Right now, it seems as if the Damian Lillard trade has come to a complete standstill. Over the last couple of weeks, there have been several talks within the NBA about what the Portland Trail Blazers have been doing on this matter. Yet nothing has indicated that Lillard will potentially land on the east coast next season. It has been quite a struggle to understand where this trade is headed. But now, Blazers have to act on it quickly.
Portland has only shown interest in acquiring younger players to add to its roster. This is something the 7x All-Star has been completely against. He believes that a well-seasoned player would help elevate the team to championship contention. Damian has been handling the team single-handedly ever since CJ McCollum’s departure while playing alongside a mediocre Yusuf Nurkic. In addition to this, Lillard hoped that the Blazers would recognize his loyalty and willingness to play with them. But the Blazers haven’t.
The Blazers went ahead and drafted Scoot Henderson as the third overall pick. Damian Lillard earlier suggested that the Blazers could use young assets to acquire a veteran star. The Blazers also barely made any significant changes on the roster either except for signing Jerami Grant to a new deal. General Manager Joe Cronin seems persistent about his direction for the team. He is one of the major reasons why the trade is being delayed.
The Jazz could trade Keyonte George and multiple future first-round picks for Damian Lillard
A few weeks ago, Cronin had stated that he wants to take his time before finalizing a deal to get Damian Lillard to Miami. According to him, ideal trades are the ones that are given time rather than being rushed. The Blazers have not been happy with offers made by the Miami Heat. They included Tyler Herro and several other picks as well as Nikola Jovic. Portland has not shown signs of satisfaction.
However, Zack Buckley of Bleacher Report recently laid out a sleeper trade involving Utah and their 2023 Draft pick, Summer League standout, Keyonte George. Buckley suggested that the Utah Jazz could ship George, Collin Sexton, Kelly Olynyk, and Talen Horton-Tucker. In addition to this, Buckley also stated that Utah could pitch in their 2025 first-round pick, and 2027 top-four protected first-round pick.
George is a promising rookie as he averaged 21.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game during the Summer League. Both the Blazers and Jazz would benefit from this trade. Portland will receive a confident rookie along with three valuable assets in Horton-Tucked, Olynyk, and Sexton. The Jazz would receive a Top-75 player which doesn’t need much explanation.
