The trade deadline came and went, and the Portland Trail Blazers found that their team was doing business until the offseason.
Joe Cronin’s first Deadline courses will have to wait as it remains incomplete, with the list of blazers far from a finished product, if not halfway there.
Also Read-Discoveries – Give Kirk Cousins a One-Year Extension to 2023
Table of Contents
Trade Number One:
Portland sends Norman Powell and Robert Covington to the Clippers for Eric Bledsoe, Justice Winslow, Keon Johnson, and a 2025 second-round pick. It was likely an economical move by the Blazers, who traded Powell’s five. Year, $90 million contract.
Swap Two:
Portland sent nine-year-old shooting guard CJ McCollum to the New Orleans Pelicans and forwarded Larry Nance Jr. and Tony Snell for shooting guards Josh Hart, Tomáš Satoranský, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Didi Louzada. The Blazers will also earn the rights to New Orleans’ 2022 first-round pick if they finish between the fifth and 14th picks.
Swap Three:
The Blazers quickly dispatched newly acquired Alexander-Walker and Satoransky in a three-team trade involving the Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs. Portland welcomed forward Joe Ingles, who is unlikely to wear a Portland jersey (offseason with a torn ACL and a late-season free agent), Elijah Hughes, and a second-round pick from the Jazz. During his press conference, interim general manager Joe Cronin called Ingles “a player they loved…and appreciated his Bird rights” during his press conference.
What does this all mean for Portland?
There are probably a lot of questions now. Why did they trade more than twenty points per player like McCollum? Many had seen this coming in recent years, including Damian Lillard.
“We both knew it would get to this point, but that doesn’t make it easy to manage,” Lillard told the Blazers’ Casey Holdahl.
Some have called Lillard and McCollum essentially the same player, and the need to break up the duo in the backcourt became increasingly apparent as the tandem played together. These exchanges save Portland from the luxury tax. They created a $21 million trade exception to take advantage of this offseason and a $60 million salary cap opportunity. They have a few key free agents in Anfernee Simons and Jusuf Nurkić who could and should quit. Maybe they could use the hands-free space and bring in Zach LaVine or some other high-level mercenary who comes out this summer. There’s still work to do and plenty more games to see where the Blazers’ two potential first-round picks end up in the upcoming draft.
In the same Press Conference, Cronin Said of the Main Reasons for the Exchanges: Trade
“We realized that the list had stagnated. It was a team designed for a specific coaching style, and a playing style was not conducive to Chauncey (Head Coach Billups) and me.”
“We were depressed. We were a side that would have cost $15 million next season, which would have been luxury taxes, not much room for improvement.”
If Portland doesn’t make the playoffs and ends up in the lottery, they could get a first pick or two in the draft, depending on New Orleans. The Pelicans have the sixth most brutal schedule and an injured Zion Williamson. So if McCollum’s addition fails for New Orleans, it could result in a player like Jabari Smith if he surfaces in the top three, or even a Keegan Murray if the Pelicans miss out on a playoff spot.
Jerami Grant from Detroit
It was reported that the Blazers were interested in Jerami Grant from Detroit before the deadline. So chances are Portland will try to win it again in the offseason.
Was that enough for Cronin to keep his job? It is another question and action to follow.
If you want another player to sign now, I could sign a player that another team dropped. They recently gave up
to make room for his newly added set-piece combination, but he’ll likely have to give up another player to sign Trendon Watford to a full-time deal for the rest of the season. They could also be looking for another big player on the buyout market as Jusuf Nurkic needs a backup following Zeller’s injury and subsequent dismissal from the team.
The Portland Trail Blazers trade shooter.
ESPN and The Athletic first stated the trade on Tuesday.
The Blazers are also sold to New Orleans for Larry Nance Jr. and Tony Snell.
In exchange, Portland gets four players: Josh Hart, Tomas Satoransky, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Didi Louzada.
The Blazers also receive a conditional first-round pick and two second-round picks.
2013 Draft
McCollum has played with the Trail Blazers since they took him on with the 10th pick in the 2013 draft.
The Blazers confirmed the trade Tuesday night and shared several goodbye messages from McCollum on social media, thanking him for his time at Rip City.
Portland has made the playoffs every season since drafting McCollum. However, the Blazers struggled in the playoffs, only reaching the Western Conference Finals once and being knocked out in the first rounded five times. It is uncertain whether he will resolve to be ready to return this season.
League Points Of Trade
New Orleans is winning less than 33% from the 3-point range this season, and they’re 29th in league with 3 points. McCollum has shot no less than 37.5% from deep in every season of his career while shooting 38.4% overall.
News of Tuesday’s trade came just days after it was announced the Blazers would part ways with Norman Powell and Robert Covington in exchange for Eric Bledsoe, Justice Winslow, rookie Keon Johnson, and a runner-up pick. Los Angeles Clippers tour in 2025.
Also Read: How To Convert A Youtube Video To Mp3