Indiana Pacers: Constructing two trade packages for Damian Lillard

The Indiana Pacers mortgage the present more than the future to acquire Damian Lillard

In this second trade idea, the Indiana Pacers will send two-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis, guards Malcolm Brogdon and Aaron Holiday, as well as two first-round picks in 2021 and 2023, the latter of which is unprotected, to the Portland Trail Blazers for six-time All-Star Damian Lillard and forward Robert Covington.

This can be an ideal package for the Indiana Pacers if they want a more secure fallback for the future, sending only two first-round draft picks, including this year’s guaranteed lottery selection. A hypothetical starting lineup of Lillard-LeVert-Warren-Covington-Turner will easily wreak havoc in the East and sneak up on the troika of superpowers atop the conference.

For the Portland Trail Blazers, this will be a sweet deal to net pieces for a win-now mindset to couple with their remaining components. Sabonis is still improving and is one of the best big men in the league. Brogdon is a 20-5-5 guy who can defend at an above-average level. Aaron Holiday still possesses untapped potential and can do more with ampler court time. This year’s lottery pick will be a great asset to immediately fill in roster gaps for the team while the 2023 pick is added security blanket for the future.