The Portland Trail Blazers thought they had a dominant core in place centered around Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum.
Yet they have never reached the NBA Finals and that led to Terry Stotts being fired as head coach following last season.
Chauncey Billups took over the job and things have not gotten much better.
Lillard remains out with an injury and the team is riding a five-game losing streak with a 21-33 record.
Change finally arrived Tuesday in the form of a blockbuster trade with the New Orleans Pelicans.
Full trade, per sources:
Blazers: Josh Hart, Tomas Satoransky, Nickeil Walker-Alexander, Didi Louzada, 2022 protected first-round pick, two second-round picks.
Pelicans: CJ McCollum, Larry Nance, Tony Snell.— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 8, 2022
Josh Hart is heading to Portland while McCollum, Larry Nance Jr., and Tony Snell are going to New Orleans as that squad looks to build a core potentially without Zion Williamson.
But the initial focus here is on the end of an era in Portland.
That has the NBA world reacting to the news Tuesday morning.
Honestly, I can't believe we're acting seeing McCollum getting traded. Seems like it's always been rumored. Now, it's happening. https://t.co/cT0tgiX1sS
— Herb Scribner (@HerbScribner) February 8, 2022
NBA World Reacts To The McCollum Trade
McCollum has been in Portland since 2013 and has been a rumored trade piece all year.
The move has finally happened and this could signal more major change coming out west.
The CJ McCollum trade…
New Orleans literally snatching pieces from Portland. C.J. *and* Larry Nance?? And last year’s real MVP Tony Snell too?
Hopefully this gets them to the playoffs finally.
As for Portland? Not as bad as the Norman Powell trade. But man…
— Rocket F.R.I.E.N.D.S (@TrenniesCandle) February 8, 2022
I want to defend this for Portland, but the lack of picks is really bad. https://t.co/EP8rtcJWrS
— Tristan Tucker (@TristanRTucker) February 8, 2022
CJ MCCOLLUM to the pelicans ??? UM DAME WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO CAUUUUUSE????? you don’t need to stay in Portland.
— QUEEN TEE 👑 (@tiaaaaaaa_) February 8, 2022
It is tough to know what Lillard is thinking right now.
The problem is that the Blazers did not get a haul of draft capital in return in this deal.
That begs the question of how exactly the team can build around Lillard starting next season, if he is even around.
Everyone scrambling to put a trade package together for Damian Lillard… pic.twitter.com/8ZFtTtVcn4
— The Evening Fire (@TheEveningFire) February 8, 2022
Damian Lillard just ask for a trade challenge
— the idea man (@spimmmm) February 8, 2022
This is not how fans in Portland expected the season to go.
The team has not even missed the postseason since 2013, so everyone is used to hope about competing for a title.
Trading McCollum away may only signal the first major change for the franchise in a decade.
NEXT: Have The Cavaliers Won The James Harden Trade?