Cleveland trades Thompson, #1 and #19 for Aldridge. I know it delays things, but I don't see a path forward during the Aldridge era. You would end up with Thompson, Noel and someone decent at 19 and drop a bunch of salary. http://www.blazersedge.com/2013/5/26/4368696/bill-simmons-zach-lowe-brian-windhorst-discuss-blazers-possibly
A 6'8" PF who can't shoot FTs and a #1 and #19 in a weak draft for a legitmate 6'11" All Star PF. LOL
Selling high on Aldridge is the right thing to do since he's going to walk after his contract is over.
I would not do it either, but it's not Noel that we are talking about if we did that trade. IMO it's Mclemore or Oladipo plus Thompson plus 19. So a SG , a PF and #19 (Plus we keep #10 and gain salary cap) I am a huge LMA fan, but if Thompson was a little better I would do it. Watching the McLemore videos gets me wishing we could get him. I knew he was a good shooter, but damn he is also has impressive hops.
So we end up with a shitload of young guys, from this draft at least 1, 10, 19 and a load of seconds. That goes with Lillard, Leonard, Barton and Claver Only vets are really Batum, Wes and Thompson. So, likely suck next year and are in the running with a great draft class. But, at some point you actually have to try and win
I actually didn't think it was that bad of a deal for the Blazers. Obviously, ya'll know the team in and out, and by comparison, I'm talking out of my ass when it comes to the Blazers, but just in terms of the philosophy of building a an NBA team, I'd welcome the idea of having a #1 pick playing alongside Lillard and several other developing prospects. Yeah, it's a weak draft class, but if it were a stronger draft class, there's no way they would offer something like that. You're not high on Noel? Fine... take McLemore, Oladipo, or Porter... whoever floats your boat. At the end of the day, you'd at least have a vision. I'm not really sure what the current vision of the Blazers is with this roster. They're talented, but the worst thing that could ever happen to an NBA team is to wallow in mediocrity. It's really more of an all-or-nothing league than most major US sports, in that to build a contender you really have to go all out in a certain direction.
Who is 22 years old and is already a better rebounder than Aldridge... I guess the real question is. Is Aldridge better than: Thompson, Oladipo/McLemore, Dieng/Withey/Lucas Nogueira. Take Zeller @ 10 (if he dropped that far) could be real interesting. Lillard Oladipo/Mclemore/Wes Batum/Claver Thompson/Zeller Meyers/Dieng
Noel at #1 Package the #10, the #19, and maybe Wes to move up and grab Oladipo. Maybe Phoenix would bite on 10, 19, and Wes for Gortat and #5. And then turn around and use our cap space on Josh Smith. Lillard/Maynor Oladipo/Barton Batum/Claver Smith/Thompson/Freeland Gortat/Noel/Leonard That's a crazy athletic defensive team.
Does the current roster have the potential to compete for a title? I'm just saying, it's a "go big or go home" league. Minor acquisitions and smart draft picks can only get you so far. It's a "down" year for the draft, but like I said earlier, if it weren't, that trade scenario wouldn't even be possible. And let's not undersell Tristan Thompson's potential...
If you draft Noel, sign Smith to replace Aldridge, and try to trade up for Oladipo... I don't think that's a bad roster at all.
An alternative (but similar plan) might be to let them keep Thompson and take #1, #19, #31 and #33 and SAC's 2014 protected 1st for LMA, 40, and 45. Trade #31 and #33 to DAL for #13, giving them two great picks at 2nd rounders who don't go on their salary cap until they're signed. I wouldn't mind keeping them myself, but I'd rather have #13. #1, #10, #13, #19, #39. Oladipo (or McLemore, if he's a better fit). Olynyk or Zeller or Len. Adams or Dieng. Project (Saric/Adetokunbo) or a slipper. Muscala or Wolters. Lillard/(Oladipo or McLemore)/Batum/(Olynyk or Zeller)/Leonard with Wes, Claver, Papanikolou, Freeland, Muscala or Wolters and the slipper on the bench and a future trade chip. And about 21-ish million in cap space. Conversely, maybe you can trade one of 10/13/19 for a future unprotected first.
No, but it's not like the roster is set in stone. The Blazers have two really good pieces on par with a lot of the top teams (Aldridge and Lillard). Aldridge is in the discussion as best PF in the NBA, and Lillard is going to be a top PG in this league. That's a hell of a nice start. If Batum could ever step his shit up he'd be another great piece. I'm hoping for an Aldridge-esque rise from him, because right now he hasn't lived up to his potential at all. The Blazers had an above average starting 5. If the Blazers have any semblance of a bench they probably make the playoffs. Trading stars for supposed potential almost never works out. If the Blazers trade Aldridge it's doubtful they replace his talent. Trading a star for 2-3 good pieces is like rotating 2 QB's in football. 2 usually = 0. In the NBA's case. 2-3 good players don't replace 1 star. A solid big that's a role player. He's no star. He won't sniff Aldridge's career.
Would you rather have the "supposed potential" that UTH got for Deron and DEN got for Melo, or the "supposed potential" that TOR got for Bosh and CLE got for LBJ?
I'm sort of with you on seeing where Lillard can take this roster, but in terms of trading, there's probably wouldn't better offer than that waiting for Aldridge. "In the discussion as the best PF," isn't exactly going to translate to viable players, unless there's something wrong with them injury, character, or contract wise. Maybe if you had the "undisputed best PF in the game," it'd be a different story, but realistically, Aldridge is a guy that's "one of the better PF's... not the best, but he's in the mix with a lot guys, if you overlook his flaws." I know the Blazers came very close to the playoffs this year, but like I said earlier, the last thing you want is to be wallowing in mediocrity. Some shit needs to be shaken up, and it's easy to say, "we can get better for LMA," but realistically, I doubt you'd get better than Thompson and the #1/19. That's a pretty heavy offer, and it'd give your team a definite direction to build in.
Exactly. I seriously wouldn't be surprised to see Aldridge in a Mavericks uniform at the start of the 2015 season, and honestly I think Josh Smith/Nerlens Noel/Oladipo would be better than Aldridge/whoever we get at 10.
Even if Noël is injured half the time, we'll receive a more focused, effective group than tbe player we give. Aldridge is taking us nowhere, whether he becomes our #1, #2, or #3 option.
What people who are so against this forget...I think, is it's not as simple as Aldridge for Thompson #1 and #19. It's Aldridge for Thompson, #1, #19 and somewhere around $5 million more in cap room after the pick cap holds. if the cap goes to $60 million like most predict, that would give Portland around $20 million or so in cap room as well. Thompson is a nice young player, but if you don't believe that, you could pretty easily trade him. Hypothetically speaking of course, if you were to trade Thompson and #10 to move up to 4 or 5, you could have a team going forward of Lillard McLemore Batum Milsap Realistic center of you choice Plus the 10th, 19th pick, Thompson, Matthews, Leonard as pretty decent trade chips, or great depth That team is probably a lot better long term than one with Aldridge instead
