Top 10 Blazers Trades

Here is a count down of the Blazers top 10 trades of all time.

Honorable Mention: Mason Plumlee for Jusuf Nurkic and a 2017 1st rnd Pick

The Blazers traded away center Mason Plumlee for Jusuf Nurkic and a 2017 1st rnd pick. With that pick, the 20th, the Blazers picked Harry Giles. They picked Justin Jackson with their own pick. Both Jackson and Giles were picked for the Kings who traded Portland the 10th pick, which Portland used to take Zach Collins.

So basically, that’s Jusuf Nurkic and Zach Collins for Mason Plumlee. Thanks Denver.

10.) Tyrus Thomas For LaMarcus Aldridge

In the 2006 draft, the Portland Trail Blazers traded the draft rights to Tyrus Thomas along with Viktor Khyrapa to the Chicago Bulls for LaMarcus Aldridge and a conditional 2007 2nd rnd pick (Demtris Nichols).

Many resent the once self titled, “Blazer for life” for leaving the team in 2014. Like him or hate him, he is still one of Portland’s best power forwards to date. He holds two franchise rebounding records he was a 4 time all star as a Blazer and Portland got him for practically nothing.

Tyrus Thomas turned out to be a bust. He lasted 7 years in the league if you don’t count the 20 days with Memphis in 2015. He never developed into the player many hoped he would be.

The Blazers didn’t miss Viktor Khyrapa much either.

9. Randy Foye for Brandon Roy

In the 2006 NBA draft the Blazers traded the Boston Celtics Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliff, and 2008 2nd rnd pick for the draft rights to Randy Foye, Dan Dickau, and Raef LaFrentz. The Blazers then traded the rights to Randy Foye to Minnesota Timberwolves for the rights to Brandon Roy.

Foye would have a productive albeit mediocre career. Brandon Roy would become a franchise player and star player for the Blazers. If it weren’t for his knees, he would have perhaps brought Portland farther.

Roy was known for his game winners and his ability to take over games much like Lillard would be later. He broke record after record and was voted an all star three times. Unfortunately, he was never able to help Portland get past the 1st rnd of the playoffs.

8. Darnell Valentine for 1986 1st rnd Pick(Arvydas Sabonis)

The Blazers traded Darnell Valentine and a 2nd rnd pick in the 1988 draft to the Los Angeles Clippers for a 1986 1st round draft pick. The Clippers got the pick and Cedric Maxwell from Boston in exchange for Bill Walton, the Blazers former star player, who took them to their only championship.

Sabonis, who was actually drafted in 77′ by the Hawks(it was later rescinded because he wasn’t yet 21) was taken by Portland with the 24th pick in the 1986 draft. He was thought of as one of if not the best players to have come from overseas.

The Blazers didn’t get the 22 year old Sabonis though until eight years later due to tensions between the US and the Soviet Union. By then 30 year old Sabonis was a skeleton of his younger self. His knees were already gone, a team doctor said of which he could be eligible for handicap parking.

Still, Sabonis had a solid career with Portland, averaging 16 points and 10 rebounds per game his best season. He helped Portland to two Western Conference final appearances.

7.)Bryron Irvin for Danny Ainge

Though Ainge, an Oregon native, only played for the Blazers for two seasons, he helped them to a 1992 NBA finals appearance against the Chicago Bulls that went 6 games.

The Blazers traded Byron Irvin and 2 draft picks to the Sacramento Kings for two time champion and all star Danny Ainge. Not bad, not bad at all.

6.) Walter Berry for Kevin Duckworth

In 1986, the Blazers traded rookie Walter Berry, who they had drafted, and who refused to play for them to the San Antonio Spurs for Kevin Duckworth.

Berry bounced around the NBA for a few years, traded several times after not getting along with coaches and fellow players. He ended up and Europe and became a star in Greece known for his agility as a scorer.

Based on his career with the Spurs, Nets, and Rockets his time in Portland would have been a waste. The Blazers turned him into Kevin Duckworth.

