On Sunday, the Phoenix Suns shocked the world by trading for Bradley Beal from the Washington Wizards, certainly altering the NBA landscape this summer. The Portland Trail Blazers are another team holding plenty of cards that could also drastically bring change to the league this offseason, both with the No. 3 pick and Damian Lillard.
So far, signs point to Lillard standing pat, even if some teams have him on the top of their offseason wish list. But the No. 3 pick? That draft selection could be on the move with Thursday’s 2023 NBA Draft fast approaching.
While the third pick won’t land anyone Victor Wembanyama, it will ensure a chance at one of either Scoot Henderson or Brandon Miller, among several other talented draft prospects in this class. Naturally, there’s plenty of outside interest in acquiring the third pick if Portland is willing to put it on the trade block.
One of those teams includes the Wizards, who likely are even more eager to enter a rebuilding period after letting Beal go without receiving a talented player in return. Another key decision the team will have to make revolves around 7-foot-3 Latvian big Kristaps Porzingis, who has a $36 million player option he much decide on by the 21st of June.
Porzingis could also be traded, and as Evan Massey notes, the Blazers have held discussions with the Wizards surrounding their third pick in a swap for the one-time All-Star. It is unknown what the Wizards would receive to make salaries match, or when a timeline for such a trade could come to fruition with Porzingis’ player option deadline coming up too.
Still, it’s clear the Blazers are trying to find win-now pieces to pair with Lillard instead of leaning into a full-blown rebuild as the Wizards are now embarking on this summer after dealing their face of the franchise.
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