https://www.blazersedge.com/2020/11...-trail-blazers-planning-a-consolidation-trade Eric Griffith reviews Neil Olshey’s remaining roster-building options. Can the Blazers make a consolidation trade? Here’s the biggest question that I’d recommend everyone start thinking about. The Blazers, for the first time in recent memory, seemingly have multiple players who might carry trade value. Several of those players (e.g. Rodney Hood, Jones Jr., Enes Kanter, Zach Collins) have no salary guaranteed beyond this season. Attach a draft pick or two and suddenly something like a LaMarcus Aldridge reunion, or Kevin Love homecoming, is a very serious consideration. I’m personally wary of expecting consolidation trades from the Blazers at this point, but if there was ever a time for one it’ll be at the trade deadline this year.
Some numbers: Trading Hood + DJJ allows us to take back ~24 million in salary. Adding Kanter to that allows us to take back ~30 million in salary. Adding Collins to that allows us to take back ~37 million in salary. Little and Simons salaries at $2 million are also not insignificant if they're added to a package. Of course, we would have to go into the lux tax if we take in more than we send out, so that's always a consideration. Some large salary starting level players that may be targetable: https://hoopshype.com/salaries/players/ Blake Griffin $37 million Kevin Love $31 million Demar Derozan $28 million Otto Porter $28 million Al Horford $27.5 million LaMarcus Aldridge $24 million Harrison Barnes $22 million Draymond Green $22 million Victor Oladipo $21 million Julius Randle $19 million Aaron Gordon $18 million Not saying we should go after any of these guys, but it may be worth kicking some doors on the teams these players are on near the trade deadline if any of them are not doing well..... I think Derozan and Aldridge will both be dumped at the deadline as they're expiring and it may not even require a first.
That can't be understated. It's extremely obvious that NO will do what ever it takes to stay out of the tax this year. Because of that, any consolidation trades are unlikely.
Why? You can just match salaries. Hood + Jones + Kanter is more outgoing salary than Aldridge coming in.
I don't think Neil signed these guys just to do a consolidation trade. But I do think it's a risk management advantage Neil considered. If a few of these guys are under performing they could very easily be traded, sort of similar to Bazemore trade for Ariza last year.
I know you’re being hypothetical but that would be a terrible trade. Our strength now is our depth. Why would we give up 3 rotation players under 30 for a flawed PF past his prime?
