We got the #3 pick. Discuss the possibilities.

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by Strenuus, May 16, 2023.

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What are you hoping for with this pick?

  1. Draft Scoot and keep him

    27.6%
  2. Draft Miller and keep him

    28.6%
  3. Draft someone else at 3 and keep him (please specify)

    3.1%
  4. Trade down, but still draft in the lottery

    10.2%
  5. Trade the pick for a starting forward

    30.6%
  1. B-Roy

    B-Roy If it takes months

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    I just think the most likely scenario is that no deal is made for Bridges or Brown because both teams ask for more. I think gun to their head, the Blazers would do Ant/3 for either, but wouldn't be happy with it. I don't think Brooklyn/Boston do it even with a gun to their head unless they can find a 3rd team that can take Simons and return something that Boston/Brooklyn would actually want. I don't Portland would even entertain any other players (besides obvious guys like Embiid who won't be available).

    Would Dame stay? I think he still wants to, but I don't think he likes having his word tested years and years in a row. Last off season they failed to get something done. This trade deadline they failed again. Everything was set up for this summer and if they fail AGAIN, I just think there is an actual chance he finally asks out. I've heard rumblings from just about every Portland media member plugged in to the FO that there is a team that is a Dame destination if it actually happens. Likelihood not high, but if Marang/Highkin/Richman/@hoopsjock all allude to a team being out there then I think it's at least a possibility. Or a higher possibility than it's ever been in the past.
     
  2. KingSpeed

    KingSpeed Veteran

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    We keep talking KAT but I wonder if a team like Minnesota would give us Ant Edwards for Dame,
     
  3. blazerkor

    blazerkor Well-Known Member

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    I think there is a chance that Schmitz is using Givony as a mouthpiece. I think that the Nets are saying they don't want to give up Bridges even if they wouldn't mind doing that if it gets them two young starters. Most likely we want Bridges and one of the Nets first rounders in that deal. I think Ant and the number 3 pick in this draft is an overpay for Mikal. Mikal is good and he might be an all star but the same could be said for Ant and I think most people think Scoot and Miller are likely going to be all stars.

    So I think there is some media jockeying going on. I guess we'll see though. I just have a really hard time believing that Dame would be cool with us drafting Scoot and expecting Dame to stay.
     
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  4. B-Roy

    B-Roy If it takes months

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    Why would he use Givony as a mouthpiece? Since Cronin has taken over, the Blazers have not played the media game at all. I think it's much more likely that Schmitz (being an actual draft guy), loves both Miller and Scoot, and that by moving into the top 3, we've actually decreased the likelihood of us moving the pick because they love the guys they're now in a position to draft.

    If the FO believes Scoot and/or Miller are franchise changing players, then it may be worth being okay with the scenario that Dame leaves. I think the "building around Dame" talk is mostly lipservice to the fanbase. They would like to build around Dame....within reason, but they are totally okay with going a different direction. They are not going to do everything they can to maximize Dame's prime, because literally none of the moves they have made would signal that.
     
  5. wizenheimer

    wizenheimer Well-Known Member

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    the thing is that Dame, reportedly, is plugged into everything that's happening. I believe he has said he and Cronin talk almost every day. He was apparently informed right away what Toronto was asking for OG and thought is was a crazy ask

    I'm pretty sure that Dame & Olshey NEVER had the relationship and communication that Dame & Cronin do. Just the opposite because the circumstantial evidence is that Dame didn't like Olshey, at all. So I don't know if Dame will point a decade of impatience at Olshey at the current front office. Maybe, but I doubt it

    that's not to say he won't ask out. He very well might. But it's pretty certain he doesn't want to and may use smaller reasons not to do what he's hinted he might
     
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  6. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    Yup. 100% agree. They're saying one thing and they're doing something else.

    Look at this list of transactions since Joe took over. Which ones would people classify as "win now" if you had to look. The only one that seems to actually be a "win now" move to me is the signing of GPII. That's it.

    • March 14, 2022: Signed Drew Eubanks to a 10-day contract.

      March 14, 2022: Signed Kris Dunn to a 10-day contract.
    • April 3, 2022: Signed Drew Eubanks to a 10-day contract, then signed to a contract for the rest of the season.

      April 3, 2022: Signed Kris Dunn to two 10-day contracts, then signed to a contract for the rest of the season.
    • July 6, 2022: Traded Gabriele Procida, a 2025 1st round draft pick ( was later selected), a 2025 2nd round draft pick ( was later selected) and a 2026 2nd round draft pick ( was later selected) to the Detroit Pistons for Jerami Grant and Ismael Kamagate. Detroit also received a trade exception conditional 2025 1st-rd pick is MIL own 2025 2nd-rd pick is DET own 2026 2nd-rd pick is more favorable

      July 6, 2022: Traded Ismael Kamagate to the Denver Nuggets for a 2024 2nd round draft pick ( was later selected). 2023 2nd-rd pick is more favorable

      July 6, 2022: Signed Jusuf Nurkić to a multi-year contract.

