Zombie Damian Lillard to request trade in coming days (nope, he's not.)

My hairballs speak the truth.

 

Build through the draft? Absolutely (and have a bit of luck).

San Antonio: Robinson hurt, they tank, get a generational big in Duncan, a low first in TP (28th) and a 2nd rounder in Ginobli (57th). Keep the 3, switch out with who fits. More than a little bit of luck on that one.

Golden State: Go back on a deal with Phoenix and pick Curry (generational talent at 7th), hit with Klay (out of Wazzu?! at 11th) and Green as a 2nd round pick (35th). Good drafting and a bit of luck. Durant was after a ring. Karmic injuries follow.

I’m not for trading Lillard. CJ plays shorter and makes the back court smaller with his D and getting few free throws by avoiding contact. HOWEVER, in a full rebuild trading Dame, CJ and Nurkic — go get the number 1 pick and number 3 pick in THIS draft plus what Nurkic would bring, and it’s arguable. [Even flip 3 to get 5 and 8 from Orlando … Scottie Barnes + 8.]
Any returning, filler contracts are gone during their rookie contracts.

TRADE a year early or a year late? Obvious answer. And THIS is a good draft class. So, I get the arguments on various sides AND above all want an all-in direction — one where CJ is traded (and maybe Nurkic, too).

[I’d keep Powell, regardless. Good to keep. Good as an asset plenty of teams would want.]

 

Great for Philly. We aren’t Philly. Portland gets superstars by draft and a very distant second place, trades. That’s it. I’m perfectly fine keeping this going and watching Lillard and making the playoffs. But I’m not like most in here where my mindset is title or bust. I just enjoy basketball and Portland. If, as I said to start, you are only happy if you win a championship or are right there in the finals, I just think the best path is getting as many picks and hoping for a home run because Lillard and the assets they have isn’t close.

 

Refusing to even consider trading Lillard feels like emotions and feelings talking. With this roster and without picks this year to boot, if you think they can make some deals this summer and the trade deadline to 1) make Lillard happy and 2) be a title contender, I just don’t agree. There isn’t enough there.

 

You guys are going all off season tear it down and blow it up. Trade Dame CJ Nurk and start over.

I don't agree at all. you keep Lillard and you keep Powell. You continue to build Little and Simons. You see what you can get for CJ. You keep Roco and If Nurk can excel under a new coach and continue to improve his three point shot this team is very close to contending.
Like most everyone here knows the weak link is CJ and that contract. Elleby has the size and shot to start to excel as well.

This team has need a true Powerful Power Forward for the last two years (Actually 4-5). They need to turn CJ into a Power Forward that can guard three positions at least.

 

Haha I can actually tell you who I was talking about if you want.

Ya the all in approach is the way to go..and I heard Pascal Siakam is on the trading block. Somehow CJ for him would be nice. Resign Powell, who previous played with Siakam...

A starting 5 of Dame, Powell, Covington, Siakam, Nurkic sounds good!

 

I thought we traded Gary Trent JR to Toronto because he and CJ made no sense so now you think one of the best GMs in the league wants CJ to go with Trent and will give up Siakam to make it happen.

 

I said somehow...There is something called a 3 team trade...

Of course it’s just rumors, but there is some reports that the Raptors are interested in Simmons.

Portland gets Siakam, Sixers get CJ, Raptors get Simmons as the main pieces.

 

I'm not of the 'Championship or Bust' ilk, but as a franchise, we are no where close to either.
It is the being struck in mediocrity results year after year after year that is the frustrating part.

 

Plenty fans and basketball writers have speculated as to the seriousness of Lillard's statements and of his tactics. Given that he's shown consistency in his approach, I take Lillard's statements -- not at face value -- as ballpark on where he's at. Lillard has previously been supportive of his teammates and of management. This time, Olshey says the equivalent of 'It's the coach, stupid' not the roster. Word gets out of Lillard looking for his next team. Lillard says no, but the roster is not good enough to compete in the West.

