To preface, this could only work if the Pelicans believe Cousins won't stay, and the Sixers decide they want to compete sooner rather than later, both of which are things that could logically happen.

Blazers send away-

McCollum

Nurkic

Davis

Vonleh

2018 Unprotected 1st

2018 Second

Blazers receive-

JJ Redick

Demarcus Cousins

Rights to Jonah Bolden

2018 Lakers Pick Protected 2-5 (Becomes more favorable of Kings/Sixers if not conveyed)

Sixers send-

Rights to Jonah Bolden

JJ Redick

Dario Saric

2018 Lakers Pick

SixersReceive-

CJ McCollum

Tony Allen

Pelicanstrade-

Demarcus Cousins

Tony Allen

Pelicansreceive-

Nurkic

Vonleh

Davis

Saric

2018 1st Blazers Unprotected

2018 2nd Blazers

This is obviously a drastic change, but I think it's one we can use. As currently constructed, this team is not a contender. That's a fact. This would be a risky move, but I think it's worth a shot. Cousins would give us a true dominant big, something that none of the current great teams have. He's a good enough shooter to help our spacing, and gives us a real scoring threat down low. JJ Redick gives us a great off ball shooter, not near as good of a player as CJ is overall but would be an awesome fit. Bolden is a prospect I really like at the 3/small ball 4, I think he could be a really versatile player in the right situation. He's currently overseas but can be brought over next season. The Lakers Pick is the big deal here. It could potentially be number 1, which would be a game changer for us. If it doesn't convey this season, that Kings Pick could also be very nice next season.

The risk here is that both of the guys we are acquiring are on one year deals, and should the team not be cohesive, they might leave for greener pastures. That would leave us pretty decimated, but I think that we would be better off that way. It would get us out of cap hell, and we could rebuild around Lakers Pick/ Dame and do our best to work back into contention.

I think this is the best solution for us. Our team has limited talent outside of Dame and CJ, and it just seems like we don't mesh well. I think this makes us fit much better, here would be our rotations-

Starters-

PG- Dame- Primary Creator. We could run a nasty pick n roll/pop with him and Cousins. His role stays the same as now, just with better fitting pieces around him.

SG - JJ Redick这个人是我们想要的一切len Crabbe to be. Fantastic shooter with no hesitation or fear, and not a terrible defender. There is a definite drop off from CJ, but I think Redick will be a great fit for the new team concept.

SF- Evan Turner- finally can have the role that he needs as a secondary distributor. He is an awful player off-ball, but when given playmaking responsibility, he can thrive. Won't ever live up to his contract, but he can play good D, create for others, and score a bit if his ball-handling role would be increased. He would get more opportunities with CJ gone, and would fit great next to Redick at the 2.

PF- Aminu- Definitely hot and cold, but hitting 3s at 44% at time of posting. Probably our most versatile defender right now, and is a great fit next to Cousins as a stretch 4.

C- Cousins- I think Cousins can tie the team together. The offense gains a whole new dimension, he can open up the outside by feasting in the paint, or he can open up the paint by drawing his matchup to the perimeter.

Layman, Swanigan, and Collins all see a slight uptick in minutes as the backup big rotation is thinned out a bit. Ideally, Collins could be groomed to be the starting 4 next to Cousins at some point, giving us size and rim protection while maintaining our spacing.

Shabazz takes on a much larger role, and we always have two of Dame, Shabazz and ET on the court to be creators.

Obviously a huge risk, but I am of the section of the fan base that would rather take risks working towards being special at some point than be a borderline 5 seed for the rest of forever. I understand not everyone feels this way, but I'd love to hear some analysis of this trade idea. Let me have it guys