Plausible destinations for our vets?

I don't like any scenario that has Sharpe starting, out of position, at SF just to accommodate Ant starting at SG

beside that, if Grant isn't traded, and I don't believe he will be (yes, I might be wrong), it will be Avdija and Grant starting at forwards

by the way, last season, in the 20 most used 2-man lineups, Ant/Scoot were by far the worst (points = per 100-possessions):

Rk Lineup PTS
▼
18 D. Ayton | J. Walker -17.0
19 J. Grant | S. Henderson -17.2
20 S. Henderson | A. Simons -20.4

and the last season, 2022-23, with Dame:

Rk Lineup PTS
▼
1 D. Eubanks | J. Hart +5.8
2 D. Lillard | S. Sharpe +5.7
3 J. Hart | D. Lillard +5.0
4 D. Eubanks | D. Lillard +4.2
17 S. Sharpe | A. Simons -7.9
18 S. Sharpe | T. Watford -9.1
19 J. Grant | S. Sharpe -9.3
20 N. Little | S. Sharpe -10.7

it's a bit amazing, but not surprising I guess, that Dame/Sharpe were 13.6 points/100-possessions better than Ant/Sharpe. So, if you're using those lineup numbers as a gauge for starting all 3 of Scoot-Ant-Sharpe, I guess the tank will be safe

more than all that though: after all of the chatter about the Blazers, finally, at long last, building a taller-longer roster, with Sharpe at SF, the Blazers would be starting their 3 shortest players. Scoot is about average height for PG's; maybe a bit taller. But Ant and Sharpe, at SG and SF, would both be about 2.0-2.5 inches shorter than average. When will it end

 

Why would Brooklyn do this? They're tanking. They got their picks back.

 

So the only way you will be satisfied is if ALL of our players are top 3 at their position

 

Idk if I see starting Shae as some major deal. We’re better off with one of the three guards embracing super 6th/7th man, he’s still gonna get his minutes. Seems like the most quiet and humble dude in the world, probably doesn’t care right now if he gets his PT still.

All three guards starting means someone is out of position, not a good idea while we actually have a deep squad at each position.

Scoot/Dalano / Ant
Ant / Shae / Rupert
Deni/ Shae/ Toumani / Murray
JG / Toumani / Jabari/ DA
DA / DC / Reath or Jabari

at the end of the day, it’s gonna be a lot of shuffling anyway but I think day one rotation shakes out something like this. Didn’t even bother with Matisse cause I can’t stand his game even if he did survive the offseason sry. Timelord tbd..

if and when we trade Jerami, I’m expecting toumani starts at 4. Splits position with Jabari primarily. Everything else applies. I think we keep Ant since his value is by far higher to us than anyone else and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

 

Get that, but next year is a fuck it year, and IF Ant is still on the team, to play around with Shae at 3 at different times, isn't going to hurt him. His primary position is a 2. Look at how the Knicks use three small guards from time to time. The ideas is not allowing Ant as a natural 2 guard dominate the ball as a pg and give Scoot the pg minutes. Ant is still probably the best on the team and creating his own shot, just have him do it off ball. Ive been all for trading Ant but not for a pick in 2030 or later. Either Joe doesn't want to take a low ball offer and doesn't feel an urgency, or, he is simply incompetent in the trade market? This was either worse or second worse, shooting team last year. And right now Shae is probably the next best shooter to Ant, on the team. Within 3 three years there may be only 1/2 players left from this current team. As Curry just commented "he doesn't want to be part of a cellar dweller team"for the end of his career. Well, if we hit the lotto and get a Flag we best have more than role playing youngins as his support, we will need a few solid vets to help his game develop. This is our 4th tanking season and we acquired a young #1 draft pick, and drafted 3 and 7 at some point you must grow as a team for wins. Or our reputation as a small market team will get even worse.

 

Most plausible is the mf'ing moda center.

 

I really like Cam Johnson! He gives us shooting, defense and rebounding at a younger age than Grant. Also I don't think there's actually much market for our guys, so I think we'll be mildly disappointed in the return we get for them, and will probably have to take back a bad contract, so it might as well be a short-term one. (In fact, I think if Blazers FO proposed this it would be the Nets who would say no.)

 

Yeah - that too!

 

They probably don't. But a man can dream.

 

I hate this lineup but we would certainly lose a lot of games with it, which I guess is this year's goal. But it seems unlikely given that it requires one of Jerami, Avdija or Ayton sitting.

 

So I assume Jerami (currently our best player) has been traded in this scenario?

 

Yes, I was assuming he would be. If he isn't then that would change things.

 

It isn't for full time duty man, it a switch it up, fuck around deal that Chauncey is great at. Look at how many combo's Stotts fucked around with early on.
I dont prefer small ball, Id rather have tall players that can do both score and defend. And, all players have downside to their games.

 

I like your post, but I would most definitely start Sharpe at SG. He has the size and the talent to be a two-way player.

I think all three are pretty humble, and would all accept a role coming off the bench assuming they still get enough minutes.
Chauncey just needs to explain his rationale to them. But for me, that should not affect Shae. He needs to start at SG

You could bring Ant off the bench, (my preference) or start him and take him out early so he can start the 2nd quarter.
But that will depend on how Scoot looks in fall camp. He needs to deserve to start.

 

I know it seems that we're now staring again at a roster that makes no sense at all but I'm really thinking there is a good chance (maybe like 1 in 3) that we have another really active September. I still think that the Lakers will end up with Jerami. I think if they give up an unprotected first, a second and guys who could be flipped like DLo and Vando then Joe would move off of his reported minimum of two FRPs.

I also think Highkin is probably our best insider on our team's beat at this point and he's probably right that the team is waiting to see what they get back for Jerami and then will start to really pursue Ant trades. Again I'm only giving it a 33% chance of both Jerami and Ant being on other teams when the season starts. I think it's probably a little better than 50% that one of them will have been moved by then.

So I think Jerami's most plausible destination is the Lakers just a little ahead of being here. I think Ant's most plausible destination is here but I think the Spurs would make a lot of sense for him. After drafting Castle, Ant makes a lot of sense in a back court with him and in some pick and roll/pop actions with Wemby. I just think that team needs a shooter. I don't think they'll care about how starting CP3 and Ant might hurt their defense right now. So I could see the Spurs offering Keldon Johnson and let's say the second most preferable of their possible 4 FRPs in the upcoming draft for Ant.

 

The Kings are among the few teams actually going for it this year, so why not really go for it?

 

I don't know if Ant is a good fit there. They are paying Devin Vassell more than what Simons makes. Do you think they want both?

 

So you keep saying. Yet I haven't said anything about Simons for a week or two.

We obviously disagree.

 

And Ant will still be atrocious at defense and Grant will be atrocious at rebounding.

Get ready to count the championships!

 

Yep. Horrible, unless one of those guys is injured.