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Portland Trail Blazers likely to trade lottery pick in 2023 NBA Draft: 3 options

The Portland Trail Blazers are coming off yet another disappointing season that resulted in 49 losses and sitting star guard Damian Lillard once the team’s playoff hopes were dashed.

Lillard is a major backstory here. At 32 years old, he’s shown outward frustration as it relates to the direction of the organization. As one of the most loyal players in the Association, Lillard is now at the point that he wants to contend. Whether that’s with the Blazers or another team in 2023-24 remains to be seen.

But we know how Dame feels about a potential rebuild in the Pacific Northwest. He’s not about that action.

“I’m just not interested in that. That’s not a secret. I want a chance to go for it. And if the route is to (draft youth), then that’s not my route.”

Damian Lilard on Portland Trail Blazers’ offseason plans, via Jason Quick of The Athletic

Quick went on to note that Portland will likely trade its first-round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft unless it lands at No. 1 overall.

No team that gets the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery is going to pass up on the chance of acquiring a generational prospect in that of French big man Victor Wembanyama. Portland is no different in this regard.

However, general manager Joe Cronin and Co. only have a 10.5% chance of landing the first pick. Portland is more likely going to select at around No. 5 overall. This puts the pick in play.

Related: Sportsnaut’s updated 2023 NBA mock draft

Portland Trail Blazers trade options in the 2023 NBA Draft

Portland has talented young wings Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe to build around moving forward. It’s highly unlikely that either will be moved unless it is for a star player. Instead, Portland might want to add to its frontcourt to create a more balanced roster. That’s where we star in looking at some trade scenarios with the Blazers’ first-round pick.

Portland Trail Blazers bring in Pascal Siakam

portland trail blazers trade for pascal siakam
  • Blazers get: Pascal Siakam
  • Raptors get: Jusuf Nurkic, Nassir Little, Kevin Knox, 2 1st-round picks

In this scenario, Portland adds a legitimate All-Star to the frontcourt to go with Lillard, Simons and Sharpe.

This past regular season saw Siakam average 24.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game. He’s a great two-way player and could come in to replace a player in Jerami Grant who is slated to become a free agent. A core of Lillard, Simons, Sharpe and Siakam could very well compete in the Western Conference.

Karl-Anthony Towns heads to the Pacific Nortwhest

karl-anthony towns trade portland trail blazers
  • Blazers get: Karl-Anthony Towns
  • Timberwolves get: Jusuf Nurkic, Nassir Little, Keon Johnson, 1st-round pick

There has been some talk that Minnesota will look to move Towns this offseason. The idea of continuing to run out two bigs with KAT and Rudy Gobert doesn’t make sense in today’s NBA. With the Wolves invested in Gobert, moving Towns makes a ton of sense.

In this scenario, Portland takes advantage by adding a skilled big to go with Lillard. Towns is averaging 23.0 points and 11.2 rebounds throughout his career. He’s that win-now move Dame has been talking about.

Portland Trail Blazers pull off blockbuster Trae Young trade

portland trail blazers trade for trae young
  • Blazers get: Trae Young
  • Hawks get: Anfernee Simons, Jusuf Nurkic, 1st-round pick

One way to appease Dame would be to add one of the best young guards in the game. Recently, reports broke that the Atlanta Hawks’ ownership group has given general manager Landry Fields permission to seek out a Young trade this summer. Why wouldn’t Portland be interested in the high-scoring guard?

The idea here would be to form one of the best backcourts in the entire NBA. It would come at the cost of young wing Anfernee Simons as well as Portland’s first-round pick in 2023 and a solid veteran center. But we love the idea of Lillard, Young and Sharpe doing their thing in the Pacific Northwest. That would only be magnified if the Blazers are able to re-sign the aforementioned Grant.

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