Lillard has (1) disagreed in public with Olshey, (2) made a statement on the roster as a whole, and (3) knows that such a statement will have other teams asking for more in a trade with the Blazers knowing that the Blazers HAVE to improve ... not that they wouldn't already ask for plenty. The Blazers' are now on notice from their ONE star that improvement has to happen from without or ...

This was a change in language for Lillard having used the word "compete" in regards to he wanted to play in the bubble without a chance to compete and now with the roster composition. It's also letting everyone know to give Olshey a call, and he'd better listen. Imagine what Lillard has said to Olshey, Billups, and J.Allen, directly.

1. Powell is a must sign for Portland. Any team that wants to blow-up Portland should sign Powell. He's a no-drama, starting quality SG who plays both ends and is in his prime.
2. Want to keep Lillard happy and re-sign Powell? Trade CJ for DeMar DeRozan in a sign and trade; Powell knows it's happening ... coincidentally signs prior. Dame is happy, Powell is happy. Get a bit more from San Antonio as DeRozan isn't their future and doesn't shoot 3's; he does get assists, gets to the line, and rebounds better than CJ.

For the fans who prefer improvement of the roster rather than blow-it-up, then consider whether Dame, Powell, DeRozan, RoCo, Nurkic is a more balanced line-up than currently. [IMHO it is].

 

Id go with DeRozan, but Im not sure POP like's smaller 2 guards that dont play D?

 

The S&T is not an option, as it would hard cap Portland making it impossible to get both Demar & Norm under contract.

 

I still think that the trade that makes the most sense and will happen is us getting Ben Simmons for CJ and some combination of future picks, Ant and/or Nas. I think that both Morey and Olshey seem to be letting stuff leak to the media that shows they're jockeying for position in this trade. Besides Beal, I don't see another player available that has what the Sixers desperately need. CJ is just too good of a fit and while if Philly traded for Beal they would have to be the ones sending assets, if they trade for CJ they'd get extra assets.

I honestly think it will just be CJ and three future firsts for Simmons. I think then it will be up to Chauncey and Neil to figure out if they like the idea of Nurk and Simmons playing together or if they'd rather get a 3 and D post like Boucher for Nurk.

I mean, if Morey wants CJ for Simmons I'm keeping Simmons not flipping a three way trade for Siakam. What Simmons brings right now is better than Siakam and what he could be is light years away from Siakam's potential. I realize there is an issue with fit regarding Nurk but Nurk can be moved when we are getting a potential superstar.

 

Agree with your arguments and thoughts.

Still, I am slightly unsure about Simmons (I am pretty aware that he is much better than CJ and he should be considered a start because of his defense and playmaking abilities but it is still a gamble when he not improves and makes the next step in shooting to really become a better team - but I guess that is something we have to risk at this point).

 

Does this mean Olshey and Chauncey convinced Dame to give it a chance with the current roster? Is that why they're so inclined to run it back?

 

The thing I think about Simmons's shot is that it should be able to be fixed. He's not a stiff in any way. He has great hands and arm dexterity. The best move would be to have him shooting a set shot that is just like the free throws he has to get better at, even at three point range. If you have to, rebuild the shot completely but while that's happening, empower the guy to score at the basket as many times as he gets the opportunity to... obviously with his instincts he won't be taking stupid contested shots in the paint because the guy loves to pass. Then like you said, his defense is insane... he's also a helluva rebounder.

So you're right, regardless of the pieces we have to tack on with CJ, we should make the trade work. If the Sixers don't want our future picks find a team that does that has an asset that is appealing to Philly to couple with CJ. Just do what you have to in order to make it work. This isn't the time for Neil to try and win the deal... let them get over on us a little as far as the shit that we add to CJ that isn't going to immediately impact our team anyway.

 

If he's only giving them to the trade deadline, that doesn't at all like running it back is a good idea.