There was a lot of talk over the summer about how we would almost certainly trade for a player who would push us into a true contender, and that the other team would be prepared to give up because they were over-paid/injury prone, even though very talented. The key names were Kevin Love and Blake Griffin, although Danilo Gallinari was also in there (and I, to my shame, even suggested Chris Paul). Has the current abysmal state of the team changed the calculus? Or has it made a trade like that even more attractive?
Is that a "win now" trade or "a win now" trade? I'm in favor of either, although #2 is looking more attainable.
I think the win now trade is even more realistic, but several contracts are not traceable yet. If you could make a trade to improve the team now that would also fit with Nurkic and Collins coming back you do it.
I voted no... I guess ultimately it depends on the trade scenario. If CJ was included & it was shifting salary load so the cap hit wouldn't be astronomical - I'd be willing. Portland already has several players in the roster (Hood, Ant, Gary) who could take up CJs minutes & shots without a significant dropoff. Outside of that, a win-now move doesn't make sense.
Taking on Love's contract would hamstring this franchise for years. The Blazers are already the highest payroll in the league. They are also stuck with CJ for 5 years to the tune of around $125,000,000. Add Dame on top of that for around $180,000,000 and it seems like huge anchors as they get passed 30. Not that they won't be productive, but players don't often start getting better after that age. Yes, Jordan, LeBron won titles but those are 2 of the GOATS and neither of our beloved Blazers is in that category. This trade dealine is HUGE for this franchise going forward as is the rest of this season. They MUST have an influx of younger talent to go with the veteran experience of Dame. They also need big production from less expensive contracts like Collins, Simons, Little, and whomever else comes in. Whiteside - $27,093,018 Bazemore - $19,269,663 Those HAVE to bring back something of producing value. The core of Nurkic/Collins/Hood/CJ/Dame is very solid but it needs depth as we have seen and even more defense and shooting. Supposedly they could just let those contracts expire but I just don't see a FA that makes that much of an impact coming here for that $16-18M projected range. Who could that be?
When healthy this team actually seems pretty loaded: Dame, CJ, Hood, Melo, Nurkic. With Collins, Whiteside, Bazemore, Ant and Skal on the bench. It just depends on whether the team can stay close enough to the playoff race, get healthy and then make a push the last 20 or so games. If they do, that's not a team I'd want to face in the first round. A lot of "ifs" in there though.
Melo should only be viewed as a stunt signing to distract from our crappy record. He has no role on a healthy team, as he has proved for the past five years of his career.
If anyone wasn’t, they need to get over this negative narrative that he’s not helping. He played pretty damn well last night
We need a stretch where we go like 8-2 or something and we get right back in it. If we're around .500 by game 40, we should be alright. The schedule should come back to Earth to close this season. That said, we have some glaring holes to fill so I dunno if we can have a stretch like that.
I said no because we have expirings that we need to get rid of but they arent enough to bring back a win now. And we suck, so by the time we can trade them we will be more suckier, so just get assets at this point.
Sure: with the team currently decimated by injuries, he does have a role. We don't have enough scorers and he's not keeping the ball from someone better (like Dame)... except:
I think it all depends on the Nurkic/Collins rehab timelines. If both are on pace to return this season with enough time to work back into the flow of the team, I say explore “win now at all costs” trades. Something based around Whiteside, Bazemore and Trent Jr. for Blake Griffin. With the parity this season, I believe this team would be a legitimate title contender. Now if Nurkic and Collins don’t return this season, I think the best option is to just play the season out. Develop the young guys, let Nurkic and Collins recover 100% and let the Whiteside and Bazemore contracts expire. With healthy Nurkic and Collins and with the development of the young guys, this team would be elite in a couple seasons.
A "win now" trade would be foolish unless it helps us in the future, too... in which case it's not really a "win now" trade. Just a good trade. Haha. I don't think we should blow anything up in terms of our core, though. We need to rebuild our bench for next year and we hopefully will add another solid (or better) prospect in the draft and give it another shot next year.
Which contracts aren't tradeable? Whiteside and Bazemore, the most attractive contracts, were aquire through trade. We don't need to wait to trade them.
I will admit this. It sucks but tomorrow is probably must win. It is crazy to say a game in November is must win, but it pretty much is. I will be very down on the team if we lose either of the next two games.
Eric? The most positive fan I know? That's it Blazers. Get your shit together. This is a sign! NO Green Font either.
I voted YES!! Dame is almost 30 and only has 3 or 4 more years of his prime. We either need to build a win now team or do Dame a solid and trade him to a team that is ready to win now like the Lakers. That's right I said the Lakers. I'm sure Dame wants veterans. Not more rookies
