Portland Trail Blazers Receive: G Caris LeVert, C Myles Turner, IND 2023 1st Round Pick (Lottery-Protected, Top-10 Protected in 2024, Top-5 Protected 2025, else 2026 Unprotected)
Indiana Pacers Receive: G CJ McCollum, POR 2022 2nd Round Pick
Since Paul George was traded by Indiana following the 2016-17 season, the Indiana Pacers have gone 188-152 (55.3%), including a 13-18 record so far this season. They have made the playoffs three times without George, but they have won just three playoff games since 2017.
While the Pacers definitely have the talent to be competitive in the Eastern Conference, injuries and lack of chemistry have ruined any chances for success, which is why they are close to having to rebuild.
Domantas Sabonis and Malcolm Brogdon are two high-level talents that they could absolutely continue to build around for the foreseeable future, but Caris LeVert, Myles Turner, and T.J. Warren are all expendable pieces on this roster.
Warren is still out with a foot injury and may not return until near the end of the season at this point, so maybe he does not hold much trade value, but both Caris LeVert and Myles Turner definitely carry enough value to land CJ McCollum in a trade.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Blazers Front Office Encouraged After Talks With Lillard, McCollum
In order for Portland to trade their near All-Star shooting guard, they would need to be replacing him with some high-level talents and both LeVert and Turner can help this team immediately. Not only can Caris LeVert fill McCollum’s role as a scorer on the perimeter next to Damian Lillard, but Myles Turner is one of the best defensive big men in the entire league.
Turner has led the league in blocks per game two of the last three seasons and so far this year, he is averaging 2.9 blocks per game, best in the league again. If Portland was willing to discuss this trade with the Pacers, it would most likely mean the end for either Robert Covington or Jusuf Nurkic as well.
Both veterans are in the final year of their contract and set to become unrestricted free agents in 2022, so it is possible that a third team could be added to this deal.
It is also possible that a third team would not need to be added and the Portland Trail Blazers would send Nurkic to the Indiana Indiana Pacers and get back Justin Holiday, Torrey Craig, or another draft pick.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Blazers Front Office Encouraged After Talks With Lillard, McCollum
The possibilities of how this trade could work are endless, but what remains the same is the idea of trading CJ McCollum for Caris LeVert and Myles Turner.
