I admit I'm really excited by the Larry Nance acquisition. His strengths are all where our weaknesses were, so that he's the kind of addition that really helps a team click. But we're obviously not making the leap to true contender status with just him. So nominate one more player (ideally a role player on another team, because we KNOW Kawhi or LeBron or Durant would help) who you think would also shore up weaknesses and bring out strengths in the players we already have. My nomination is Kyle Slo-Mo Anderson. Why? Well, he's a surprisingly great defender despite appearing to be playing underwater, he's got size, he's versatile, and he's got point guard skills. He's a backup PG and a guy who can cover the 4 in a pinch in one. And his BBIQ is off the charts. Put him in the bench unit with Simons and Simons doesn't have to pretend to be a point, he can just play to his scoring strengths. A bench unit of Simons, Slo-Mo, Nance, Zeller and pick-your-wing would be better than most other benches, something that hasn't been true of Blazer benches in a LONG time. But without him, our bench has a glaring lack of somebody with the skills to run an offense. Plus, while Memphis values him, they also have way more guaranteed contracts than they can keep right now. (Sadly, of course, having just moved our one tradeable contract, we have no way of acquiring him.)
A CJ for Brooks/Anderson deal has been proposed by more than one entity. I think it would make a lot of sense.
Not bad, but i think adding Kevin Love, after eventual buyout, to fill that Melo role is the move. Don't have to touch key assets by signing Love. Then if Ant & Nassir step their games up, Bingo! Sure everyone is googoo on the Lakers, but where is the team chemistry? And as much as we worry about our team health, the Lakers are in a precarious situation with theirs. LeBron is staring Father Time in the face, and Mr. Glass (AD) is well......
I dunno: I've thought about trading CJ to Memphis (they have a ton of players I like) but can you really see them going with a Ja/CJ backcourt? Plus CJ is a bit old for their core.
The Melo role is "old guy who sucks at D and drives us all nuts." I'm happy having that role left empty, thanks.
If the goal is to elevate us to a contender, we need another all star caliber player. Whether that’s Simmons or Siakam or another player of that caliber.
Missing piece for what? I don't think there's any singular ancillary (non superstar) piece that qualifies as a "missing piece" to elevate us to title contention.
Both Kyle and Larry were at the top of my list. Kyle for the reasons you listed. It will be interesting to see if he gets moved. I think Memphis would be foolish to do so, especially to someone they could face in the playoffs. If their goal is to dump a contract then I am guessing they don't really want players in return.
Love can play defense in key situations. He did vs. the Warriors when they won the title. But he still can shoot, and that would be nice in that improved second unit. Zeller,Nance, Ant, Nassir, & Love is pretty spiffy.
He’s not the same player. That was years ago before he was injured over and over. Did you watch him on the Olympic team?
Dunno--but if they were interested in him, CJ for Brooks/Slo-Mo/Juancho (after 10/16) works perfectly for us.
Yeah. Maybe could dump players on someone like OKC in a three team trade, but they would demand YET MORE first round picks, and I would like a draft pick SOME time in the next ten years. Maybe they like Little enough to go for this? But then we'd have to give at least one pick to the Grizz...
So, fanspo isn't really caring about matching salaries. We're over the cap and that brings back over 400% of Nas' salary so it won't work.
we have two end of the bench roster spots and very little money...I don't think anyone we sign at this point is a "missing piece" but I'd sign Ed Davis and feel better about foul trouble or injury in our frontcourt...leave one spot open for the mid season trade deadline
