We got the #3 pick. Discuss the possibilities.

Lets look into this - First Simons and 3 for Brown.
Then Blazers could give #23 and 2nd to pay off Chicago. Finally send out 4 future firsts for another stud starter. So lets say Embiid becomes available, maybe thats the move. Embiid most certainly would have to give up Sharpe as well.

Dame Brown Grant Embiid

I'll be very sad to lose all 3 of the Simons/Sharpe/#3 - but if thats the resulting contending lineup yes it makes sense. But if we break up that core for some stupid Siakam or OG or Ayton trade I'll be furious.

The issue if its not Embiid is we probably need Nurks salary in there for the trade but then we also need to get a starting center somehow.

The other often discussed rumor is Blazers acquiring Bridges and Claxton. They could likely retain Sharpe in those deals, but yes obvious not the same level of proven allstars.

 

Sadly we don't have enough money to match Embiid and Brown. I was trying to figure it out with Brown and Siakam and Siakam makes less money than Embiid.

 

I am not sure there is even one Batman in this draft. I would argue that even Victor, as good as he could be, is not the type of guy who can take over a game. Regardless of Victor, who else is a clear choice to be the #1 guy on a team?

 

Boston Media is always over valuing their talent. Must be something in the chowda. I like Brown, and he probably could use some fresh air. But the Blazers have to be careful with his contract demands. They still need to add other supporting pieces. I think Mikal Bridges is the Blazers main target. His salary, and the potential to be able to add more pieces is ideal. I'm not worried that the Nets are in the "We're not trading him " mode. They aren't, till they are. Scootmania will be out of control in a month. I can easily see Brooklyn changing their stance. And Russilo is HIGH.

 

Then you & I are watching completely different Aytons.

He is no where near a top 4 center in the league.
He's better than Nurk, but not so much better that he's worth 2x the contract.
Ayton is probably in the top 12-16 range while Nurk is around 20-24.

 

I think if we really want to swing for the fences, the target has to be Embiid. If Harden is really leaving, that team is done. They don't have nearly enough talent around him to continue to win. I'm not in love with throwing everything at Philly, but pairing Embiid with Dame is the only player that would actually give us a legit shot at a ring.

Simons
Nurk
#3

That would give them Scoot or Miller. Simons is a young stud. Maybe we need to give them another pick but that's a pretty good haul for Embiid.

 

yes we do. Per nba trade machine. I made it work, but then swapped out Bridges.

 

I get what you're saying money wise, Ayton, at least so far, is not worth double the money. But i scoured the centers in the League. There aren't more than 15 , real centers with talent , out there. There are many teams that are playing with a PF as a center. Nurk is just outside the top 10. Which ain't great. If he could bring his "Beast Mode" every game, he'd be just outside the top 5. But dealing in reality, he's around 10 to 12. Go look. Real centers, they're aren't many anymore. I put Nurk in the Valanciunas , Myles Turner area. Turner is just as banged up,, and inconsistent.

 

Those two players make almost $80 million together. How are you matching that?

Brown - $32 million next year
Embiid - $47 million next year

Nurk - $17 million
Simons - $24 million
Sharpe - $6.3 million

You're just a little over halfway there. How are you making up the other half?

 

oops. Nm. Only works if including Sharpes 6 mill.

 

Including johnson/little and watford gets us within 4 mill. But you aRe right. I cant get it to work without Sharpes salary.
How about a re-signed and traded knox or reddish for the amount needed?

 

Yup. You're right. We would need to trade literally the entire team except Dame.

 

Id still do it.

Dame/Sharpe/Brown/Grant/Embiid would likely be favorites.
Thybulle, one of reddish or knox, Eubanks and Walker fill out the bench. (With a few holes to fill)

 

No Sharpe is gone in that trade. You need his salary to match.

 

If he can’t guard the perimeter and can’t rebound what good is he?

 

Not if we include a re-signed knox or reddish. Both making a out 6 mill.

Is that possible?

 

Not if we're including the #3 pick.

 

It's fun to look at. But in no way would Philly do that if the #3 pick wasn't included. Getting Embiid could be done. Embiid for Nurk/Simons, and picks works . But not without the #3 and probably, at least 2 more 1st. involved in deal. Which leaves little for a Jaylen Brown Addition to be done.

 

Draft the BPA. That is my hope.

My priorities?

1) Do everything possible to support Lillard.....that does not ruin the future of the franchise. If he wants to go, try to deal him to somewhere he wants to go (other than the Fakers)
2) Do NOT trade Sharpe.
3) Do NOT trade any more future picks
4) If you are going to charge $10 for a hotdog, make it at least filling....ok?

 

well, I'd start by saying that 5 are obviously better than Ayton: Jokic, Embiid, AD, Sabonis, Adebayo

Jaren Jackson is in a little different classification, but he's obviously better too. Myles Turner would be in that classification but for injuries

Even though together and by salary they've been downgraded, KAT & Gobert are both better, IMO

then you have a group of C's/bigs that arguably have more value and/or are better because of either age, impact, or contract:

Jarrett Allen
Evan Mobley
Wendall Carter Jr
Valanciunas
Nic Claxton
Jakob Poeltl
Walter Kessler
Ivica Zubac
Bobby Portis
Brooke Lopez

Ayton at 20M/year would rank toward the top of that list; Ayton at 34M/year ranks toward the bottom