      July 6, 2022: Signed Gary Payton II to a multi-year contract.

      July 6, 2022: Signed Anfernee Simons to a multi-year contract.
    • October 20, 2022: Signed John Butler to a two-way contract.
    • November 18, 2022: Signed Ibou Badji to a two-way contract.
     
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  7. Phatguysrule

    Phatguysrule Well-Known Member

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    I think Brooklyn wants to win now. Maybe they think Siakam would help more than #3?
     
  8. B-Roy

    B-Roy If it takes months

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    For the record, if a break happens, I think it would be amicable. Of course Dame talks to Cronin and knows what is/isn't on the table. I'm also sure they've also talked about a scenario where both sides move in a different direction. Hell, Dame has mentioned it multiple times, most recently in the post season presser.

    Let's say draft passes and we draft Scoot or Miller. Dame literally said both he and the team will have to make a decision at that point. I know Blazer fans don't like hearing that Dame might leave, I just think it's a distinct possibility.
     
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  9. Phatguysrule

    Phatguysrule Well-Known Member

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    You play who is better. If Sharpe is better he should start.
     
  10. B-Roy

    B-Roy If it takes months

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    Looking back at the moves that have bene made, I'm the most perturbed by the Josh Hart trade.

    According to Fischer, his next contract is going "approach" 18M a year, which means it's only going to start at ~4M more than he was being paid this year. Does anybody not think Josh Hart is worth 18M a year? And yeah he'd probably end up being a bench player but he's going to be a bench player in New York too! Is Josh Hart at 18M a year going to help your team more than whatever the 23rd pick ends up being? Hell yes. And to top it off, reportedly the Blazers never even asked for Hartenstein because they didn't want to take on any salary for next year. They also passed on James Wiseman when they had the chance. So now we don't even have enough tradable contracts to attach to the 23rd pick if we were to move it for another rotation level player.
     
  11. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    And that's why it doesn't seem like they're actually trying to build a win-now team.
     
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  12. Tince

    Tince Well-Known Member

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    Makes sense. Perfect messaging to be leaked out of the Blazer camp from Schmitz to Givony!
     
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  13. Tince

    Tince Well-Known Member

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    If the salary cap, tax, and decision to keep Jerami Grant weren't a thing, then I think Hart would be worth considering for $18m/yr.

    Unfortunately, those things do exist and tough decisions have to be made. Especially if the Blazers are looking to add a near max player to Dame/Grant, I would argue a rookie contract might be of more value to the Blazers than Hart at $18m/yr with increases.
     
  14. B-Roy

    B-Roy If it takes months

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    Then I would argue they aren't really trying to maximize Dame's window. They're just kinda meandering, which is what I've felt they've been doing this whole time.

    It was always going to be hard building a contender around Dame with that contract. If we're pinching pennies what are we doing? Just trade him already.

    Also, the cap is going to spike in 2025. 18M year after the first two years is going to be peanuts.
     
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  15. blazerfan11

    blazerfan11 Well-Known Member

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    The draft starts with Charlotte. They are having a Oden/Durant moment.
    (No, I am not comparing Oden/Durant talent to Scoot/Miller talent. Only the similar situation. Charlotte and their fans think this is a big decision for them.)
     
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  16. Tince

    Tince Well-Known Member

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    I'm not sure how you can come to that conclusion when you dig into the CBA.

    If paying big bucks to a bench player like Hart, prevents the Blazers from obtaining an All-NBA player and having the exceptions and picks to fill out their bench, I would agrue that signing Hart might have actually hurt building a contender around Dame.

    Regardless, that ship has sailed. The Blazers can't undo the trade. Frankly, I don't want Hart at $18m off the bench anyway. I did love how hard he played.
     
  17. Strenuus

    Strenuus Global Moderator Staff Member Global Moderator

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    Unless that sixers fan is the GM it doesn't matter.
     
  18. B-Roy

    B-Roy If it takes months

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    It doesn't, you just need to be willing to go into the tax, which the Blazers have so far not shown any inclination of doing.
     
  19. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    If the Hornets take Scoot, I think we can plug Miller into the lineup, trade Simons for something useful, and try to compete next season.

    If the Hornets take Miller........ I think we take Scoot and blow it up.
     
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  20. julius

    julius Global Moderator Staff Member Global Moderator

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    I don't think they would "blow it up" for him. However, if I'm Charlotte I offer the Blazers the 2nd pick for the 3rd + a player (let's say Little) + a future pick.
     

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