NBA Rumors: Myles Turner Has Another Suitor In Western Conference

There are a number of strong suitors that have been identified in the Myles Turner trade sweepstakes, time now to add another Western Conference team to the mix. According to ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst, "One of the teams that I have been told is interested is Portland."

These are tough times for the Portland Trail Blazers, with Damian Lillard undergoing surgery yesterday which might keep him out for the remainder of the season, while his backcourt mate CJ McCollum is still out with a collapsed lung. They are currently NINE games below .500.

Some observers feel it's just about time to punt on the season. 

"If I was Portland," added Tim Bontemps on The Hoop Collective podcast, "I'd be on the phone today about (Jusuf) Nurkic, about (Robert) Covington, explore what I could get for CJ, what I could get for Larry Nance."

NBA insider Keith Smith agrees.

I don't think Damian Lillard being out changes anything for him being traded. But I do think it opens the Blazers up to do moves they might not have otherwise. Nurkic and Covington for sure, since they are on expiring deals., Maybe Powell. Maybe McCollum.

Reset w/ a high pick.

— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) January 12, 2022

Smith feels the Lillard injury "opens the Blazers up to do moves they might not have otherwise. Nurkic and Covington for sure, since they are on expiring deals, Maybe Powell. Maybe McCollum."

Turner, at just 25 years old, would be a nice piece to move forward with. Windhorst suggests that CJ McCollum would be a viable asset the Blazers could offer in a deal in return for Turner. Having both Nurkic and Turner would be a bit redundant in the middle, so it's possible that a trade of Nurkic would be part of any plan to bring in Turner. 

"It's going to be a very important time (for the Blazers)" over the next month, adds Windhorst. 

Photo Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports