5 players Blazers could acquire in Lillard deal to stay competitive

No. 3 player Blazers could acquire in Lillard trade: Jalen Brunson

The Knicks are well-documented star hunters. Damian Lillard has been front of mind for New York fans for years now, and here’s their chance to finally get in on the action. Much has been made of Lillard’s wonky fit next to Jalen Brunson in a hypothetical backcourt, but what if Brunson is the foundation of the trade package?

New York fans very quickly learned to love Brunson, so this move would come with understandable backlash. Brunson is six years younger than Lillard and he’s primed for multiple All-Star appearances before his Knicks tenure is over. But, as good as Brunson was during the playoffs, there’s an oceanic gap between Brunson and Lillard on the star spectrum. If the Knicks truly want to make the best pitch for Lillard, it might have to involve Brunson.

The Blazers would obviously have their own concerns about Brunson’s fit in a backcourt that already includes Scoot Henderson and Anfernee Simons, but Portland would be wise to bet on talent over fit at this stage. Brunson was the best player on a second-round team last season, he’s worth the investment.

Brunson and Henderson should be able to share the floor. Simons too, for that matter. Portland might have to swing a separate trade involving Simons to balance the roster at some point, but Brunson’s unique pace and playmaking eye would be a fascinating counterweight to Henderson’s explosive downhill slashing. Portland would be able to mix and match speeds and styles offensively while possessing multiple advantage-creators in the backcourt — it’s a fun concept.