I’m looking at all the playoff teams and wonder, what if Grant and Ayton had returned healthy by mid-January? In this scenario (and having a crystal ball) I would have pushed trading Grant and Williams III. And I would have added a vet PF and a vet PG (a traditional playmaker type). With Feb / Mar and first half of April to gel, we would have made the playoffs and may have got out of the first round. Clippers, OKC and with #77, you have to include the Lakers….but we may have done well. With this prediction, I would venture we would be discussing Scoot, Ant, Ayton and others like Walker, Rupert, Murray, Reath - not too different from what is being discussed today. In conclusion, minus the second half injuries, we very well may have finished at 6-8th position. wonder how we will look after getting rid of Ayton, Ant, Grant, Williams III, Rupert, and bringing back Sabonis? perhaps Jackson, Jr.? perhaps Zion? I’m very doubtful we’d be better. And then there is Giannis. From what I hear, he has several businesses in New York, so Brooklyn would work for him….but you think he would love living and playing in Portland, OR over a major market? Not happening. We should have truly tanked and took aim for Flagg. Instead, we find ourselves in nba pergatory.
With regards to tanking for Flagg, just to keep in mind, he is probably almost too powerful right now - meaning he has options in which even if he is picked at #1, he can actually take actions to move around and find himself in a team he actually wants. My point is - tanking for #1 pick does not gurantee you having the player you want at #1. I am basing this on the following: 1. He can choose to retract his enrollment to this draft. 2. He can 'say' he will retract 'unless' being guranteed a trade to a team he wants..
That's exactly what I was thinking and the primary reason why I would move Deni to PG - to make room for 30+min per game for Toumani and Sharpe
Having someone like Deni gives the team a lot of flexibility. Not only at PG, but it also allows the Blazers to play with two shooting guards when he is the point forward.
According to Mike Richman's buddy over at locked on Pelicans, they were hot for Scoot and are over Zion...we could get Zion in a number of packages for Scoot...with a couple players like Grant, Ant, Ayton,or Williams... 10 pick etc...they would have to include another player and we have apparently seen the medicals on Zion...he's got a shoe deal in Portland and apparently loves the city. Can Chauncey get the kid's head straight and can he stay healthy...that's a major if and a big swing. Dumars might not have the same vision now that he's calling the shots though.
What part of my post sounded like I didn't? I can't speak for everyone, but I was talking about having the flexibility of having Deni playing with the second unit either as the back up PG or as a point forward alongside two guards who can shoot.
Zion is definitely a HUGE risk, but he's one that I'd take a swing on. My initial offer would be: #10 pick, Grant, Murray, Thybulle, '29 Pick (worst of Boston/Milwaukee/Portland), '31 Pick (Lotto protected) My best offer would consist of: A) 2025 #10 pick B) Scoot OR Shae C) Grant (+2 seconds) OR Ayton
No way I'm trading Sharpe for Zion. I might consider Scoot but I don't think I'd give them a pick with him. Supposedly they have been trying to move him for two years and nobody is biting.
If that’s the case, we should be buying low and not including more than one asset. He’s a huge risk and has barely played over the course of six seasons.
I've thought since Dame left that we would send him there. It's become obvious this season that especially if Suggs is healthy that Ant would be great in a lineup with Suggs, Paolo, Franz and whichever of their bigs they want to put out there with guys like Corey Joseph and KCP being key contributors as well. So when I heard Joe talking about a deal that was close at the deadline and then talking about seeds that were planted and then finding out about how meddlesome Kolde is. I think Ant was basically traded to the Magic at the deadline and it just got postponed until this summer. It will be interesting to see if he's traded there right before the draft and what the return will be if he is. So, yeah I think that's something because I think Joe has very open dialogues with our players (whether that's good or bad, I don't know) so Ant probably knows he's going there and is watching his future teammates.
Reaching a bit any chance Morant is traded this summer? I’m not a fan of his personality but his talent is off the charts. Doubt he’d want to come to Portland but we have the assets that we could potentially make decent offer. Sharpe, Morant, Tou, Deni and anyone of our centers is solid group. Again highly unlikely just interesting thought. btw had dream we traded for Zion
Since Orlando is a right-now, lower playoff team with 2 good, big forwards with a demonstrable need for guard shooting … with the 16th pick, the Portland Trail Blazers select … The Blazers get Anthony Black and filler contracts of Gary Harris and Cole Anthony. To get #16, Portland adds Kris Murray. Duop Reath. Getting guard help now is for Orlando. Portland can wait for development. Ant is a repeat of trading Brogdon. Needs to play elsewhere as a better fit. The trade is this summer. Though younger and now in his prime, he’s a real NBA guard unlike rookies at #16 or Black who isn’t there, yet — not for a playoff team.
"Length and Athleticism" sounds like Jeremy Grant to me! Kings Will Not Tear Down Roster This Offseason Apr 27, 2025 7:54 PM Scott Perry will not tear down the Sacramento Kings roster this offseason, sources told Jake Fischer of The People's Insider. Perry replaced Monte McNair as the general manager of the team this offseason. Perry acknowledged the need for "length and athleticism" on the roster during his introductory press conference. Perry is also expected to decide "within the next week or so" whether to retain Doug Christie as head coach. Jake Fischer/The People's Insider