Duckworth was a cornerstone in Portland’s golden era team(s) of the late 80’s and early 90’s. He became a fan favorite. He won most improved player, putting up 18 points and 9 rebounds a game. He was named an all star. He was part of two trips to the NBA finals with Portland. I’d do that trade again, how about you?

5.) Jim Brewer for 1984 2nd rnd pick (Jerome Kersey)

On October 8th, 1980 the Blazers may have gotten the better of the Los Angeles Lakers. They traded power forward Jim Brewer to LA for a 2nd rnd pick in the 1984 draft. That pick became Jerome Kersey.

Don’t get me wrong, Brewer (Doc Rivers uncle) went on to win a Championship with LA, and was a 2 time NBA all defensive team player with the Cavs earlier in his career.

Kersey, who went on to win a ring with the Spurs was a different beast. During his career he was at the top of the records for most franchise categories. He did a bit of it all. He scored, rebounded, blocked shots, and stole the ball. He was a phenom without mercy.

He was part of two Portland finals runs in the 90’s and he exemplified what it meant to be a Trail Blazer.

4.) Kelvin Ransey for 1986 1st rnd pick( Terry Porter)

In 1982, The Blazers traded Kelvin Ransey to the Dallas Mavericks for a 1st round pick in the 1985 draft. The Blazers took Terry Porter with the 24th pick.

Porter became one of Portland’s best point guards all time, behind Lillard and maybe Hollins. He played in Portland for a decade, went to the finals twice with the Blazers, and was a 2x All Star.

He is the longest tenured Blazers starting point guard next to Lillard, with 8 years as the floor general. Porter ranks #1 for all time assists and is top 5 in a handful of other categories.

3.)Sam Bowie and 1989 12th Pick for Buck Williams

On June 25th, 1989 the Blazers traded oft injured center Sam Bowie and the 12th pick(Mookie Blaylock) in that year’s draft to the New Jersey Nets for veteran Buck Williams.

Williams, a three time all star behemoth of a center was exactly what Portland needed for it’s core. Bowie spent most of his time with Portland nursing broken legs and the Blazers wanted someone more reliable and less fragile.

Who better than Williams, an 8 year veteran with the Nets who was averaging 16.4 points and 11.9 rebounds. A dominant center, he was perfect for Portland’s frontcourt and fit well with Drexler and co. In his first three seasons the Blazers had three western conference finals and two NBA finals appearances.

2.) Gerald Wallace for Mehmet Okur, Shawne Williams, and a 2012 top 3 Protected 1st rnd Pick(Lillard)

Ok, the Blazers got seriously, ridiculously lucky on this one. In their bid to offload Wallace after a single season in Portland, the Blazers fell into one of the best draft picks in their franchise’s history.

Okur and Williams were inconsequential in the scheme of things. In 2012, the Blazers selected Damian Lillard with the 6th pick that they acquired in the Wallace trade.

Lillard, the Blazers current starting point guard is a franchise star player, a 5x all star, and a franchise/NBA record breaker galore. He has brought the game to new heights. Known for “Dame time,” his clutch shooting and ability to take over games, Lillard has led Portland as far as the western conference finals and vows to bring them their next championship before his time is done.

1.)Geoff Petrie, Steve Hawes for 2nd pick in the 1976 ABA dispersal draft.

On August 5th, 1976 the Blazers made a trade to Atlanta that helped to deliver them their first and only championship. They sent Geoff Petrie and Steve Hawes to the Hawks for the 2nd pick in the 1976 ABA dispersal draft.

They picked “The Enforcer” Maurice Lucas who’s fearlessness and tenacity was exactly what Portland needed. Opponents were afraid of him and they should have been. His mettle rubbed off on his teammates.

Though Bill Walton was the Finals MVP Portland’s championship season, Lucas was the heart and engine. His fight with Daryl Dawkins fueled Portland’s finals win over the 76ers. Without him they likely would not have won the championship.

A four time all star and multiple all defensive player, and champion, Lucas remains Portland’s best Power Forward of all time.