The Portland Trail Blazers are at quite a crossroads heading into the 2023 NBA Draft.
They could go in a few directions with the No. 3 pick … or deal their franchise star in Damian Lillard and kick-start a rebuild that already has some pieces.
There are some teams who could be good fits to trade for the No. 3 pick, but in this scenario, some NBA fans are wondering what a Dame trade would look like. And for that, we head over to Twitter where die-hards are playing GM and using their favorite trade machine sites to make a deal.
Let’s break them down:
1
Dame to the Knicks
1. Dame stays
2. Dame traded for Lowry, Herro, Martin
3. Dame traded for Zion
4. Dame traded for RJ, Obi, Fournier
5. Blazers trade 3rd pick for ZionDuke trio in Portland, Dame and CJ reunion, Scoot in NOLA or… pic.twitter.com/M9DgbfbYsD
— David Johnson (@DJ408360) June 21, 2023
I don’t see this one happening.
2
Lillard to the Heat
Mock Trade #blazers #heat #damianlillard pic.twitter.com/xvKPEuJSvw
— NBA Money (@nbaglobal4) June 20, 2023
One that makes a lot more sense.
3
A HUGE trade that gets Lillard to the Heat
4-team NBA Trade. Who says no?
CHI gets
– 1 1st from NYK
– Lowry
– Herro
– ObiNYK gets
– Lavine
– Nurkic
– M. SimonovicMIA gets
– Dame
– P. Williams
– Jones Jr.
– WashingtonPOR gets
– 2 1sts from NYK
– 3 1sts from MIA
– Fournier
– M. Robinson
– Oladipo
– Quickley
– Jovic pic.twitter.com/PCxbRAhQca— Steven Cheah (@StevenCheah) June 21, 2023
Now THIS is one I want to see.
4
Lillard to the Heat, Part III
This is probably the most enticing offer Miami could make to Portland in a Damian Lillard trade.
This trade is hypothetically agreed to pre/during draft, but executed after July 9th — a requirement per Dame's contract.
🧵 Thread further explaining it below 👇🏽
1/5 pic.twitter.com/4vVYUocScN
— Zak🔥🐬 (@ThaCreekFreak) June 19, 2023
A better return for the Blazers, I think.
5
Lillard for ... Zion?
why should the pelicans trade for the third pick now when they can do this later and land dame without trading a pick? pic.twitter.com/xZbKtO3x0C
— nets rebuild fan 🥵 (@bensimmonwrld) June 20, 2023
WHO SAYS NO?
6
A three-way deal that gets Lillard to Miami
I have a crazy #NBAtrade
Blazers trade Dame to Miami
Hornets trade LaMelo to Portland
Blazers trade 3rd pick to HornetsMiami gets Dame, Hornets now have picks 2 & 3 clean slate for new owners, Portland gets to start over with a young star & a bunch of picks…EVERYBODY WINS!!! pic.twitter.com/8q12snQT0H
— Reading Comprehension be kicking y'all ass🤷🏾♂️ (@GWPtheTrilogy) June 20, 2023
Uh, LaMelo Ball? NOPE.