scott Henderson And Brandon Millerboth of which are considered top picks in many modern preschool classes.
In the absence of a deal, the Blazers remain in a great position to choose either player. Henderson, the 6-foot-2 guard, would be considered Lillard’s successor and would have a lot to gain under his stewardship. Miller, a 6-foot-9 forward, would be an excellent fit for Portland’s rotation now that they lack options in all three.
It looks like the team will be exploring the trade market with the third overall pick for a second All-Star, though. However, the deal is easier said than done because they lack substantial negotiable salaries. They may have to give up both Anaferni Simmons And Joseph Nurkic along with a draft pick to match All-Star salaries.
What makes the trade even more complicated is the fact that they also owe the Bulls their 2024 first-round pick, which protects the lottery through 2028. They would need to negotiate with Chicago to reduce or eliminate protections on the pick if they wanted to trade several additional future first-round picks in a later move. .
What can ultimately determine whether or not the Blazers trade the pick is the total pool of available players. There may not be any single player available worthy of the third overall pick who is influential enough to get Portland where he wants to be. It is possible that some of the best players who deserve to move the selection will not be available.
For example, one of the best players the Blazers can keep an eye on is Cities Carl Anthony. Minnesota may be looking into a tax crunch after next season with Anthony Edwards And Jaden McDaniels Set to earn profitable stretches. Cities could be the victim and Henderson’s return would add a nice sequel piece to Edwards as they balance their books.
Jaylen Brown Now eligible to sign a supermax extension with the Celtics after earning All-NBA honors. If he doesn’t sign it this summer, that likely indicates he’s open to looking for a new home. The Celtics will likely seek a trade package that increases their title window, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea to lay a potential future groundbreaking with the third overall pick as well as multiple draft picks.
Then there’s the drop in the type of player they can realistically target. Chicago looks like a logical candidate for a trade if they decide to take a step back and make a move Zack Lavigne. But given that the Blazers also likely need to bring Simons back just to match salaries, they’re missing out on their value proposition. At this point, it’s fair to ask if the Blazers are better off with Henderson or Miller on his rookie contract and Simons earning $25 million a year from LaVine on max contract.
The Raptors are another team that seems like an obvious business partner. They are facing an inevitable tax crunch as the Big Six players are set to get new contracts soon. Pascal I’m sorry He is entering the final year of his contract where he is set to earn $37.9 million and he could earn more from his next deal. Getting Siakam the third overall pick would be a great comeback to capitalize on his recent strong play while giving away Scotty Barnes Long term partner in the backcourt.
None of these frameworks are perfect, so hopefully, it will open up more possibilities for the Blazers by the time we get to the draft. All eyes will be on Lillard’s future if they can’t find a deal that significantly improves the roster. There is an equal if not stronger argument for the Blazers to trade Lillard for draft stock, expectations and building around the third overall pick and Shedon Sharp.