This is the point of the season that NBA fans all aspire to be General Managers, I am no different. In my column last week, Close Games Bring Portland Trail Blazers to a Cross Roads, I put forward that it is time for the Trail Blazers to deal LaMarcus Aldridge. This week I suggest a deal.
I propose the Blazers trade Aldridge to the Milwaukee Bucks for rookie PF John Henson, C Samuel Dalembert, and rookie SG Doron Lamb. The Blazers need young talent that can grow up with rookie sensation Damian Lillard and rising star Nicolas Batum.
John Henson is an NBA rookie, his numbers are not overly impressive (6 ppg, 4.3 rpg) but in spurts, already recording a handful of double-doubles, he has already demonstrated his potential as a scorer, defensive presence, and strong rebounder. At 22 he definitely fits the bill as a player to mature with Lillard and Batum. Because of his contract, the guy that makes this trade happen is Samuel Dalembert. He’s been around no doubt. But he has a 1 year $7 million deal and becomes an unrestricted free-agent at the end of the season. Over the course of his career he has put up decent numbers and could be a contributor off the bench. The third player is the Bucks second round draft pick from this year Doron Lamb from Kentucky. He is a shooter that can be an asset to the Blazers bench going forward.
The beauty of this deal is the Blazers replace LaMarcus Aldridge with a player in John Henson that in some ways mimics the game of Aldridge and in the big picture might be a better rebounder. But most importantly they get a young talented player that can grow with Lillard and Batum. Not to mention the Blazers have the cap flexibility to go get a center and some bench talent during the offseason.
If you want to play GM checkout the NBA Trade Machine at ESPN.
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