Dec 12, 2022; Portland, Oregon, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) defends Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) during the first half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
After missing out on Victor Wembanyama, the Trail Blazers will be looking to trade the No. 3 pick. What are the best packages they could bring in?
The NBA Draft Lottery almost certainly locked in two scenarios. The Spurs won the lottery and selecting Victor Wembanyama seems like the obvious choice. And, after moving up but not winning the lottery, the Trail Blazers will be putting their No.3 pick on the market.
Damian Lillard has made clear that he’d like the Blazers to trade the pick for immediate, veteran help and they should have numerous options. A lot still depends on whether or not they’re able to re-sign Jerami Grant but we can expect them to pursue established contributors to bring them closer to a title. Here are a few options, ranging from outside the box to plainly probable.
Trail Blazers trades with the No. 3 pick: 3. Swing for Rudy Gobert
Trail Blazers Get
Rudy Gobert
Jaden McDaniels
Timberwolves Get
Jusuf Nurkic
Anfernee Simons
No. 3 pick in 2023
The Timberwolves made a big gamble trading for Rudy Gobert last summer and fell flat, making the playoffs but rarely looking like even a dark horse contender. Karl-Anthony Towns has been mentioned in trade rumors but Anthony Edwards is the only piece that matters and unloading Gobert could be just as important for a rebuild, albeit a lot more challenging.
However, the Blazers are one of the very few teams who could see Gobert as a viable path to contention. Even if he’s far from the singular force he was with the Jazz he’s still a defensive anchor and Lillard, Grant and Shaedon Sharpe leave the Blazers enough offensive flexibility to try and make it work. They’d need McDaniels to step up as a bench contributor, a lot of improvement from Sharpe and some backcourt shooting from the free-agent market. But if they can’t land one of their two preferred wing candidates this might be the most viable Plan C.