The Utah Jazz have a ton of draft capital and CEO Danny Ainge is positioning the franchise to land a superstar. They acquired John Collins in a salary dump this summer, but the Jazz received massive hauls for Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell that puts them near the front of the line in any blockbuster. Damian Lillard is on the block after the seven-time All-Star requested a trade, but will Utah cash their chips in?
Now is the perfect time for Utah. Lauri Markkanen became an All-Star last season and Walker Kessler shined as a rookie. Both can play key roles, and the Jazz do not have a massive contract on their books. They could easily acquire Dame and continue building out their roster.
Lillard wants out of Portland to compete for a championship, but he does not possess a no-trade clause. The 32-year-old prefers Miami, but the Trail Blazers have no obligation to send him there. They should be looking for the best return, and the Jazz are rumored to be interested, but what would a trade look like?
Utah Jazz land Damian Lillard in hypothetical blockbuster
The Jazz must give up at least three draft picks plus salary matching to get a deal done. The picks could come from Minnesota and Cleveland, but here is the trade Bleacher Report laid out.
Portland would get first-round draft picks from the Timberwolves in 2025 and 2027 along with a 2029 first-rounder from the Cavaliers in this hypothetical.
They just drafted Scoot Henderson third overall and agreed to a massive contract with Jerami Grant. Add in Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe and the Blazers could be building something. Henderson must become a superstar, but he has that potential. The three first-round picks would give Portland the firepower to add pieces via trade. Would they do this deal? Here’s a closer look.
Would the Portland Trail Blazers trade Damian Lillard to the Jazz?
Lillard is arguably the greatest player in Trail Blazers history. He wants to go to a contender in hopes of winning a championship. Would the Blazers’ front office trade him to a rebuilding team because they are offering the best package? It is a fair question that nobody can presently answer.
Dame wants to be traded to the Heat, but Miami can only offer two first-round draft picks and Tyler Herro. There will be better proposals. The Trail Blazers want to do right by the legend, but they have to worry about doing what is best for the franchise too.
Ultimately, Damian Lillard wants to be traded, so the Portland Trail Blazers should do what is best for the franchise. If that means sending the seven-time All-Star to Salt Lake City, they should do it. The Jazz can offer more draft picks and a monster package that would help the Trail Blazers get back into contention quicker.
Utah would likely have to give up more than the outlined package to win the bidding war on Lillard. Should Danny Ainge and the front office consider that? Acquiring a superstar never comes cheap, but is Dame the answer for a team that is currently in a rebuild?
Would the Utah Jazz make this trade?
The Jazz want to trade Collin Sexton, Kelly Olynyk is entering the final year of his contract, and Utah would still have eight first-round draft picks available to trade. Getting Damian Lillard for just three first-rounders after acquiring four for Donovan Mitchell and five for Rudy Gobert last summer is a no-brainer. The Jazz would still have assets to make additional moves and further improve their roster.
There would be some worry that Lillard turns 33 years old later this month. How quickly can Utah build a contender around him? Markkanen was an All-Star last season, but he is not considered a superstar. Walker Kessler is improving but is still years away from his prime.
The price just seems too good to pass up here. Acquire Lillard and figure the rest out later. Taylor Hendricks could quickly blossom into an impactful role player, and the Utah Jazz could use their remaining draft capital to get a couple of 3-and-D wings. If that happens, watch out. The Jazz are suddenly a feared team in the deep Western Conference.
Grade: A
Damian Lillard is one of the 15 best players in the NBA, and he has shown zero signs of slippage. Getting him for three first-round draft picks and salary filler is a trade that is too good to pass up. Utah would have work to do to build a contender around him, but Lillard is locked in for four years and could quickly lead the Jazz back to the playoffs. Will it happen? Stay tuned to find out.
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