Trade Idea Realistic trade options for summer of 2023

I think some of his injury stuff is chronic. While a change of scenery is good, i would be deathly afraid of that financial commitment to a guy who might not be prioritizing hoops.

Still... An interesting thought exercise.

 

Sure, why not

 

Yeah... honestly I don't really want him. Not at that price tag.

 

That's cool, then just skip those first two sentences the rest is about how I don't know if I would want to take on his huge contract because of the risk that we pay that out to a player that can't stay healthy for obvious reasons. Also I don't think given his value when he has been healthy enough to be on the court that the Pelicans should trade him for as little as they would have to trade him for.

If they just asked for Ant and Nas it wouldn't be the easiest of decisions but I would ask for permission to talk to Zion and his agent about demands that we would make as a team, that he is seeing a mental healthcare professional that the team gets to approve, that he will follow team nutritionists guidelines and guidelines from our strength and conditioning people and that he do all of that both during the season and during the off season. I think that might be unrealistic to ask for from Zion and his representation but it's the only way I would even think about it if I was the Blazers FO. You have to give up value in the players sent out to match his contract but then the much bigger risk is the contract itself being 5 years and at least 193M.

 

done deal!

 

Zion is such an incredible player, but is eating himself out of the league. I just don't see his body, with his explosive game style , at his current weight, able to sustain the wear and tear of the game. Unless he goes to a more "ZBo" type of game. I think the Pelicans and their staff should make dunks and explosive moves, off limits, until he gets his nutrition and weight under control. It would be a very high risk, but high reward . I wouldn't send a ton of picks , that's for sure.

 

I remember before the season it had looked like, and it was reported that Zion had slim down and was looking in shape for the season. I had thought the pelicans got him a chef to keep his diet right I don’t know what went wrong? The guy almost look like looks like he’s been eating big Macs and wiener wraps again.

 

Like he did in the "Mt. Don't" commercial.

 

https://www.blazersedge.com/platfor...a-anunoby-towns-butler-adebayo-siakam-lillard

Evaluating 5 Star Trade Targets for the Trail Blazers This Summer

Who fits, who doesn’t, and what is the price tag?


Bam Adebayo—6’9 Center
Age: 25

Stats: 20.4 points, 9.4 rebounds, 54.0% FG in 75 games

Contract: $33-37 million per year through 2026

Ratings:

Fit—8 Cost to Acquire—9, Cost to Keep—7, Probability—2


Pascal Siakam—6’9 Power Forward/Center
Age: 29

Stats: 24.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 48.0% FG, 32.4% 3PT in 71 games

Contract: $38 million through 2024

Ratings:

Fit—10, Cost to Acquire—10, Cost to Keep—10, Probability—3

OG Anunoby—6’7 Small Forward
Age: 25

Stats: 16.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.9 steals, 47.6% FG, 38.7% 3PT in 67 games

Contract: $18.6 million through 2024 (player option in 2024-25 that he won’t take)

Ratings:

Fit—9, Cost to Acquire—8, Cost to Keep—7, Probability—4


Jimmy Butler—6’7 Small Forward
Age: 33

Stats: 22.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 53.9% FG, 35.0% 3PT in 64 games

Contract: $45-52 million through 2026

Ratings:

Fit—8, Cost to Acquire—6, Cost to Keep—10, Probability—7


Karl-Anthony Towns—6’11 Forward/Center
Age: 27

Stats: 20.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 49.5% FG, 36.6% 3PT in 29 games

Contract: $36 million through 2024

Ratings:

Fit—6, Cost to Acquire—7, Cost to Keep—8, Probability—6

 

Assuming that 1) Ant is used an a major piece/salary ballast in acquiring these players, and 2) Grant is kept -> Which lineup is best:

1) Dame, Sharpe, Thybulle, Grant, Bam (with Nurk off the bench)

2) Dame, Sharpe, Grant, Siakam, Nurk

3) Dame, Sharpe, OG, Grant, Nurk

4) Dame, Sharpe, Butler, Grant, Nurk

5) Dame, Sharpe, Grant, KAT, Nurk

Of the 5 possibilities, I personally thing Butler is the best player overall (for the next 2-3 years) and he fits best with the team. Despite his age, Butler is currently a top 10-player in the league (and has been for the last 2 years).

Ideally, we start the season with Dame/Sharpe/Butler/Grant/Nurk and then are able to trade Grant (+ picks) for Siakam when Toronto realizes they will not be able to keep him in FA.

Dame/Sharpe/Butler/Siakam/Nurk is deadly....

 

Obviously that last lineup is juicy. I vote for # 2 It seems, to me, the most realistic, and i don't see the Blazers doing Grant that way to make the 1st lineup a reality. Jimmy Buckets is super, but not sure on him being a top 10 player . But i do love how he ups his game in the Playoffs.

 

Jimmy is expected to make one of the 3 All NBA teams when they're announced, but didn't last year when he only played 54 games. He's a top talent for sure, but he hasn't played in 70 games since 2016-7 and he'll be 34 next season. He's almost done.

STOMP

 

Combining reg season plus playoffs, Dame has played nearly 2000 more minutes in his career than Jimmy.

Butler misses regular season games mostly as a function of load management but he doesn't miss playoff games.

If you think Butler is done, what is Dame?

 

Was thinking the same thing, Butler is the best fit out of that group. What this team needs is a player with fire, attitude, and can help give this group an identity. Sign me up for Butler so long as it doesn’t take Dame or Sharpe.

 

Like... I get it. Thibs put a ton of miles on him but he's a few yrs removed from him where he should be recovered.

 

At his size he would need to eat about 10 big macs per meal. Its unbelievable how big that dude is.

 

We need Bam, not Buckets

 

"Almost done" vs "If you think Butler is done..."

Butler is certainly towards the tail end. Guys just start falling off in their mid 30's with some very rare exceptions.

 

Would anyone actually want Draymond? I know Dame loves him. I was impressed with him during the Olympics. I don't like the guy as a person.

The main issue is that I don't want to have to match his salary. He's making 27.5 million next year. I'm sure Golden State would dump him for next to nothing, but we're also not really on great terms with the Warriors.

 

There is no way Golden State would dump him for next to nothing, LOL.