The Portland Trail Blazers were better than anyone expected them to be this season. After Chauncey Billups was arrested, it seemed like they weren’t going to have any leadership. Instead, Tiago Splitter took over and led the Blazers to the playoffs.
While Portland was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Spurs, they finally got some postseason experience. That is valuable for what is a very young team. This is the first time that the Blazers have been able to actually have some success. Yet, they are still not close to contending.
A three-way trade proposed by Zach Lowe would get them closer to a championship that would see them land Jaylen Brown.
GettyBoston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown drives the ball. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)
Trail Blazers Add Jaylen Brown in Wild Trade Proposal
While speaking on the Zach Lowe Show, Lowe proposed an interesting three-way trade proposal that would see Giannis Antetokounmpo head to Boston while the Celtics ship Brown to Portland.
“I think there’s a fun three-way trade where Giannis goes to Boston, Jaylen Brown goes to Portland, and Portland sends salary and picks, notably Milwaukee’s own picks, and Boston sends picks and stuff back to Milwaukee in a full rebuild mode.”
Adding a first-team All-NBA talent in Brown would certainly be something that Portland is interested in. They might try to trade for Antetokounmpo, as well. They have Milwaukee’s picks, so if the Bucks want to rebuild, trading with the Blazers would be advantageous for them.
The Trail Blazers are a really good young team that would certainly get better with Brown as part of the roster. The question is whether or not new owner Tom Dundon would want an expensive contract for his team. Dundon has pushed back on the narrative that he is cheap, but rumors keep floating around.
GettyPortland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson drives the ball. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
This Offseason is Critical for the Blazers Moving Forward
This offseason will show NBA fans across the country whether or not Dundon is actually cheap. His team has a chance to shake up the Western Conference with a big trade. His willingness to pay for an expensive superstar will be put to the test.
Brown helped lead the Celtics to the second-best offense in the NBA this season. He did most of that work without Jayson Tatum in the lineup, as well. He’s also in the prime of his career. If the Trail Blazers strike out on adding Antetokounmpo, bringing in Brown would be a good backup plan.
Scoot Henderson showed some promise at times in the playoffs. He would be the central figure in any trade that Portland is able to pull off. The picks that they own from Milwaukee will also be a coveted asset. How well Joe Cronin is able to pull off this offseason will determine if this season is just a random blip or something to build on. Dundon plays a big role in that, as well.
Trail Blazers add Jaylen Brown in Bold Three-Way Trade Proposal