We got the #3 pick. Discuss the possibilities.

Not so sure the way some are talking about Scoot. The big roadblock to me is the Hornets. Maybe they swoop in and get Bridges to add to LaMelo . I'm fingers crossed Miller is their guy. But i just see Brooklyn wanting a flashy youngster to get their fanbase excited after the Mercenary Boys debacle.

 

His UFA/RFA would have been set in the extension he signed so the new CBA won't impact that. I'm not certain what it is, I saw it here on spotrac and they are usually pretty accurate although they are not perfect;

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/yearly/cap/

 

Then the Blazers choice is simple; keep #3 take BPA and keep Ant.

Evaluate any Ant/Dame/etc trades after the draft.

The problem with giving up Ant, #3, and other assets for Bridges is there is no realistic way for the Blazers to contend with Dame in the next few years. So you've thrown away the future for another few turns on the wheel of mediocrity we've had for two decades.

Keeping the pick doesn't guarantee the Blazers contend either, in fact odds are likely they won't contend regardless of these choices. But hitting on the #3 pick, regardless if they keep or trade Dame, gives them a chance to maybe contend. Guaranteed mediocrity removes that chance.

 

The compromise might be that we get back Finney-Smith in the deal with Bridges.

Scoot and Simons is a lot of value for Bridges, who has yet to become an all-star.

 

Watford has a team option next season. If it is declined, he becomes a RFA. If he plays out the '24-'25 season on his current contract, he becomes an UFA.
https://www.spotrac.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/trendon-watford-74232/

 

so then, I Blazers want to keep Watford long term they could work out a future contract, decline the current one, and keep him long-term, likely at a bargain, without him ever truly being a free agent...?

 

I read somewhere that Schmidt is rumored to have said we're not trading the #3 pick.

 

Yeah its an odd situation. On the other hand, if the Blazers are up against the luxury tax in 2024-25 and trying to win that season it might make more sense to pocket the extra year of him on a cheap contract and just accept the additional risk he leaves in summer 2025.

 

I came to terms with this road when the Clippers trade happened. Thats why I was so furious of the moves at the time, it basically spelled the end of Dame contending in Portland window as I saw it. Pissed the hell out of me so many celebrated the end of the Dame window only because they saw it as an F U to Olshey's roster.

The team has actually recovered much better than I expected since then, as Sharpe and the #3 pick are crazy valuable assets. Those are the two most valuable asset of the franchise IMO. So I'm delighted we got those, and it gives us a real chance to have something in the decade ahead.

But the team just doesn't have the pieces to build a contender now with Dame, even cashing in one or both of those. I'd love for Cronin to prove me wrong, but to do so he's got to complete some crazy trades such as Bridges Claxton for Nurk and #3. Or picking up Siakam without giving up either Sharpe/#3.

We can't just pull off trades this summer for equal value or a loss in talent as the franchise has done, and contend now with Dame.

 

I would love this if true.

Only way I can see it is if they just have Scoot/Miller ranked super high on their board. Maybe they plan was to trade the 5-8 pick for a win now vet, but with the superstar potential they now have at #3 they are keeping it.

 

So you think Scoot & Miller are better than Mikal Bridges.

 

It came from some of the info from being on with Zach Lowe. Pretty easy to guess where JV would be getting his source.

 

while nice to get extra pieces but Miller or Scoot have all star potential

I think it would make sense to put it out there that we aren’t trading the pick. Drives up value knowing it wil take something special for Blazers trade pick.

 

Exactly my reaction. They put out that there were open to trading the pick and then were underwhelmed at the offers they were getting. So Schmitz tells is boy JV they are thinking they will keep the pick, trying to drive the price up. Good! If we are giving up the #3, I want a no-brainer move that doesn't gut the team both now and in the future.

 

https://fanspo.com/nba/trade-machine

Orlando - #3/Nas Little

Portland - Franz Wagner/Siakam

Toronto - Ant/Nurk/#6


Dame
Sharpe
Wagner
Siakam
Lively (with the 23rd pick?)


Edit: Link doesn’t work but it was accepted.

 

Who is JV?

 

I definitely think that's what Schmitz would prefer.

 

I believe this is a play to drive up the pick's value. If teams know we are trading the pick, they will lowball us.