With the first round of the NBA playoffs nearly over, some teams are about to see their season come to an end.
As the draft is coming right around the quarter, some playoff teams need to look ahead and do what they can to trade into the lottery.
This is not always the easiest thing to do as they cannot give up too much and miss the playoffs next season.
However, with the current state of the roster of some playoff teams, it is essential that they trade into the lottery to find the next young star and become real contenders.
3. Portland Trail Blazers
The Blazers are one of the most consistent playoff teams in the league.
Headed by Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, the Blazers are a good team, however, they are not yet great.
This is something that could be solved by trading into the lottery.
As a result of the lack of supporting cast on the Blazers, they have not been able to make as deep of runs in the playoffs as they would hope.
@Dame_Lillard in the locker room right now at all the @trailblazers supporting cast for blowing this game @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/aG0Zpqmoek
— Chokelahoma (@chok3lahomadna) May 14, 2021
With Lillard likely reaching the end of his peak in the next few years, it may be time for the Blazers to make a run for the lottery in hopes of creating the supporting cast that he deserves.
2. New York Knicks
The Knicks shocked many NBA fans by making the playoffs this season.
They have an incredibly young roster and for them to be the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference is very promising for the team.
With them having this much success with one of the younger rosters in the league, trading into the lottery could make them one of the franchises of the future.
Along with this, it would give them a plethora of talent still on rookie deals.
Pairing this with a rising star in Julius Randle on the roster, it could finally make the Knicks an attractive destination for free agents.
With players like Kawhi Leonard being a potential free agent this summer, the Knicks could be in contention to sign the superstar.
However, they would have to get rid of some of the bigger contracts on the roster to make room for Kawhi.
One of the best ways to do this would be to dump some salaries onto other teams for draft picks in return.
Adding another young and talented player along with having more cap space in free agency could transform the Knicks into real contenders for years to come.
However, if they do not get Leonard, trading big salaries for a lottery pick would be the best path to success for the Knicks.
Knicks fans when they see that Kawhi Leonard has a player option after this year #readytogethurtagain pic.twitter.com/nd4MICYW0a
— Kenny Glasheen (@k_glash) May 26, 2021
1. Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies are a team that in a normal year would have been a lottery team.
However, after a successful run in the play-in tournament, they made the cut for the playoffs.
It is clear that with Ja Morant at the helm, the Grizzlies will be a great team for years to come.
Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. have the potential to be an elite duo of the future if they are both able to stay healthy.
Bringing more youth to the Grizzlies could be a great thing for the team.
The Grizzlies play with the 8th fastest pace in the league.
A major factor of this is Morant being one of the fastest players in the entire NBA.
If they are able to land a lottery level player on their roster, a new big three of the future could be established in Memphis.
NEXT: 3 Positives For Cleveland Cavaliers During 2021 NBA Season