NBA Trade Idea Gives Blazers No. 1 Pick

The Portland Trail Blazers have the Nos. 7 & 14 picks in next month’s NBA Draft, and that’s the start of a strong package that could make a play for the No. 1 pick if the Atlanta Hawks are looking to trade it.

Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale drew up a three-team trade with the Hawks and Detroit Pistons that would give the Blazers the top overall pick.

The Trade

Atlanta Hawks Receive: Matisse Thybulle, No. 7, No. 14

Detroit Pistons Receive: Clint Capela

Portland Trail Blazers Receive: No. 1 pick, 2027 second-round pick (less favorable from Brooklyn and Dallas, via Detroit)

If the Blazers made a trade like this, Favale says that the Blazers would “save a boatload of money that yanks them outside the luxury-tax territory in which they currently sit.”

There’s an extremely unlikely chance that the Hawks would be willing to trade the No. 1 overall pick considering they jumped nine spots to get there. French big man Alex Sarr is the likely top pick, and there’s a fit for him on Atlanta’s roster.

However, this package could be something that other teams would be interested in, like the San Antonio Spurs, who hold the No. 4 pick and would be willing to add on another pick or two. The Houston Rockets may also be willing to listen to offers that would move them down in order for them to get more cap flexibility.

Ultimately, this trade is extremely unlikely to happen, but the Blazers have reason to move up if the prospect they want may not be on the board at No. 7.