When we have our backcourt of the future on cheap rookie contracts, Thybulle paid close to a full MLE, Nurk way overpaid, and Grant making $160 million..... I just don't see Ant's contract as being any sort of a problem. I'm not saying we shouldn't explore trade offers for Ant. Hell I proposed trade ideas a few posts earlier. He isn't a perfect player and this roster needs a ton of talent to contend even many years from now. But Ant making $26 million when guys sign for over $300 million and $70 million per season is just not overpaid. If he makes some improvements it could be a steal of a deal. If he doesn't then its fine for an elite scoring 6th man. I'd much prefer him on the roster than those 3 other Blazer vets (Nurk/Grant/Thybulle) on their deals. If Ant's market is much better than Herro I'd even consider keeping Herro in a Dame trade and sending Ant elsewhere. I'm starting to like the idea of gambling on Herro having some upside if his trade value is as dismal as some suggest. But being willing to trade a player away doesn't mean they are overpaid. People love to criticize CJ time here, Ant, Norm, etc. But the problem isn't the Blazers having good production from short guards - it's that they've had shit players up and down the frontcourt since LaMarcus left. Then we finally get a decent win now two way SF in Josh Hart and we send him elsewhere. I like the trade if we're fully rebuilding and going young - but it makes zero sense if we really were trying to win soon with Dame. If we just remove Ant from the Blazers roster is this franchise in a better position? I'd say hell no - same as when CJ was here. If we can trade him for a front court upgrade of course I'd consider it. But by definition then he would not be overpaid.
Good post, agreed completely Blazers don't have any need to get out of the luxury tax, or clear cap space to sign contributors. Having Ant contract on the roster has very little negative impact. When his deal is ending then Scoot/Sharpe will have pending extensions and the Blazers can best setup their long term payroll around that time. Sure if we can flip Ant for more value then consider it. Same can basically be said of every player on this roster. If not then keep Ant. It's unlikely all three of Ant/Sharpe/Scoot are healthy near 80 games, and its also very possible one of them really struggles. I'd rather not have G league scrubs starting and player 30+ mpg next season as we have the end of the last two years. This team will likely such plenty enough just as is - there is no need to sabotage the depth chart to intentionally lose.
I love how some of you put words into my mouth but going to address RBrew first : I am a fan of the players who put on the jersey and coaches on this team but if your the GM or Jody and Vulcan then screw you -- it's that simple and pretty sure that is how it was stated in my post but again would mean you have to read and not going to go into that again. next NateB --- I never said I was in the room or have inside knowledge but what I have heard from various fans etc and then seeing how things have played out. I trust that more then others do to where we are today and I do believe I am more right then I am wrong on my take of this whole Dame situation.
That’s not what he was doing. He said Ant will get better at what he is but he won’t become a two way wing which is more valuable in today’s game. No contradiction at all.
I agree that that we don’t need more guards. Wouldn’t LeVine would make a good trade chip at the trade deadline and maybe even a better one the Dame being that he only wants Miami though?
You are going off very small sample size as Ant as a starter, in both PG and SG roles to say for sure. He isnt a 3 and D, well duh bro, so are many people in the NBA. Doesnt mean he can't improve a lot in other areas as him and his game matures. LMAO he is CJ 2.0 huh, it's only you and a couple of posters here that believe that. Claiming Simons is in his 6th season, yada yada, he barely played in those first 4 seasons man, come on. You are proving empty points, and on a totally different topic that what I initially posted you dont trade Ant for that garbage package, especially when he can get better and you agree.
and I'm going to tell you I think he did, quite clearly. The bigger elephant in the room is you saying you would trade Simmons straight up for Dame. After saying that, you lose all credibility lol
You can't think of him as a reporter. At best, his role in the media is as a pundit, but, even at that, all he is is a fanboy that got a job in a newspaper's sports department and panders to local fans without even pretending to be objective or having any knowledge of a world that exists outside the 305 area code.
At this point, I think Jackson is just trying to troll Blazer fans as much as he is rooting on the Heat. Some of his tweets seem turned in that direction, and if you read through the comments on a lot of them there are references from Heat fans about Blazer fans commenting or posting actual facts or Jackson getting under our skin. He's a fan. I commented the anti-logic in a couple of early posts on the subject. He didn't respond. Now I just laugh at his nonsense and how Heat fans eat it up in the comfort of my home office.
I can't tell if it's patience.... or if he and the leadership think that they can convince Dame to stay.
I'd much rather have Herro, 2028 2030 picks, and 2027/2029 swaps than Simmons. I'm actually fine adding Simmons and think it could make sense regardless of where Dame ends up - but those draft picks could be a goldmine.
that might be an option they are considering, but it's probably down the priority list my initial reaction to how Dame's agent was handling this situation was there was bad blood on Dame's part; that he felt betrayed by Cronin. The scorched earth nature of things sure implied that was the case. Maybe it was just posturing
That's very possible. I think it's also possible that his agent convinced Dame that he could bully Joe into making a quick trade.
