Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale recently put forward some “Blockbuster NBA Trade Ideas for Celtics, Suns and Teams Desperate For a Change.”
While the Portland Trail Blazers don’t necessarily fall into the “desperate” category, Favale acknowledges that they do need more star talent to compete in the competitive Western Conference. However, given their young core and long-term outlook, they have the flexibility to be patient and deliberate in their pursuit of a franchise cornerstone.
In Favale’s hypothetical deal, it’s actually the New Orleans Pelicans—not Portland—who are portrayed as the team urgently seeking change.
Here is the deal in full:
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Deandre Ayton, No. 11 pick, Milwaukee’s 2028 first-round pick (swap rights), Milwaukee’s 2029 first-round pick (swap rights)
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Zion Williamson
This deal could be exactly what both teams need
The NBA landscape is constantly shifting, and while much can change over the summer, current signs suggest the New Orleans Pelicans have no plans to make Zion Williamson available for trade.
Still, as Dan Favale points out, new Pelicans executive Joe Dumars would be remiss not to at least test the market for the often-injured star.
“Or it’s an incredible misdirection. It doesn’t really matter. The Pelicans are ready for a reset,” Favale writes. “They can wait to see if Zion boosts his value ahead of the February trade deadline, but that’s a gamble considering his extensive injury history.”
Favale’s proposed trade would allow the Pelicans to reset and stabilize by shifting focus to more dependable young pieces like Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, and Yves Missi, along with gaining two lottery selections in a deep draft. The deal would also give New Orleans control over Bucks pick swaps, which could make them a key player in facilitating a major trade — such as one involving Giannis Antetokounmpo, should he become available.
From Portland’s perspective, acquiring Zion — despite his injury concerns — could be seen as a rare opportunity to land a potential superstar at a reduced cost. While giving up significant draft capital is no small move, the Trail Blazers wouldn’t have to dismantle their promising young core, which has already shown signs of progress this season.
Portland’s real incentive in holding onto the Bucks’ picks is to eventually package them for a star-level player. While most scenarios involve sending those picks back to Milwaukee directly, this alternative route could serve the same purpose, while also giving New Orleans a launchpad for a bigger deal.
Favale notes that the trade could be even more favorable for Portland if they were moving Jerami Grant’s contract instead of Deandre Ayton’s, which would provide more cap flexibility down the road. Still, even with that detail, it’s a balanced deal overall. For Portland, the potential upside of Zion regaining All-Star form outweighs the chances of landing that caliber of player with the No. 11 pick.
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