Trade Grades: Plumlee to Portland
The Deal
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Blazers get: Center Mason Plumlee, rights to No. 41 pick ( Pat Connaughton)
Nets get: Guard Steve Blake, rights to No. 23 pick ( Rondae Hollis-Jefferson)
Portland Trail Blazers: A-
The Blazers' second major trade in as many days reinforced the notion that the organization is building a new core of younger players around point guard Damian Lillard, with the team's other veteran starters likely to leave in free agency. In this case, Plumlee projects as a potential replacement for Robin Lopez at center, giving Portland rim protection it did not have anywhere else on the roster.
Plumlee has been one of the most productive players from the 2013 draft so far, ranking second in wins above replacement player (WARP) behind Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz. At 25, Plumlee is unlikely to grow much beyond his current level, but that's enough to make him an adequate starting center. He knows his role, which is to finish off the pick-and-roll and hit the offensive glass while providing energy on defense -- similar to what Lopez did the past two seasons.
For the remaining two years of his rookie contract, Plumlee is also one of the league's better values. He'll make just $1.4 million this year and $2.3 million in 2016-17. This trade saves the Blazers $1.9 million, adding to their cap space this summer. In the event Portland loses veterans Lopez, LaMarcus Aldridge and Wesley Matthews, the team could have $42 million to fill around the core of Lillard, Meyers Leonard, C.J. McCollum and the newly acquired Plumlee and Noah Vonleh. That gives the Blazers plenty of options in looking for a small forward, currently their biggest need going forward.
Connaughton will compete for playing time at wing while coming off the bench, and Blake no longer fit into Portland's youthful direction. Moving him cuts another tie to Portland's pre-Lillard era. For now, Aldridge is the last Blazer left from those teams.
Brooklyn Nets: C
Presuming the Nets re-sign center Brook Lopez, who can opt to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, Plumlee would never be as valuable to them as another team. Brooklyn's attempts to play Lopez and Plumlee together were ill-fated. Both players are centers. So Plumlee was more insurance for Lopez's health than anything else.
In hindsight, the Nets would have been wise to cash in on Plumlee's value last winter when he was more in demand around the league. Brooklyn managed to move up only 18 picks with this deal. Hollis-Jefferson adds a dimension the Nets did not have on the roster. They used Markel Brown as a wing stopper last year, and Hollis-Jefferson is bigger and more versatile. Alas, Hollis-Jefferson is no better a shooter, which could present the same issues if Brooklyn reaches the postseason.
The Nets have now reunited Portland's 2007-08 point guard rotation of Blake and Jarrett Jack. With Deron Williams also at the position, that's a crowd, and the Nets will surely look to move the final two years of Jack's contract if possible.
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