Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers find themselves in an interesting conundrum as the 2023 NBA draft approaches.
Stacks of WWII-era Nazi cargo are
washing up on Texas beaches
Portland leapt into the No. 3 slot in the draft on lottery night, adding another dose of disappointment for the Rockets after their prayers for Victor Wembanyama went unanswered. Yet as we head closer to the draft on June 22, it's increasingly possible Lillard and the franchise he's led for 11 seasons may do the Rockets a giant favor.
We should start with a certain qualifier before detailing a little thought experiment: Rafael Stone and the Rockets' brass haven't divulged any of their preferences on the current draft class as of early June, and there's a very real scenario in which Houston doesn't have a notably different grade on Scoot Henderson, Brandon Miller, Amen Thompson or any other presumed option at No.