Trade Idea Favale: Blazers Should Trade Meyers Leonard, Noah Vonleh to Bulls for Nikola Mirotic

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bl...nard-noah-vonleh-chicago-bulls-nikola-mirotic

Bleacher Report looks at nine trades that fringe-playoff teams should consider. The Blazers moving Meyers Leonard is one of them.



The Trail Blazers have a mob of big men on their roster. There’s Noah Vonleh, back from injury, Meyers Leonard, currently nursing an injury, then rookies Caleb Swanigan and Zach Collins, Ed Davis, Al-Farouq Aminu, Maurice Harkless and Jake Layman. The depth Portland boasts has come in handy with an injury to Vonleh (shoulder) in training camp, and injuries to Aminu (ankle) and Leonard (ankle) during the regular season.

Yet, Dan Favale of Bleacher Report thinks the Blazers have too many bigs, and not enough playing time to go around. Thus, he presents a trade scenario with the Chicago Bulls that could solve the perceived issue:

Portland Trail Blazers Receive (after Jan. 14): SG/SF Justin Holiday and PF Nikola Mirotic

Chicago Bulls Receive: SF Jake Layman, PF/C Meyers Leonard, PF Noah Vonleh, 2018 lottery-protected first-round pick and 2021 second-round pick

The Chicago Bulls will have the Portland Trail Blazers at "Yes, we'll take Meyers Leonard."

Moving the $31.8 million he's owed through 2019-20 must be classified as a godsend.

…

Bringing in Justin Holiday and Nikola Mirotic does so much more for the Blazers' postseason ambitions. Holiday costs under $5 million this season and next … Mirotic hasn't played this year after suffering facial fractures and a concussion during an altercation with teammate Bobby Portis, but the Blazers could use a power forward with some off-the-dribble juice … If things don't work out, his team option allows the Blazers to move on after this year.

On the Bulls side, yes, Mirotic and Portis have bad blood, and things may never heal with them — but would that situation really make them want to deal for Leonard

On the Blazers side, everyone around the league knows about the Mirotic-Portis beef, so why would they have to throw in Vonleh to make this deal? Why would they have to throw in potentially two draft picks, as well? Taking Mirotic out of Chicago is just as much a favor as it is for Chicago to take on Leonard.

Portland could pass on this trade, keep Vonleh, and potentially sign him long-term — there’s a chance they would throw away the years of development they’ve put into the big man out of Indiana for potentially a one-year rental in Mirotic.

What do you think Blazers fans, does this make sense for either side? Which side would be more inclined to do this deal—the Bulls faced with an uneasy locker room or the Blazers faced with a regressing shooter who’s still locked up for two more years? Would you sacrifice Vonleh to unload Leonard’s contract in any future deal?

 

Not with a first round pick.

 

I don't understand why he has not played better. He has a sweet stroke. He might flourish in a Stotts system.

 

Fuuuuuck no

Mirotic is not that good to include Vonleh and those draft picks

 

Meyers was actually playing well before he went down. Vonleh obviously has good effect on Nurk. I disagree that you can have too many bigs. Having as many good bigs as possible is a good thing. Especially when most of them have had an injury in 2017. Depth is important.

 

Yup I’d do Meyers and Layman

 

A Kevin Spacey quote?

 

Haha

 

It's like Louis CK wrote the joke for him.

 

Wtf? i would'nt even trade Mirotic for Vonleh straight up! Mirotic is not a legit starter.

This cat is offering Layman, Vonleh PLUS 1st round and 2nd round picks??

 

Bleacher Report is just using the enormous negative valuation of Leonard that the whole league shares. He affects one side of the equation so much that the other side must be greatly increased:

To the Bulls, the negative value of gaining Leonard and losing Mirotic and Holiday
equals
the positive value of gaining Vonleh, Layman, and 1st- and 2nd-round picks.

 

Realistically though we may have to sweeten the pot to get rid of Meyers at this point.

 

Yeah but not a first round pick. We can't give those up anymore. Even though the draft is a gamble, good players fall to non lottery teams.

The same was said about Crabbe...that we had to attach a first round pick to get rid of his contract. Turned out to be a ridiculous theory.

 

It really depends how high Olshey is on Vonleh. If he not going signing in the off season then you have to consider the trade without given a 1st up. Mirotic would fit in Stotts offense and Holiday would give us 2 guard that has some size in that 2nd unit.

 

Didn't we have Holliday at one point?

I'd rather just keep Leonard than lose a first. His contract isn't the difference between having cap space. It's not worth losing a valuable draft pick.

 

So your saying hold them all as untouchable? Good luck with everything winning a championship with that kind of thought.