Of course, we all want Neil to build a winner now (trade CJ!!), but of course, we've all seen the suggestions that Dame could want out if things don't go well. So worst-case scenario, Dame wants out and you suddenly have the responsibility of dealing the best player in franchise history and attempting to lay a foundation for a new future--what series of deals do you make to put the Blazers in the best position to have a shot at contention again sooner rather than later?
it would be the first of many moves. Does blow it up mean it needs to rebuild through the draft or are a series of trades an option in this? are you speaking mainly of gutting salary and starting over or gutting players? I took it as gutting players. Not salary.
So this is essentially a "should we trade Dame thread"? Because if we trade Dame we are blowing things up and if we keep Dame we are not. I say we keep Dame.
The only way to build is through the draft. Stack draft picks, short contracts, and tank the fuck out for about 5-6 years.
Dame to GS for Wiggins, Wiseman, 7, 14 CJ to Philly for Simmons Nurk and Leaf to NY for Barrett and 21 (Chris Duarte) 7 and 14 for 4 (Jalen Suggs) Wiseman Simmons Wiggins Barrett Suggs Simons Nas Duarte Nice young core
I disagree that we have to tank for 5-6 years when we have a piece like Dame. I think we can trade Dame to Philly for Simmons and Shake Milton. I think we could trade CJ to the Knicks for picks 19, 21, and 31. I think a contender would give up value for RoCo but I don't have a solid idea of what but I think he might fit on the Warriors so I'd give the RoCo and pick 31 for pick 14 and Oubre in a sign and trade. I'd just get whatever young value player or picks for Nurk. In the draft I'd move up to 9 by trading 14 and 19 and take Kai Jones out of Texas who is a shot blocking, three point shooting big. At 21 I'd take Tre Mann out of Florida who is 6'5", shoots the three and has legit PG skills. So I'd come out of it with Ant, Shake, Oubre, Simmons and Kai Jones starting with Nas, DJJ, Tre Mann and whatever I got for Nurk off the bench. I would have cap room too or at least the full MLE so maybe Nerlens Noel would be a good FA pickup. Ant, Shake, Oubre, Simmons, Kai Jones, Nas, Noel, DJJ, Mann and I think I'd get a player way earlier in the rotation for Nurk. That team is young and would compete in the playoffs right away. If Simmons and some of the other young guys pop, that's a contender that we wouldn't have to spend years tanking to get there.
No, not a "should we". More of an "if we had to, how would you completely remake everything?" thread.
Make a trade that somehow involves either Houston or OKC and get as many of their picks as possible. Does Houston want Simmons? Dame to Philly, Simmons to Houston, we get the #2 (and maybe Matisse Thybulle). Does OKC want Simmons? Will they give up SGA? No? Okay, be prepared to give up a fuckton of picks, starting with the #6 (Scottie Barnes?) along with this (Philly also gives up an unprotected first or two): Yes, I know, Kemba - ugh. But he used to put up eerily similar stats to Dame (at least at the starts of seasons), so we hold on to him to flip him in February or thereabouts. Ditto for CJ, UNLESS the Rockets give us the #2 as part of this (perhaps we give them the #6, but hold out for a lesser pick or two): Then we get a trio of young defensive studs (Thybulle, Dort, Tate) plus the #2 (I'd take Mobley) and suddenly you've got the workings of a really stellar defensive team.
Step 1: Fire Olshey. I have zero faith he could build a champion from the ground up. Step 2: Step 3: Step 4: New Lineup Smart (27 years old) Brown (24 years old) Wiggins (26 years old) Simmons (24 years old) Wiseman (20 years old) We get significantly younger while still acquiring some really talented players and getting some guys that have the potential to be superstars.
Well of course firing Olshey is step 1--otherwise how could you be the GM? A starting lineup made up of 2 1-1's, a 1-2, a 1-3, and a 1-6 who was expected to be a 1-1 the majority of the time he was in college. On paper, it seems intriguing, although I do wonder how well Simmons and Wiseman could co-exist offensively. I could see that group being excellent defensively though.
Last season Wisman shot 31.6% from three on just one attempt per game and his season was cut short. His shot looks good from out there when open. So I think he could be a good big to play with Simmons. Also I think with this team you might convince Norm to re-sign. He could even start with Wiggins coming off the bench against lineups that would call for his style of defense over Wiggins's.
Trade targets: Lu Dort, Jalen Suggs, Collin Sexton, Onyeka Okongwu No way on Wiseman with his knee injury.
I don't want to either but if Dame really did go to Neil and demand that Neil either builds him a legit contender or trade him, don't you think it would be so Neil to use that as an excuse to take some pressure off and trade Dame and the rest of our core for younger pieces? Then there are tweets out there about us keeping an eye on younger pieces for post Dame trades. Edit: Dame is my favorite player of all time. I do not want this to be the case and I hope I'm reading it all wrong. Neil actually has a great opportunity right now with national media putting stories out there that could pressure his buddy Morey into giving up Simmons for a package centered around CJ. I just unfortunately see Neil taking the way out that takes pressure off of him and gives him more time.
If that's all it took to get Ben and Barrett, I'd keep Dame and just roll with that remaining roster. A Dame-Barrett-Simmons trio has nasty potential.
