NBA Hoops

Bradley Beal, Zach LaVine would be awful for Portland Trail Blazers

Bradley Beal, Zach LaVine, Portland Trail Blazers

WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 01: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards handles the ball against Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls at Capital One Arena on January 01, 2022 in Washington, DC, Bradley Beal, Zach LaVine would be awful for Portland Trail Blazers. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)

As the Portland Trail Blazers get ready for the offseason, it’s become clear that they have one goal in mind: Put a championship-caliber team around star point guard Damian Lillard.

Whether or not that can be accomplished in a single summer is uncertain (and unlikely), but with Lillard’s continued loyalty to the city, Portland is determined to put him in the best position possible to succeed.

Recent rumors have suggested that Portland will be interested in a couple of star free agents this summer, with Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer noting two guards as primary targets.

Bradley Beal, Zach LaVine would be awful for Portland Trail Blazers

According to O’Connor, “Bradley Beal and Zach LaVine are potential targets.” He noted their defensive issues, but also stated that both would “undeniably make the Blazers better with their shot-creation.”

There’s just one problem with that line of thinking, though. We’ve already seen that exact team in action. In fact, that was the exact team the Blazers decided wasn’t good enough.

Lillard spent years competing alongside CJ McCollum: A score-first, shot-creating guard who struggles on defense. So Portland’s new plan? Sign another score-first, shot-creating guard that struggles on defense.

Sure, both Beal and LaVine are probably better than McCollum, but the point is that both play the exact same type of game. Why pair Lillard with a co-star that mimics the playstyle of the one that was just traded?

Instead of finding a defensive-minded…

Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Hoops Habit…