If you think the Blazers season isn’t over, cool. I wish I had your optimism. But if you think it’s over, I think it’s time to move on and focus on the summer. All in all I think it was a great season, and has me a lot more optimistic about the direction of the team. I think we’re close. Outside of the Warriors, I think we can beat anyone. I think Durant will leave, and I think he will end up east. That only helps Portland. With that being said, let’s do this. Here’s a template. Go. Draft: Free Agency: Starters: Second unit: Reserves: ————- Draft Considering the cap situation, this will be Olsheys best opportunity to land a rotational player/starter. To Boston: Evan Turner Meyers Leonard #25 To Portland: Gordon Hayward #14 Portland takes on *roughly* $42M in this trade, which includes Hayward’s contract (2 years) and the total value of the 14th pick, minus the last year of Meyers and Turner. Hayward waives his trade kicker. Is Hayward a risk? Sure. But his playmaking would help take the pressure off Dame and CJ and we bet on him coming back stronger two years removed from his injury. We also don’t touch the core with this move, which is why I think its something Olshey would consider. Nevermind who his agent is. Portland selects whoever the fuck at 14, too many names, but they should be able to land someone good. Personally, I would love Doumbouya. Whoever they pick, they probably won’t play though. Free Agency Rodney Hood (tax MLE) Pau Gasol (vet min) Kyle O’Quinn (vet min) Kanter walks. Curry opts out and walks. Aminu is re-signed (he’s doing a good job suppressing his value, but that’s fine by me since I’d still take him as a backup.) Layman is retained. Starters Lillard McCollum Hayward Collins (starts at center until Nurk returns) Nurkic Second Unit Simons Hood Harkless Aminu Gasol Reserves O’Quinn Layman Trent Labissiere Draft pick
Free Agency: I really want them to keep one of Kanter or Hood, and Curry but it's hard to know what they'll get offered. Draft: I really want it packaged with ET or Meyers to bring in... someone else? It is so hard to do this right now...
I mean, probably. But now you know who to give complete and all credit to when they knock off golden state.
Gordon Hayward has been on my mind since the Boston-Indiana series. That guy can play. He's close to returning to full strength but is completely marginalized on that team with so many wings. I was secretly hoping to trade Collins for Brown, but that ship has sailed unfortunately. I suppose they'll clear out the clutter this summer a bit by trading one or both of Tatum/Brown, but I'd still explore trading for Hayward. Boston might be the ONE team we could unload Turner on as well. Hayward could be our mainstay SF and his skillset would fit perfectly with what we have. But Pau is done, my man. He should not be playing any more.
Honestly I was just thinking of free agent bigs that’ll come cheap. Personally I want O’Quinn. I included Gasol because Olshey probably still likes him. What about Gortat?
There is no way Ainge trades Hayward for pennies on the dollar. Hell, he'd probably ask for a first even if Hayward was playing like Chandler Parsons now.
Jinxspeed? BTW, how come we havent had an Uber update? @KingSpeed I mean this is your time to take one for the team and drive Curry to Mt Hood or something.... Come on man. The team NEEDS your help. Where you been?
My "realistic-ish" plan: - Trade #25, Moe Harkless to Atlanta for Taurean Prince, #44 (Must be completed after July 1st) Draft Naz Reid at #44 - Trade Meyers Leonard, 2020 1st to MIA for Kelly Olynyk, Derrick Jones - Trade Evan Turner, 2020 & 2022 2nds to WAS for Ian Mahimmi - Resign Rodney Hood for 4 years, $40M (MLE - 4th Year Team Option) - Resign Jake Layman for the Qualifying Offer Lillard (36) / Simons (12) / McCollum (36) / Hood (12) / Trent Prince (30) / Hood (18) / Jones Collins (30) / Layman (18) / Reid Olynyk (32) / Labissiere (16) / Mahinmi / Nurkic* ----- Lillard (36) / Simons (12) McCollum (36) / Hood (12) Prince (30) / Hood (18) Collins (28) / Labissiere or Layman (12) / Olynyk (8) Nurkic (28) / Olynyk (20)
Uh, he's a big upgrade over Harkless. Shot 39% from 3pt last year (38% for his career) and he's a solid defender who can take guys off the dribble a little bit. Next to our guys, he'd be a very good fit. Also important - He'll make $8M less than Harkless next year. Those savings will help us keep Rodney Hood with the Full MLE. The savings is as big of a reason for the trade, but his shooting ability would be huge next to our backcourt.
Meanwhile, Olynyk would be great as a 3-and-D big that can play PF and C well, and who's a very solid defender. Olynyk is the most underrated big in the league, and with Miami having a glut of big men and possibly rebuilding, he's my #1 target as a Nurkic holdover. Olynyk and Collins would be a very complimentary frontcourt, and once Nurkic gets back you could start Olynyk at PF or keep Collins at PF and bring Olynyk off the bench. Getting Olynyk would off-set for the loss of Kanter, and would allow us to focus solely on retaining Hood.
I wouldn't mind trading for Jrue Holiday either. Maybe Evan Turner, Meyers Leonard, and two future 1sts get it down? Maybe throw in Trent? On that same note, I'd love to sign-and-trade for Julius Randle. New Orleans would have to sign him with cap space, but I doubt they're going to make big time signings so maybe Turner, Trent, and a couple 1sts is worth it for them.
Scalma, dude. Just wait. Too soon. Wait til playoffs are over for this. You didn’t think we’d beat OKC.
Is he actually a solid defender though? Full disclosure, I haven't seen him play much but from what I've read, from Hawks fans, he's not even average on that end.