Report: Mason Plumlee traded to Portland Trailblazers
Mason Plumlee has been traded by the Brooklyn Nets to the Portland Trailblazers, according to reports from James Hebert of CBS Sports. Duke’s Plumlee had an up and down tenure for the Nets, which included a stint on the United States National Team for the World Championships last year.
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The trade incudes the Nets sending Plumlee and second round draft pick Pat Connaughton to the Blazers for first round pick Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and backup point guard Steve Blake.
The Blazers are clearly looking at life without star forward LaMarcus Aldridge. This is the second deal they made around the draft in order to remake their roster. The first trade was sending Nicolas Batum to Charlotte for Gerald Henderson and Noah Vonleh. Vonleh might have been a long term solution for losing Aldridge, but Plumlee will be more short term. The Blazers might also lose Robin Lopez, which would make them even weaker on the front line. Connaughton is a nice bonus, a cheap undervalued weapon.
The Nets are also trying to remake their roster. They have no departing free agents of big money, so they are trying to ship out contracts through trade. It could be quite possible that other moves are forthcoming for the Nets.
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For Plumlee, the move to Portland should be embraced as an opportunity. He is going to receive minutes either at the power forward or center positions. He should benefit as a pick and roll partner for Damian Lillard. The move West will mean that Plumlee will be facing a step up in competition as Tim Duncan, Anthony Davis, and Demarcus Cousins become more prevalent on the schedule.
Plumlee being traded continues a busy week for Duke alumni in basketball. Danny Ferry stepped away from the Atlanta Hawks. Henderson and Plumlee were traded. Jahlil Okafor and Justise Winslow were drafted in the first round. So was Tyus Jones, who was then traded to Minnesota.