The 2018 30-team NBA mega-trade that solves nothing and makes everyone mad
By Ian Levy
Portland Trail Blazers
Sending out: Ed Davis (LAL), Meyers Leonard (CHA)
Bringing in: Robin Lopez (CHI), Derrick Rose (CLE)
The Portland Trail Blazers are pushing hard for some postseason success and this deal gives them an opportunity to do it while saving a few bucks in the process. Lopez is an excellent team defender and rebounder and can give Portland solid minutes in any scenarios where Jusuf Nurkic looks shaky. He’s also only under contract for one more year at just over $14 million. That’s a big chunk for next year but here Portland sheds the last two years of Meyers Leonard’s contract at around $11 million each. Derrick Rose can just be cut.
It may seem strange to bring on Lopez when Nurkic is still in the middle and Zach Collins is developing. While Lopez might steal some of Collins’ minutes this season he allows Portland to really consider how wedded they are to Nurkic and allows them to explore other options for moving on from him at the deadline/