First of all, DON'T GET MAD. I'm not suggesting we SHOULD. I like what we've got. Jerami has won me over and, while I don't think a Dame/Ant backcourt is optimal, I like everyone on our team so much that I'm not looking to trade. (Of course, all of this will change the minute we go on a three-game slide, but...) HOWEVER: that's clearly a pretty solid package, and, because of Shaedon and Jabari, also a trade I think we can survive pretty well. (Also: there kind of is incentive to trade Grant because his contract is expiring and he's likely to demand a huge pay raise.) Both players are attractive to other teams (unlike, say, Nurk - just not the era to get big returns on a lumbering center) on decent contracts. So... what other team's offer would be enough for you to pull the trigger?
The obvious suggestion. But I don't want to get that old, I don't like Durant, and I'm pretty certain the Nets wouldn't do it without a ton of picks.
By moving Grant, and not having any obvious replacements, the target would almost have to be a PF. Going team by team, and trying to keep it somewhat realistic, I just don't see many options out there. I don't think Towns can play the 4 effectively, so that's not a great fit. The only spot I can see is something around like, Siakim and a lesser piece. But I don't love it.
And I really don't think Davis can be effective full time at the 4 either. Which is probably fine, you maybe give him 10 minutes there, and 24 at C, with Nurk only playing about half the game maybe?
karl towns is an absolute DREAM fit in portland next to dame's leadership. but fitting him in with Nurk would be tricky. If we could move Nurk for a dynamic defensive forward, I'd be all in.
I found out that KAT apparently signed an extension where he’ll be making $50+m a year, which is just baffling. So I may be off that train completely now. Short of guys like Tatum/Siakam/Giannis, I’d rather just keep Ant and Grant for the time being.
fuck the KAT to Portland idea...it's ludicrous. WM posted the numbers in another thread but KAT's extension is just insane: it is a 4-year/224M extension....for a C...who has led his team to 3 playoff wins in 7 seasons
he is the best offensive bigman in the league and until Covid was the absolute definition of ironman. he's also just 26 yrs old and has no idea how to win sustainably. dude is begging to be led by an empowering leader like Dame. And we need to train ourselves not to be shocked at the $ amounts that we will see in the next year or so. 55-60 mil contracts are going to become the norm. And he's paid commensurately for his production.
Huh. You know, that's actually a deal that makes all three teams better. It'd never happen as it's all the Western Conference among teams who want to make the playoffs. But it ain't bad. Minnesota can probably get a lot more for Towns, though...
Yeah that extension really is disgusting, holy— Fat exension for KAT and trading the biggest haul I’ve seen for a C that I can’t even call a superstar. They’re really about to go nowhere quick.
I'm not sure I'd give up Ant and Grant for Durant. That's a lot of rolling the dice on one guy who doesn't have many years left. I don't care about the picks. If there was a way to get Durant without giving up Ant and perhaps Grant, ie a combo of Josh Hart, Nassir Little, Nurk and picks then sure. I don't think Brooklyn is going to get a star back for Durant. Anyone trading for him is going to try to win w/ him so they need to keep their topline talent. Portland shouldn't be the exception.
Agreed on all counts. And there's no way the Blazers--after starting 8-3, primarily thanks to depth and balance--trade out 80% of their starting lineup. But still, it was interesting to look at laid out like that, and to think about what the resulting Dame/Sharpe/Winslow/Davis/KAT lineup would be able to do. Plus, I was just amused at how close the salary combos were!
There's a musical chairs that's just bound to happen between AD, Westbrook, Towns, Durant, Simmons and Kyrie (if he's still in the league). So much underperformance and so many big contracts. Can't remember the last time there were so many big names who clearly need to be moved this early in the year. Kind of interesting that none of these guys are between 6'4 and 6'9.