The fireworks of the NBA offseason commenced in abrupt fashion after superstar guard Damian Lillard posted a cryptic message following the Portland Trail Blazers‘ first-round exit. With fans sent into a frenzy regarding his suddenly arguable future with the team, league devotees are rounding out wild trade ideas to secure him. Lo and behold, what could the Indiana Pacers’ best possible offer for Dame look like?
By all odds and given his reputation, Lillard will most likely prefer having stars come over to join him in Portland instead of leaving town. However, the franchise’s dearth of an actual shot at an NBA title is wayward from Dame’s vision of bringing a trophy to the city. Even if the team takes a flyer at running it back, the Trail Blazers simply don’t have what it takes to be a championship threat.
Can the Indiana Pacers land the superstar guard?
Well, the Indiana Pacers are not in the same exact boat as the Trail Blazers, but the Circle City could be an interesting canvas for Lillard to continue his heroics whenever he decides to leave Portland. After all, Indy is a basketball city and there is a solid chance of a reunion with cherished coach Terry Stotts donning the Blue and Gold. It’s a fantasy-laden scenario all right, but it’s not harmful at all to hope, especially after a season of turbulence.
Netting an MVP-level cog like Damian Lillard requires a fortune, but it is not as impossible as the Indiana Pacers winning a chip with their current roster. Unfortunately, the team does not have an alluring piece a la Ben Simmons to be the key player in a possible sweepstakes, so they must compensate by giving a massive haul in return. Thus, what could the team possible trot out as its best offer in a hypothetical attempt to lure the high-octane scorer?
The Indiana Pacers go full throttle on offense and acquire Damian Lillard in a massive haul
In this trade proposal, the Indiana Pacers will acquire guard Damian Lillard and forward Robert Covington from the Portland Trail Blazers for center Myles Turner, guard Malcolm Brogdon, swingman Justin Holiday and 3 unprotected first-round picks from 2023 and 2025, including this year’s lottery selection.
To facilitate a player of Lillard’s level into Indiana, the Pacers will have to mortgage their future and invest in the present to maximize Dame’s prime. His presence alone vaults the Blue and Gold in the upper echelon of the conference, especially with an exceptional supporting cast consisting of Domantas Sabonis, Caris LeVert and TJ Warren. Robert Covington ensures that the team possesses a high-level defender in the starting lineup.
In turn, the Trail Blazers will acquire utmost flexibility. They can either decide to continue staying competitive in the West with DPOY candidate Myles Turner and fringe All-Star Malcolm Brogdon alongside their remaining pieces or jumpstart an eventful rebuild with the three first-round picks. The array of draft picks may seem excessive, but ultimately, it can be the deciding factor in a wide pool of suitors.
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.