This Blazers-Nets Trade Teams Up Mikal Bridges With Damian Lillard

One NBA writer is proposing that Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers acquire Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets this summer.

Dan Favale of Bleacher Report proposed that the Blazers send Nassir Little, Shadeon Sharpe, the third pick and the 23rd pick in the 2023 NBA Draft to the Nets for Bridges and Nicolas Claxton.

“The Houston Rockets control the Nets’ next four first-rounders after this year, with outright ownership in 2024 and 2026, and then unprotected swap rights in 2025 and 2027,” Favale wrote. “That gives Brooklyn plenty of incentive to avoid hitting reset. This jibes with recent reporting. The Nets aren’t looking to move Bridges, and the combination of No. 3 and Shaedon Sharpe won’t change their mind according to The Athletic’s Alex Schiffer.”

“This feels extreme. The third overall pick gets the Nets Scoot Henderson or Brandon Miller. Sharpe was drafted seventh overall last year and doesn’t turn 20 until May 30. Getting both for Bridges is worth consideration. He may be a rising star on one of the league’s best contracts (three years, $69.9 million), but he’ll celebrate his 27th birthday in August. Graduating into top-20-player territory would be one of the all-time developmental anomalies. If Brooklyn is really turning down a pair of top-seven prospects for Bridges, it better plan to acquire a marquee name of its own. Slow-building around him, without many of your own firsts, is a ticket to the middle.”

The Phoenix Suns traded Bridges to the Nets in the blockbuster Kevin Durant trade. Bridges took his game to another level with the Nets. The swingman averaged 26.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 27 games with Brooklyn.

Bridges signed a four-year, $90.9 million rookie scale extension with the Suns in October 2021.

“Portland’s end of the table is less complicated. It likely argues that Sharpe and No. 3 are an overpay for someone yet to make an All-Star team” Favale wrote. “Lopping off Nurkić’s deal and adding Claxton’s defense evens out the perspective. Brooklyn probably flinches at including the latter. He’s still only 24. But he’ll be up for a raise after next season, and the Nets are getting yet another first (No. 23) on top of everything.”