Predict our mid-season acquisition

he should be our starting PF

 

Anfernee isnt our sole backup PG. CJ is the backup PG, hes the third stringer. Any Pg we got would be unlikely to play regular minutes so itd make no sense to trade a rotation piece and downgrade our roster simply because we need our 3rd stringer who doesnt play to become a 4th stringer.

If we really need an additional PG, we'd likely just pick one up off the buyout market instead of trading a rotation piece for one.

 

CJ is the weak link? Nah.

 

How has he improved his shooting?

 

Just like they wouldnt finish last season, and just like the NFL wouldnt be able to finish, and just like MLB wouldnt be able to finish, and...

 

or at least on our bench to be able to throw another body at guys like AD/Jokic when Nurk gets in foul trouble. The impending implosion in Houston should get Tucker out, and he'll be a hot commodity among playoff teams.

I think he's a no-brainer target, but he makes 8 mil a yr. Unless we want to trade our young guys, we don't really have anyone to be able to trade away outside of guys we just signed this Fall.

 

The first chance would be trading for a star, I find it very unlikely all of 1 one is available, 2 PDX has the assets 3 Neil decides to do such a move mid season

Moving on from a star acquisition its hard to say because I think then we only make an acquisition if someone is underperforming or injured.

I'd say the most likely to be underperforming or injured likely in this order are;

Hood
Collins
Melo
DJJ
Nurk

If we lose two bigs we probably target a big. If we lose two wings we probably target a wing. If we lose one of DameCJ we probably target a PG.

Its very unlikely we acquire any single player. If I had to pick one I'd probably say Aldridge after a buyout. Thats assuming one or more of Collins/Nurk/Kanter/Giles are either injured or underperforming which I hope is not the case but certainly seems plausible.

 

I'll pass on PJ Tucker; he'll be 36 when the playoffs start while having a single digit PER the last 3 seasons. I don't think AD/Jokic are going to be limited by him on the court. I'd rather just focus on our own bigs we have. At least minimum salary guys such as Giles have the height to possibly match up.

Maybe if we had multiple injuries with bigs after the trade deadline and Tucker is bought out we could sign him in an emergency. But I'm not giving up an asset or targeting him with anything but a vet minimum contract.

 

Gordon defense is great. He has some playmaking that could fill a Draymond Green type role with talented sharpshooting backcourt. Maybe he would play much better with talented teammates as the 3rd/4th option than the 1st/2nd option. Still young enough to have room to improve.

I'm not guaranteeing it would work, just that there is upside to acquiring him unlike guys over 30.

 

Blake Griffin yes likely cant be traded for due to his contract.

I'm not sure his deal is expiring. If it is and he gets bought out he does have Olshey history.

I don't see a role for him unless Melo leaves the team or there are multiple injuries.

 

we're talking about this coming "mid-season"...right?

with the Blazers being 500K? below the tax line, any mid-season addition would actually have to be quite a bit later than mid-season to stay under the line. A partial salary for a low-level player. Likely a scrub.

 

This a joke? In the second half of a playoff game, i'm not playing Harry freaking Giles a single minute. PJ Tucker, I can very comfortably give 10-15 minutes to and not even worry about our opponent targeting him. He's a ridiculously good defender at multiple positions and is a corner 3 threat (shot close to 40% from the corners during his time in Houston on high volume). Single digit PER be damned. come on now

 

Kevin Love.

 

In key minutes of a second half playoff game we should have one of DJJ, RoCo, Nurk, Kanter, Collins to play against Anthony Davis/Jokic. The problem is Tucker gives up enough production in other areas his lack of being a "target of the offense" still doesn't provide net value to the team. Would he be better than Wenyen Gabriel, yes, but not these other options.

You make it sound like PJ was the key to Houston shutting down the Lakers. There was talk of benching PJ Tucker back in the playoff series since they got rolled and now he will be 36.

Giles is an upside player, first for minutes in the regular season. Giles has had much more success in his career than Trent did prior to last season. Giles averaged 17/10/3 per36 with good % on 16PER. Giles main issue is health, not effectiveness (think early Oden). Could Giles go from minutes off the bench in the regular season to a few off the bench in the playoffs such as Gary Trent last season? Sure. Could he not? Sure.

The point is the Blazers have multiple options here and all of them are superior to giving up assets for a 36 year old semi ineffective player who won't be "targeted"

 

Agreed, there isn't a deal to be made now. If something changes in PDX or ORL during the season, and the Blazers want to mortgage more future draft equity perhaps it becomes possible.

 

The Blazers could trade CJ2 away with cash to another teams trade exception. That allows them to make a buyout signing before your "later than mid-season".

Or that type of transaction could give them room to possibly dip into the BAE if needed to outbid other teams to sign someone.

Replace the CJ2 trade with someone else on the roster if they have an injury for the season, ineffective, etc.

 

yeah, I know...that's why I said it would need to be a subtraction before an addition

 

I would love to somehow get Marcus Smart. Is that possible? I love CJ, but frankly, if it were possible I'd trade them straight up in terms of pure effectiveness on our team. Plus I love all-out hustlers like Marcus Smart. Can you imagine our D? Channing Frye had a trade of CJ + other for Smart & Jaylen Browne. LOLLLLLLLLL are you kidding me!??? "If you want CJ McCollum and somebody, you'd have to give me Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart… That's what I see CJ's value as," Frye said.
Okee Doakee.