The Portland Path Blazers will probably be one of many few groups which can be sellers because the 2025 NBA commerce deadline approaches. The Blazers will look to surrender lots of their present items in alternate for expiring offers and draft picks .
The Blazers will look so as to add future expertise within the coming years, however they will not be the one crew seeking to transfer on from their present expertise. Many groups will look to surrender expertise, together with the underperforming New Orleans Pelicans.
The Pelicans have had a nightmare season. They’re at the moment between the ages of 5 and 22 and have been depleted by accidents like no different.
A lot of their key gamers missed vital time, together with star ahead Zion Williamson. The Pelicans could also be waving the white flag as lots of their finest gamers, together with Williamson and former Blazers star guard CJ McCollum, can be found for commerce.
McCollum is a veteran guard who desires to be a part of a contender. Due to this, he’s prone to be traded and has a excessive probability of reuniting with former Blazers All-Star guard Damian Lillard in Milwaukee.
In response to BetOnline, the Bucks are the heavy favorites to reunite Lillard and McCollum in Milwaukee if he had been traded from New Orleans.
The Bucks are the massive favourite to reunite Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum in Milwaukee if CJ is traded from New Orleans 👀
(through @BetOnline_ag) pic.twitter.com/Q1qnAZ3Qbl
– Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) December 18, 2024
Lillard and McCollum performed greater than 500 common season video games collectively as teammates in Portland. The yr after the Blazers chosen Lillard within the 2012 NBA Draft with the sixth general choose, the Blazers chosen McCollum with one other lottery choose (No. 10) within the 2013 NBA Draft.
The 2 shaped one of the crucial underrated duos within the league. McCollum moved into the beginning lineup completely within the 2015-16 season, becoming a member of Lillard within the backcourt. They lead Portland to playoff appearances every of the subsequent 5 seasons, highlighted by a visit to the 2019 Western Convention Finals.
After that journey to the 2019 Convention Finals, they didn’t advance previous the primary spherical of their subsequent two playoff journeys. McCollum was traded to New Orleans throughout the 2022 commerce deadline together with Larry Nance Jr. and Tony Snell to New Orleans in alternate for Josh Hart, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Tomáš Satoranský, Didi Louzada, a protected choose first-round picks in 2022, the most effective of New Orleans and Portland’s second-round picks in 2026 and New Orleans’ second-round picks in 2027.
Lillard was in Portland for a yr and a half earlier than being traded to Milwaukee throughout the 2023 offseason. Now there’s an opportunity the 2 guys might reunite, however this time within the Midwest.
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