All of these ideas are based on Ant the guard, not Ant the power forward who grew 7 inches this off-season. Learn your Ant then post.
1) Highly subjective... But from my eyes, Collins is much better defensively. The advanced statistics seem to bear this out. 2) Last 3 years, both have been available the same amount. ~66 games per year for Kuzma & 63 for Collins.
The reason why the Hawks haven't been able to give Collins away is because his soft defense. Kuzma might not be the answer, but Collins definitely ain't. Not if Grant is re-signed. Would Brooklyn be interested in swapping Cam Johnson for Ant?
I was under the impression there's no point in even talking about trade scenarios with Simons or Nurk.
Saw this one: Ant to San Antonio Kuzma S&T to Portland San Antonio tosses some seconds to Washington. I think all teams would be amenable to this. San Antonio has cap space so they can absorb Ant for basically free. Only if Dame is insistent on staying.
Yes he has and I am quite sure he is hoping with every fiber in his being that the team does something to make us legit for this upcoming season. Dude truly loves Portland, I don't think anybody is disputing that. He has just gotten fed up with the direction the team has been headed and hell, who can blame him? Gonna be an interesting next few weeks for sure.
Yes and no. He wants to stay at the expense of the future of the franchise. As legitimate analysts have pointed out, a team like Portland is only able to build a championship-level team through the draft. Woj being one of them, also added that for a team to get the talent they want, the superstar must go out and recruit said talent, and that Dame has not been able to get anyone to Portland. So, yes, he would like to stay here, but has unrealistic expectations.
I really think they need to sell Ant on being the 6th man, and when Dame is traded, it leaves us a really nice guard trio.
Does not change what I was asking for clarification on. He has consistently said he wants to be here. My comment was in response to the statement, "Only if Dame is insistent on staying". He has never wavered from being insistent on staying. and to the bolded? I have no idea what that even means. Are you inferring that he should ask for his salary to be taken to another team....for the sake of the franchise?
Given the number of holes on the roster, it's hard to justify using up that much salary on a bench player.
I'd be bummed if Ant's trade value was that low, but I guess it might be. I'd think the Spurs would love that.
I picked up a vibe earlier this season, that Simons was getting the push to become Lillard's immediate replacement. The entire franchise became very very protective of Ant. The Blazers focused almost too much energy into Simons blossoming career. Some folks in local media turned into Ant's personal security team, going as far as belittling fans who were complaining after Anfernee's periodical ice cold shooting stretches. did the Blazers dip Anfernee in gold, then flash him as the shiny new star in Portland, because the Front Office knew Lillard might freak out and ask for a trade?
why?...this is their collection of guaranteed salary guards next season: Tre Jones PG 6-1 Malaki Branham 6-5 Keldon Johnson 6-5 Devin Vassell 6-5 Blake Wesley 6-5 Devonte' Graham 6-1 they also have RFA rights to Romeo Langford. Branham and Wesley were rookies this year and both were 1st round picks and if there was a coach in the NBA that would not have patience with Ant's defense I'd think that would be Popovich
I'm more of a "value" guy when it comes to moves. Ant for a couple 2nd rounders is good value in my opinion. Same reason I'd prefer we drafted Scoot over Jarace Walker, despite Walker being at a position of need. Obvoiusly, when it's win-now time, you have to balance things out, but I don't think the Spurs are in win-now mode.
