How the Damian Lillard injury impacts Luka Doncic and the Mavericks

Damian Lillard injury’s impact on Dallas Mavericks: 3. Blazers sell-off?

Will Portland go into tank mode and sell off veterans? Robert Covington, Jusuf Nurkic, and Cody Zeller are in the final season of their contracts and could help contenders. The Trail Blazers will receive plenty of calls between now and the Feb. 10 trade deadline but do they decided to rebuild around Dame?

Portland traded their first-round pick to the Chicago Bulls, but it has a top 14 protection on it. The Balzers could tank their way out of the postseason and add a young lottery pick to play with Damian Lillard next season. Trading away Covington, Nurkic, and Zeller for future assets makes sense as the Blazers shed some salary and look for fresh ways to build around Lillard.

The Dallas Mavericks would have interest in trading for all three of Portland’s players on expiring contracts. Will the Blazers be willing to deal them to a West rival? Covington could improve the Mavs defense and floor spacing, and he figures to have multiple suitors before the deadline.

Dallas needs to take advantage of Portland’s sell-off and grab another rotation piece that will help the Mavericks in the playoffs. Damian Lillard’s injury does not just impact the Mavs on the court, though.