- Here's a list of the biggest Portland Trail Blazers trades in franchise history.
- Maurice Lucas leads the list of players Portland received through trade.
- Other notable players the Trail Blazers acquired were LaMarcus Aldridge, Damian Lillard, and Jerami Grant.
The Portland Trail Blazers have been one of the most consistent teams at the top of the basketball odds to win an NBA title every season. They have only missed 16 playoff campaigns since joining the league in 1970. Portland also reached the NBA Finals three times and even won a title in 1977. Thanks to this achievement, they were excluded from the list of NBA teams that never won a championship.
A part of their success is from the draft, while the other half is through acquiring star players. Speaking of players acquired from trades, who among them have had the biggest impact? Find out the top-four players that Portland received via trade.
Maurice Lucas
First on the list is Maurice Lucas, who the Trail Blazers acquired in the 1976 Draft Dispersal due to the ABA-NBA merger. Portland shipped Steve Hawes and Geoff Petrie to Atlanta for the right to draft Lucas in the special draft. The 6-foot-9 power forward became a force inside the paint, leading the franchise to its first NBA title.
“The Enforcer” spearheaded Portland’s quest for the title in his first year by averaging a double-double of 20.2 points and 11.4 rebounds along with 2.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Lucas also represented the team in three NBA All-Star Games. Before retiring from the game, he returned to the Trail Blazers to play out his last season in 1988.
LaMarcus Aldridge
In 2006, Portland snagged LaMarcus Aldridge, the second overall pick of the Chicago Bulls, for their fourth pick Tyrus Thomas and Viktor Khryapa. The former University of Texas steadily became an important team member by providing on both ends of the floor through his scoring, rebounding, and shot-blocking ability.
Aldridge’s main success in Portland was through his four NBA All-Star selections and a 2007 All-Rookie 1st Team appearance. The 6-foot-11 forward also helped the Blazers reach the playoffs five times during his tenure. In 648 games across nine seasons, Aldridge averaged 19.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists for Portland.
Damian Lillard
Damian Lillard’s route to Portland was made possible by a trade in February 2012 as they sent Gerald Wallace to the New Jersey Nets (now known as the Brooklyn Nets) for Mehmet Okur, Shawne Williams, and a first-round pick. The Blazers used that first-round pick to select Lillard as the sixth overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft.
From the Draft Room: Portland picks Damian Lillard with the 6th pick in the NBA Draft. Go Blazers! #RipCityDraft pic.twitter.com/uGZW0wDb
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) June 29, 2012
“Dame Time” instantly became the franchise’s bona fide superstar with his dynamic scoring ability and unlimited three-point shooting range. He won the Rookie of the Year award in 2013 and was selected to seven NBA All-Star Games. Lillard also led Portland to eight consecutive playoffs from 2014 to 2021. The 6-foot-2 combo guard has racked up an average of 25.2 points, 6.7 assists, and 4.2 rebounds in 769 games for the team.
Jerami Grant
Portland’s latest big trade was the acquisition of Jerami Grant from the Detroit Pistons in July 2022. Along with Grant, the Blazers also received Ismael Kamagate for Gabriele Procida, a future first-round pick, and two future second-round picks. Grant formed a formidable trio with Lillard and Anfernee Simons, but they failed to qualify for the 2023 playoffs after only winning 33 games in the regular season.
In his first season in Portland, Grant became the third-option on offense with a scoring average of 20.5 points with 4.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists. Because of his stellar and consistent contribution to the team, the Blazers rewarded him with a five-year $160 million contract, as they viewed him as an important player moving forward.
OFFICIAL: Trail Blazers Re-Sign Jerami Grant ✍️ pic.twitter.com/gTTNMmc4kT
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) July 9, 2023
4 Biggest Portland Trail Blazers Trades
| Year | Player Acquired | Trade Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Maurice Lucas | Blazers received: Maurice Lucas / Hawks received: Steve Hawes and Geoff Petrie |
| 2006 | LaMarcus Aldridge | Blazers received: LaMarcus Aldridge / Bulls received: Tyrus Thomas and Viktor Khryapa |
| 2012 | Damian Lillard | Blazers received: Damian Lillard, Mehmet Okur, and Shawne Williams / Nets received: Gerald Wallace |
| 2022 | Jerami Grant | Blazers received: Jerami Grant and Ismael Kamagate / Pistons received: Gabriele Procida, a future first-round pick, and two future second-round picks |
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