The Portland Trail Blazers have acquired Arron Afflalo in a trade with the Denver Nuggets.

The Nuggets will acquire Will Barton, Victor Claver, Thomas Robinson, a future lottery protected first rounder and a second rounder from the Blazers for Afflalo and Alonzo Gee.

The Blazers will send their own 2016 first rounder (lottery protected). If it's not conveted, it becomes protected for the lottery again in 2017 and then two future second round picks.

The Blazers have been searching for more depth on the wing.

Afflalo can become a free agent in the offseason.

The Denver Nuggets have maintained a high asking price for Wilson Chandler and Arron Afflalo.

The Nuggets received two future first round picks from the Cleveland Cavaliers last month for Timofey Mozgov.

The Nuggets are seeking two first rounders for Chandler and a first and second round pick for Afflalo.

The Portland Trail Blazers have been strongly linked to a trade with the Nuggets.

Jerome Kersey has passed away at the age of 52.

Kersey was the 46th overall pick by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1984 NBA Draft out of Longwood.

Kersey was a key member of two Blazers' teams that reached the Finals.

Tayshaun Prince is unlikely to be traded by the Boston Celtics before the deadline. If a trade is not found, Prince is a likely buyout candidate.

The Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers figure to be strong contenders for Prince, according to sources.

Prince remains capable of providing solid minutes off the bench.

The Golden State Warriors, Atlanta Hawks and Portland Trail Blazers enter the All-Star break as the only three teams in the NBA ranked in the top-10 in both offense and defense.

Fourteen other teams are in the top-10 in either offensive or defensive efficiency.

The Chicago Bulls ranked second in defensive efficiency last season and 28th on offense, but they are currently 9th on offense and just 13th on defense.

Teams that contend for a championship in the NBA typically are in the top-10 in both categories, or are particularly dominant on one end of the floor.

The current top-10 in efficiency differential consists of the Warriors, Hawks, Clippers, Mavericks, Blazers, Grizzlies, Raptors, Spurs, Rockets and Cavaliers.

The old/young distinction is based on the average age of players who play 15 or more minutes per game.

Damian Lillard has replaced Blake Griffin on the Western Conference All-Star team, the NBA announced on Sunday.

Griffin is out indefinitely while Lillard was a notable omission from the All-Star team.

After being left off the NBA's Western Conference All-Star team, Damian Lillard has decided not to defend his reigning two-time championship in the Skills Challenge at All-Star Weekend, a league source told RealGM.

Lillard was far and away the league’s most glaring omission from the All-Star game, being left off the fan, coaches and commissioner voting. In his third NBA season, Lillard has averaged 21.6 points, 6.3 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game.

As a co-star with LaMarcus Aldridge, Lillard has helped lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a consecutive season among the West’s top tier.

During All-Star Weekend last season, Lillard participated in every event: the Rising Stars game, Skills Challenge, Three-Point Shootout, Slam Dunk contest and All-Star Game.

Trey Burke has committed to his invite for the upcoming skills competition after winning together with Lillard a year ago. Dallas Mavericks guard Monta Ellis strongly considered his invitation for the event, but has decided to decline, sources told RealGM.

Lillard was the NBA’s Rookie of the Year in 2013 and a first-time All-Star last season.