Trade Ideas Thread

shocker: Powell sounds like he will hit the market. ZERO confidence Neil can keep him. No cash.


https://www.blazersedge.com/2021/7/...gency-norman-powell-best-guards-trail-blazers

 

Probably a safe bet this isn't a surprise to the FO. We have his bird rights so can pay him more than anyone else. If CJ is traded before FA opens (likely draft night, if its gonna happen), I think it's fairly likely we'll resign him. Neil has a very narrow window where he can make the roster markedly better, and that's it, full stop.

 

Technically, He could sign Powell and go over the cap (for now) but as long as he trades CJ by the deadline, it won't count against the Lux tax.
Not that I would wait that long because I think they are better balanced with whatever front court improvements we can make via a CJ trade if Powell is re-signed and playing SG.

 

i really don't think getting out of the tax is a priority this year. it's gonna be damn near impossible unless we tear the whole team down.

 

Right. I meant more that Powell would be much more likely to resign if he knew he was walking into the starting 2 spot. You have to clear that spot before FA opens or risk losing that asset for nothing (or, a crappy S&T, I guess).

 

After watching the C series to me we need to acquire a dominate power forward that can both score and defend adequately. That would allow RoCo to move to his more dominate position at 3.
I guess if we have to package CJ & RoCo both to acquire, just do it. No reason Little cannot play at the 3 at 6'6", then build form there.
Phoenix imo, got out muscled the last 4 games when it counted down the stretch.

 

I agree, but coming up with actual targets is tough.

 

Yep. It's funny how all roads seem to lead back to Simmons and praying that he gets out of that funk.

While I still have little/no faith in Neil, I do think the situation in LAC bears watching... If we could snag PG or Kawhi for CJ and Nurk because of the cluster going on down there, that'd be killer. Obviously both those guys know Chauncey well and Neil certainly has familiarity w/ the Clips... Probably a 1% chance kind of deal, but at some point, simply adding another bonafide talent is a big first step...

 

Correct....but I was just answering the question/post, not dealing with priority or what might or might not happen.

 

this is why i have been clamoring for Simmons for years now.

Every championship contender has a strong wing who both bruise in the post and initiate offense.

-lebron
-kawhi
-giannis
- luka
- kd (to an extent)

While roco is good defensively, he can't really hang with any of these guys one on one.

Simmons can. I distinctly remember their game against LA this past season when he completely shut down Lebron. Was eye opening really. Hell, he shut down Dame in the game in Portland too.

 

The Simmons/CJ idea is the most obvious trade proposal I’ve seen in the league since I’ve been a fan lol. I wonder if ego is the reason it won’t happen. Olshey and Morey probably think they’re so much smarter than everyone else, no way could they be in alignment with those peasant fans! I’m joking, but maybe I’m not.

 

Besides Simmons target:
Boucher
John Collins
Siakam
Sabonis
R Holmes - he can play the 4 as well as 5.
and Harris

Get one of those dudes to play with either RoCo or Little at three, we are improved up front anyway.

 

see that’s the thing

Boucher- Maybe.
Collins- free agent out of Portland’s price range
Siakam- injured
Sabonis- unavailable
Holmes- free agent out of Portland’s price range
Harris- maybe but if it costs CJ, does that actually make us better? He’s not very good defensively and isn’t a good rebounder for his position either.

 

I just wish that Olshey would be the one to capitulate (if there is a negotiation) and just give that extra draft pick or two.

 

So essentially if we sign Powell to a $20 mil a year type deal then CJ is gone because we’d go deep into luxury tax?

 

ignore KOC and his corny ass commentary, but the clips highlight exactly why i love this kid

 

Who’s even a PF these days in the NBA. I remember when that was the easiest position to fill in the NBA. 6’10” guys who could score and rebound were littered throughout the NBA. Nowadays it’s guys who are like 6’6”-6’8” that can be versatile defenders, hit the 3 and guard multiple positions is basically the modern PF.

 

Here's a target that hasn't been talked about yet:

Larry Nance Jr.

He's a modern big that can shoot threes and switch on defense. The exact kind we've needed.

36% on threes on 5.2 per 36. Also 15% assist rate over the last three seasons, so you get some playmaking there. Versatile defensively. Has a very reasonable contract for two more years at ~11M per year.

He's also the type of player that Neil would build his entire off-season around. Like "hey, we traded Derrick Jones and a 1st for Larry Nance, we're a championship team now!"

But on a serious note, they should definitely explore a DJJ + 1st + whatever it takes deal for Larry Nance Jr. It shouldn't be the major deal, but it should be one.

 

From both "fun to watch" and "good fit" perspective, I like the Nance idea a lot. Guessing it's not a major needle mover for Dame, however, so probably would have to be the 2nd or 3rd domino to fall. But yes, would love that.

 

The Blazers may (likely) be in the Lux Tax regardless of what happens with CJ and subsequently Powell....or vice versa.
As far as if they re-sign Powell, nothing on the cap counts against the Lux Tax till the end of the season. So if they were, say to be able to trade CJ for picks + cap space to one of the few teams that may have cap space at the trade deadline, Portland wouldn't be on the hook for the 'start of the season' cap number.

One of the possible attractions about the Love + #3 for CJ (+) would be that you get a very good player at a low cost and potentially Love retires and you save some money on the cap even though the team would still have to pay out the money. (IIUC)