On February 4th 2022 the Portland Trailblazers traded Norman Powell and Robert Covington for Eric Bledsoe, Justise Winslow, Keon Johnson and a 2025 second-round draft pick from the Los Angeles clippers. This trade helps the Clippers significantly with Powell as their 3 and d guard at the 2 position. Also with Covington coming off the bench with guys like Ibaka , Terrance Mann, Batum , and Luke Kennard. The Clippers are thinking beyond next season with a healthy Kawhi Lennard and Paul George to contend in the west. For the blazers it’s not a trade that you can pile over excessively. Promising players like Keon Johnson and Justise Winslow don’t fit the timeline to help dame lillard at this moment in time or the next year to contend in the west.
This morning the trailblazers made another move by trading CJ McCollum, Larry nance jr and tony snells to the pelicans for Josh Hart, Tomas Satoransky, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Didi Louzad. New Orleans also sent a protected first-round pick and two second-round picks to Portland too. Again the players the blazers acquired don’t fit the timeline to help dame contend in the west in the near future. Cj McCollum a guard who’s been with the franchise who drafted him for 9 years. Capable of creating his own shots , playmaker, great iq of the game but wasn’t a complementary duo with Dame healthy. Although CJ and Dame are great offensively together, there’s nothing that either one can do that the other can’t do. Even though Dame averages more assists than cj , that’s about it , not to mention they’re not so good defensively guarding the perimeter or best player on the opposing team. But besides that the fact that they’re willing to trade cj who’s been with the blazers for 9 years gives an indication that they’re rebuilding. Also leaves the impression that Dame can possibly be on the move.
Dame has been out due to an abdominal injury and the Blazers this year hasn’t shown any signs or promise to come out the west. Anfernee Simons is having a great season averaging 15ppg 4astpg 39% from 3pt range and he’s a guy if you’re Portland to continue to build around. Even though they have 60 million in cap space this summer to make a move in free agency. Dame would have to show commitment and see if they can draw any potential difference maker or all star to Portland.
