I don't think he was equating Whitmore to Amen or Jabari+Eason. I think it was more (Amen or Jabari) + (Eason or Whitmore); that is to say, Amen and Jabari are comparable value (probably true), and Eason and Whitmore are comparable to one another (I disagree; I think Eason has significantly more value), and Portland should expect one of the first pair and one of the second pair in a Dame-BOS-HOU 3-way deal.
Scoot - Sharpe Simons - Jaquez Thybulle - Murray - Rupert Grant - Walker KAT - Jovic - ButlerJr I question if KAT makes sense here, he's 27 and the Blazers might be a very long ways from contending. But were still getting two unprotected picks/Jovic/Jaquez... can also get a 2029 swap. Its not a whole lot less than if we get junk contracts back from a 3rd team so maybe I'd be ok considering it. Just seems like KAT would make more sense to a different team that wants to win now. But if he's as available as many have rumored it could make sense to get him and the Wolves in on a Dame trade. There's a lot of rumors the Blazers really want to push to make the playoffs now, and not take only picks or projects back in a Dame trade. If so I could see them going for KAT.
I think Minny would want some picks. That's pretty bad value on KAT. They had supposedly reached out to us about the #3, so it would be a pretty massive step down if they accepted Herro and Martin. Of course, their GM is horrible so maybe they do it? I want that 2024 pick from Miami though, as well. They need to give OKC the 2026 and give us 2024/2028/2030.
Yeah agreed; the 2024 draft doesn't looks great. But still I question if it makes more sense to get extra picks or younger players back instead of a veteran like KAT. Also not sure KAT would be happy here, he's never been on a winning team and guys around the age of 27 can start to get pretty upset with the constant losing. I'd want a veteran to be a good role model here even if he is losing which I think Thybulle will be very good at. KAT might make more sense on a team trying to win sooner. I'm not against it though. Unless we get Scottie Barnes this is probably the best player mentioned in a Dame return. Thinking about it more Minnesota probably would need more back than just Herro and Martin. Maybe the 2028 Miami pick would go to Minnesota instead of us.
Hope you're right. Uh yeah, the stats pretty much say what I've been telling you, but ok. Their players might not be as good offensively (shooting), but they play defense and rebound. Lol if you really think Sharpe is even close to Jabari Smith defensively Funny how the attachment you posted showed Sharpe with the least amount of "green boxes" (areas he's best in) compared to the others. And, for the 1000th time, I said Jabari and Shaedon are a "wash". I'd probably take Shaedon over Jabari as I'm not a Jabari fan and I think Shaedon has a higher ceiling. I think a vast majority of GMs would probably lean Jabari. As I mentioned previously, I would bet a vast majority of GMs would think they could get Jabari's shooting percentages much closer to what he showed he could achieve. I would assume they'd find this year to be an anomaly. The guy went from elite shooter to trash, which is pretty rare. And yes, Summer league doesn't matter, but they're both second-year players and one DOMINATED the summer league and the other looked like he had no interest in playing. Anyhow, done with this conversation. Completely off-topic for this thread.
I mean.... Smith Sharpe Big whoop... they both suck at defense. But Smith wasn't SUPPOSED to suck. Sharpe hadn't played ball in over a year when he joined our team. He was always going to be a project on defense. His natural gifts are on offense. I'm still hopeful that he'll improve on defense. Yeah.... except they're the most important ones. FG% 3P% eFG% He kicks their asses in all three of those metrics. I would love to add Eason and Smith, but Eason projects out as a starter and Smith is.... a question right now. He had a good summer league, which is encouraging, but he looked REALLY bad last year. I would definitely trade Simons for those guys, but not Sharpe. Did Smith have a stretch as good as Sharpe's last year?
Outside of the picks, I might try to send the Miami players to another team more interested in Jovic and Jaquez. I think Jovic has more upside but Jacquez is a better fit next to our all offense guys. Caleb Martin should net a 1st as well but doubt Cronin gets him too.
I'd rather have the 26 pick over the 24 pick from Miami. It's going to be a much better draft. Also - I wouldn't deal with OKC. Give 3 second rounders to NYK to get the worst 1 rounder in '25 (out of the 3 picks they have - most likely Milwaukee's). Give that one to Miami and get all 4 firsts from Miami (24, 26, 28, & 30).
OKC won't do that. They own 2025 and the only way to get them to move off 2025 is to give them 2026 so we can have 2024.
Since the value of Miami picks is historically less than craptastic franchises, the basic return of picks is unconditional 2024, 2028, 2030. Pick swaps in 2027 and 2029 makes it look better; if nothing else in the short-term, the pick swaps can be moved. Both Jovic and Jaquez is basic. The return on Herro is either an unconditional pick or a strong, young, big player who fits — like Claxton in Brooklyn while sending Nurkic into their TPE. Lillard + Nurkic = Claxton + Jovic + Jaquez + any short-term filler + 3 1st rounders and 2 1st pick swaps. Sacrifice the pick swaps to get a guy like Claxton? Maybe. Otherwise, there’s NO trade with Miami. If it reaches that point where Miami won’t pay up and the season approaches, inform Lillard — not his agent — that Portland has been given what Miami says is their best offer, and there is no chance of that happening. 48 hours later, the media gets no details — just the same message. Otherwise, “let them eat static.”
Jovic's future reminds me of a better playmaking, but worse rebounding Ryan Anderson. I think as a part of a rotation he could be a useful player in the 5th-9th-man type of role. There will be instances in which he will likely be played off the floor and likely more instances in which his positive offensive contributions outweigh his defensive limitations. He is certainly not the ideal centerpiece for a Dame deal, but I'd want him included if Miami is where this thing ends.
I don't want Dame to be traded , but I do think the Blazers getting Frank Zappa would be pretty cool though.
