Picking apart an atrocious mock trade between Rockets and Blazers

What the trade looks like

The latest proof of why the trade machine should be banned comes by way of the one of my Fansided counterparts, who essentially suggested a Cam Whitmore for Jerami Grant swap.

The original suggestion of Whitmore to Portland came from Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley.

“The Blazers should be on the hunt for undervalued youth. Do the Rockets already think they're too competitive to expose themselves to Whitmore's growing pains? If Houston has any interest in one of Portland's veterans, the Blazers should try to get Whitmore in that deal.”

Rip City Project’s Andrew Hanlon drew up the actual trade between the Blazers and Rockets.

“The Rockets held interest in Jerami Grant before he re-upped with Portland last summer, and if they're still in the running for a postseason place when he's eligible to be traded on Jan. 15, would be a logical landing spot for the veteran forward. Getting Whitmore - a rookie with superstar upside - may be the most valuable piece Cronin can grab in a Grant trade.

A package built around Whitmore and the expiring contracts of Victor Oladipo and Jeff Green could be the framework of a deal that makes sense for both sides.”

Why the Blazers do the deal

This trade weighs heavily in favor of the Blazers. They’re a rebuilding team that finds themselves in a similar situation that the Rockets were just in.

Portland has a fairly blank slate, outside of Anfernee Simons and their two lottery picks Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson, who have yet to play in meaningful games. Their primary focus should be on adding young talent and seeing what sticks and which players will be worth hanging on to when they’re contenders again.

Furthermore, they’d love to offload Jerami Grant’s newly-minted $160 million salary, especially for the expiring salaries of Jeff Green, Victor Oladipo, and Jock Landale. Let’s recap: getting rid of an overpaid player while getting back $25.5 million in short-term salary and a top-ten lottery talent in Whitmore, who is still only 19-years-old.

Yeah, I’m sure they’d love that.

The Rockets, on the other hand….