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Grade the trade: Lakers outbid Heat for Damian Lillard in proposed deal

By Jason Reed

PORTLAND, OREGON - JANUARY 22: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles against Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the fourth quarter at Moda Center on January 22, 2023 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - JANUARY 22: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles against Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the fourth quarter at Moda Center on January 22, 2023 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /
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Austin Reaves Lakers
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Portland Trail Blazers grade for Damian Lillard trade: B+

Is this the best possible trade the Portland Trail Blazers could get for Damian Lillard? No. In a perfect world, the Blazers would get the kind of grandfather offer that the Nets got for Kevin Durant at the deadline in 2023.

However, there is not really that offer on the table anymore so this is around the best the Blazers could do. They are getting three valuable first-round picks from a franchise whose future is unclear as well as a potential future all-star in Austin Reaves that is under contract for four years.

Vincent is a piece that can be flipped in another trade for more assets and at the very least is a veteran guard that can help Scoot Henderson. D’Angelo Russell could be re-routed to a third team to get Portland an additional asset and if anything, he has a player option for the 2024-25 season and isn’t a long-term commitment.

Throw in LA’s 17th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Jalen Hood-Schifino, and this deal is definitely better than what Miami has to offer.

Los Angeles Lakers grade for Damian Lillard trade: D

This is not a great trade for the Lakers and it is safe to say that a lot of fans would be upset with Austin Reaves being included in this deal. This is the same mistake the team made in trading for Russell Westbrook as they would trade rotational pieces for a big salary that hampers them.

The Lakers would be trading three rotation players for an overpriced point guard. Sound familiar? They would still be going all in on an undersized guard over 30 with two other stars who are not the most reliable health-wise.

Long term this move has disaster potential but at the very least if everything went perfectly the Lakers would probably be the favorite to win the title as they could still scrap together a seven to eight-man rotation with Lillard.

But it would be much more likely that this trade blows up in LA’s face. It is a bad deal for the Lakers and we still cannot fully rule it out because of the team’s recent past and the pressure LeBron can put on.

22 players the Lakers gave up on too early. dark. Next

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