The Portland Trail Blazers’ future hopes and dreams seemed dashed as the New Orleans Pelicans upset the Los Angeles Clippers in Good Friday’s final Play-In game.
"Seemed" being the operative word in that intro.
The Pelicans win vaulted them into this year’s NBA Playoffs, sending their first round pick this year to the Charlotte Hornets — and not the Blazers.
But let’s go back a bit. At February’s trade deadline, Blazers Interim General Manager Joe Cronin boldly traded CJ McCollum, Larry Nance Jr. and Tony Snell to the Pelicans for their protected 2022 first round pick, Josh Hart, Didi Louzada, Tomas Satoransky and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.