Rockets A Team To Watch If Jimmy Butler Becomes Available

The Portland Trail Blazers are widely expected to select and keep Scoot Henderson if he’s available at No. 3, though they will continue to listen to offers through when they’re on the clock.

If the offers they receive don’t improve, the Blazers are comfortable keeping the pick even though that means a potential trade of Damian Lillard in the immediate aftermath. The Blazers don’t appear to believe that is a possibility, even though the teams across the league with interest in Lillard are preparing for that scenario.

“Portland isn’t admitting that, but the rest of the league knows it and they’re preparing their offers for what happens over the next 24 to 72 hours with how Lillard might react to them going forward and making the draft [pick],” said Brian Windhorst on Thursday morning.

Lillard has been clear in his public comments that he wants the Blazers to acquire win-now players and isn’t prepared to be patient as they bring along young players. For Portland, the plan was likely to trade the pick if it was outside the top-3 but moving up has made that decision more difficult for their front office.

“They are already getting ready waiting for the moment to happen,” Windhorst added. “Whether Lillard makes the move, or the Blazers make the move, nobody seems like they want to be the fall guy. Lillard doesn’t want to look like the bad guy. The Blazers are still hoping to convince him to stay, but we’ll see how long they continue with that position.”

The Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets are expected to be among the teams with interest in trading for Lillard and can assemble a package that is enticing for the Blazers.