The report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that the Portland Trailblazers traded shooting guard C.J McCollum to the New Orleans Pelicans signaled the end of an era for Rip City. After almost nine seasons of the McCollum-Damian Lillard experiment, Joe Cronin and Co. finally jumped ship. However, as of now, Lillard remains with the team and is committed to Portland. So, where does the franchise go from here?
Norman Powell and Robert Covington Trade Analysis
Let’s start with the return from the first deal. Earlier in the week, the Blazers traded shooting guard Norman Powell and forward Robert Covington to the Clippers. In return, they received Eric Bledsoe, Justice Winslow, rookie Keon Johnson, and a 2025 second-round pick.
This is an interesting deal to decipher on a few levels. Looking at the players on paper, the Clippers committed highway robbery in broad daylight. Powell was having close to a career year, averaging 18.7 points per game and shooting 40.6% from three on 5.7 attempts per game. Covington was actually having a down year offensively, shooting 34% from three (below his career average). However, his defense remains as good as ever. Covington ranks within the top-30 in defended field goal percentage amongst forwards (minimum 49 games played).
Compare that to the players the Blazers got back. Eric Bledsoe is a solid backup point guard that the Blazers don’t really need. Winslow is an average player at best. The immediate return is uninspiring. Keon Johnson is a project, but the gamble could pay dividends if he continues to develop as an offensive player. A rookie out of Tennessee, Johnsons’ athletic ability is second to none. He made his name known with a record-shattering 48-inch vertical jump at the NBA combine. He uses that athleticism and his 6’7 wingspan to be disruptive defensively. His addition is a little redundant, considering the Blazers already have Anfernee Simons, but his upside is intriguing.
Intentions of the Deal
Overall, this was a salary dump. Powell is in the first year of a five-year, $90 million deal he signed this past offseason. Bledsoe has less than $4 million guaranteed for next season, as does Winslow. Regardless of the intentions, the return for the Blazers is frustrating. For a career 38% three-point shooter in Powell and one of the NBA’s best defensive forwards in Covington, the only meaningful return was Johnson and a future second-round pick. How could the Blazers not get Brandon Boston Jr. back from the Clippers in this deal? The former Kentucky man has had inspiring flashes for the Clippers this season. After giving up two high-end starters, it’s hard to understand how the Blazers couldn’t work him into the deal.
C.J McCollum Trade Analysis
Once the Powell and Covington deal was announced, it was only a matter of time before McCollum was moved as well. Four days after the first deal, the Blazers dealt McCollum, forward Larry Nance, and forward Tony Snell to the Pelicans. The player compensation on this deal was: shooting guard Josh Hart, guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, guard Tomas Satoranksky, and rookie guard Didi Louzada. The Blazers also received a protected 2022 first-round pick as well as two future second-round picks.
Getting rid of McCollum was expected after the first deal was made. McCollum has been one of the best two guards in the NBA since his breakout season in 2015. The savvy ball handler is a career 39.6% shooter from three and has been the Blazers’ primary offensive catalyst alongside Lillard since the team drafted him in 2013. His shooting splits are slightly down this year in comparison to the rest of his career. However, this can be somewhat attributed to the extended period of time he missed due to a collapsed lung. McCollum figures to play a big role in the Pelicans offense from Day 1.
Scouting Hart and Alexander-Walker
Blazers fans can be more encouraged by the return on this deal after the meager return on the first one. Josh Hart is having a career year, averaging 13.4 points per game, 7.8 rebounds, and shooting 50.5% from the field. He has also taken a big step as a playmaker, averaging 4.1 assists this season compared to 2.3 the year before. A lot of his assists result from him making the smart play. However, there have been secondary playmaker flashes during games this season.
Portland also got another breakout player back in the deal. Despite the uninspiring shooting splits, Alexander-Walker is averaging a career-high in points, rebounds, and assists. His shot creation off the dribble is impressive, as he has demonstrated the ability to hit tough shots coming off of screens or via his own ball-handling. His smooth release gives hope to the idea that he may develop into a competent shooter with time.
Salary and Draft Implications
In addition to the two young prospects, the Blazers received the Pelicans top-4 protected 2022 first-round pick. This pick would convey to the Blazers if the current standings held to the end of the season. Combined with the first-round pick the Blazers would retain from the Larry Nance Jr. deal, the Blazers could end up with two lottery picks come draft night. The draft compensation on this deal is much more promising than the Powell and Covington deal.
This deal also clears a significant amount of salary for the Blazers. McCollum is owed upwards of $30 million for the next three seasons under his current deal. Hart is owed just $12 million through the 2023-24 season, while Alexander-Walker remains on his rookie-scale deal. This is a net positive deal salary-wise for the Blazers, which was the ultimate goal of these blockbuster deals.
Blazers Escape Financial Peril… At What Cost?
With these two deals, the Blazers give themselves a lot of flexibility going forward. Dealing with McCollum generates a $21 million trade exception for the Blazers. Shedding the combined salary of Powell, McCollum, Covington, Nance Jr., and Snell gives Portland potentially $60 million in cap space to work with this summer. Combine that with the collection of draft picks that the Blazers have in the upcoming two years, and there is reason to be optimistic about the Blazers’ future.
The best part of these deals for the Blazers is that this puts them well below the luxury tax threshold for the first time in a while. According to Spotrac, the Blazers owe $81.27 million in contracts next season as of right now. For reference, the luxury tax threshold for this season was $138.9 million. While these deals meant losing some of the team’s best players, it gives the franchise a lot to work with going into this summer.
All of that sounds great until you connect the dots on how the Blazers got here. Powell was acquired in a deal that sent now Toronto guard Gary Trent Jr. and Rodney Hood to the Raptors. Trent Jr. is three years younger than Powell and signed on a much more flexible three-year, $51 million deal following the trade. The Blazers acquired Covington from the Rockets for two first-round picks and got none in return in his subsequent departure. While the Blazers are moving in the right direction with a franchise firesale, the net assets when all the dust settles is rather unimpressive.
What Do These Deals Mean for Lillard?
Blazers superstar feels about all of this. While there are no official reports on how Lillard has felt about these deals, he will likely stick around past this season. Lillard was likely made aware of these deals by the front office long before they were made public, and gave his stamp of approval to the front offices’ vision for the future. Lillard is as loyal as they come, and the Blazers have one more crack at it to build a championship-caliber squad around their franchise player.
