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With speculation growing around the status of Damian Lillard, a number of teams are expected to make a run at the elite guard, including the New York Knicks. NBA Rumors are heating up that he may in fact request a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers.
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Only a few teams in the league can compete with the types of offers Damian Lillard is going to demand. One of those teams is the New York Knicks, who have the need for a franchise player and the assets to tempt the Trail Blazers.
Three trades the New York Knicks can offer the Portland Trail Blazers for Damian Lillard
In addition to draft capital and young talent, the New York Knicks have a ton of cap flexibility that is useful in making this kind of trade. Not only does Damian Lillard make a lot of money, but the Trail Blazers may also require unloading a contract as part of the trade.
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After the New York Knicks breakout year last season behind the play of Julius Randle, there is no doubt they are going to be in pursuit of the biggest names available on the market this offseason.
#3 Pick No. 19 + 21 in 2021 NBA Draft + 2023 1st (Via Dallas) + RJ Barrett + Immanual Quickley
This is quite the haul to start the Trail Blazers rebuilding process. Any trade for a player of Damian Lillard's caliber is worth this kind of haul, though, and the New York Knicks know it costs them to get a superstar player via trade.
Two Draft picks this year, one that comes from the Dallas Mavericks, would be the Trail Blazers' only selection in the 2021 Draft as of now. In order to kick off a true rebuild, draft capital is needed and the Trail Blazers will be gaining two mid-firsts that give them flexibility in this year's draft.
In addition, they'd be getting a young promising guard to slot in where Damian Lillard once played and another promising prospect on the wing in Barrett. Quickley and Barrett aren't a replacement for Damian Lillard, no one is.
Instead, Portland combined draft flexibility this year and the future to give them plenty of options as they move toward rebuilding their roster in a new era of basketball.
For the New York Knicks, they've got their superstar players and still have Julius Randle and a number of assets to build around those two. The trade would see them maintain cap flexibility for this year's free agency class.
#2 RJ Barrett + Immanual Quickley + Obi Toppin + Pick No. 19 in the 2021 NBA Draft + 2022 1st Round Pick
Once again, quite the haul for the Trail Blazers from the New York Knicks for Damian Lillard. Barrett and Quickley remain the focal points of the deal but this time Damian Lillard nets Obi Toppin to go alongside those two.
Because the New York Knicks are moving their 2020 first-round draft pick, they saved one of their firsts this year to use themselves. Still, they only give up the number 19 overall pick at best.
The 2022 first-round pick has no protection, meaning the Trail Blazers get it no matter where it lands next year. That is valuable as injuries and expectations are never guaranteed.
This once again pairs Damian Lillard with Randle and sets the Knicks up to make a run in the Eastern Conference if they make some savvy moves around those two.
#1 Julius Randle + Pick No. 19 in the 2021 NBA Draft + RJ Barrett + Immanual Quickley + 2022 1st Round Pick
The New York Knicks' final offer is a push that could tempt Portland if they are looking to remain competitive instead of tearing everything down. They get Julius Randle back, who is fresh off a breakout season for the New York Knicks.
Randle compliments CJ McCollum very well from day one and the team also adds young upside players in Barrett and Quickley. The New York Knicks know no price tag is too high and that is why they are willing to move so much in this trade.
Now they have Damian Lillard and a plethora of cash to spend in order to surround him with the right pieces. They also maintain enough of their draft capital to be in the market for other players that could become available on the trade market.
Both teams will be solid at the very least moving forward and the Trail Blazers may value that if they can add draft assets at the same time. Adding in pick swaps may get this deal done and give the New York Knicks their franchise player and the Trail Blazers, a promising start to the post Damian Lillard era.
It's never an equal value trade when centered around a player of Damian Lillard's calibar, but these offers could tempt Portland into hitting the reset button.
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