NBA: Denver Nuggets at Boston Celtics

The NBA trade deadline is today at 3 pm and many pieces are expected to fall.  Here’s the first one.  The Portland Trail Blazers have acquired Denver Nuggets guard Arron Afflalo in a five-player trade.

Shay Marie

Along with a future first and second-round draft picks, the Blazers will send forwards Thomas Robinson and Victor Claver and guard Will Barton to the Nuggets, sources said. Portland acquires forward Alonzo Gee in the trade, too.

For the Blazers, Afflalo will become a key part of the team’s rotation as it chases a Western Conference championship.

Afflalo, 29, gives the Blazers the perimeter shooting depth that they’ve been pursuing for the stretch run and a player they could potentially re-sign this summer based upon several variables in free agency. Nevertheless, Afflalo could turn into a rental for the rest of the regular season.

Afflalo has averaged 14.5 points on 42.8 percent shooting for the Nuggets this season.

Yahoo Sports