David Griffin is under pressure to build a winner around Zion Williamson right now, and the New Orleans Pelicans might have an opportunity to do it with a blockbuster trade for Damian Lillard.
There are rumblings that Lillard is suddenly unhappy with the direction the Trail Blazers are heading, including their hiring of new head coach Chauncey Billups.
Sources tell myself & @AdamNBorai: There is a growing rift between Portland Trail Blazers ownership, Damian Lillard, & the front office. Dame has been in touch with players on other teams this off-season & monitoring Portland's future before committing to anything. More to come.
— Farbod Esnaashari (@Farbod_E) June 27, 2021
That doesn’t mean they are going to trade Damian Lillard and to be honest, I really don’t think they will, as he is a franchise icon, one of the best players in the NBA and is worshipped in Portland.
But an unhappy star is not something you want either, so it may be time for the Blazers to move on, and if they do, the New Orleans Pelicans would be one of the few teams with the ammo to go get him.
Lillard still has four years left on his deal, so trading for him will not be cheap, and it is already rumored that Portland wants an All-Star caliber player and four first round picks in exchange. Like I said, it won’t be cheap, but here is a trade that might work.
New Orleans Pelicans: Trading for Damian Lillard
Phew! That is a blockbuster indeed.
In this trade, the Trail Blazers get their All-Star talent, a project point guard and four first round draft picks, including #10 in this draft.
The New Orleans Pelicans get a bonafide superstar to put with Zion and a guy who immediately puts them into contention in the Western Conference if they could make the right complementary moves.
But would either team actually do this?