3 bad trades that sees Damian Lillard landing with the Cleveland Cavaliers

Feb 20, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Damian Lillard is honored during halftime during the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 20, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Damian Lillard is honored during halftime during the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 5, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (32) during the third quarter at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
May 5, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (32) during the third quarter at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

We have the Los Angeles Lakers involved in this one. Not only are the Cleveland Cavaliers giving up not one, not two, but three first-round picks in 2025, 2027, and 2028, but the Cavs are also giving up both of their best bench guys in Kevin Love and Collin Sexton.

Giving up Love may not seem like a big deal to a lot of people, especially considering how his first few years with this new contract went, but as long as Love wants to stay in Cleveland the Cavs should make him a priority. Retaining him after the year he had as a sixth-man is imperative. He’s too valuable to lose right now, especially for a player who’s declining and dealing with injuries.

We mentioned Sexton before, he’s a guy who can match Lillard’s output, but let’s look at the Lakers and Blazers trades.

The Lakers land Eric Bledsoe while the Trail Blazers get Russell Westbrook? Talk about a non-starter for both teams. The Lakers need three-point shooting and the Blazers need someone not named Westbrook.

It’s a hard sell on the Cavs alone, but I wouldn’t be able to sell the Lakers or Blazers on this deal either. You’re just shuffling bad assets around between teams.