If CJ were to be traded, who are we most likely to get?

Huh? I don't get this... I certainly don't think he is an all-star level player, but I also don't want to trade CJ traded with picks for Harrison Barnes... and it's quite possible that these are the only types of moves available.

 

I'm in agreement that Neil should have moved off CJ long before this summer, and I certainly wish that the GM was someone other than Olshey, but my original post is regarding about the fact that we can't change the past, and what's available right now appears to be really, really bleak.

I'll hold Neil responsible for getting us to this point, but I genuinely believe that there isn't much out there for CJ+... which is why I lean towards blowing it up now.

 

lol...ok. It's now CJ plus picks for Barnes. That's the example instead of CJ + picks for Simmons or Siakam, or CJ plus anything for Grant. We don't even konw if Olshey has offered anything like CJ and picks for any player. I'd bet he hasn't

I know you have already said you think Olshey is responsible for the dead end Portland appears to be in. I agree; I'm just not willing, at all, to give him the out of "there are no good options"...fuck that mercy for that jackass. And as far as desperation, Dame considering asking for a trade sure should have the red flags flashing all over the Blazer front office

 

I look at teams like Miami, Houston and Dallas. Every move every off-season is made with careful thinking and planning about the future. There's contingency plans on contingency plans, and usually they are ready to pivot when plans go south. They are also always trying to operate creative deals to get players even through unconventional means.

Olshey looks at the roster and signs a few guys using the exceptions he has. Then maybe trades 1:1 or fills out his bench with some vets. That is literally doing the bare minimum. So yeah, no shit we are stuck in a corner. When you do the bare minimum you get the bare minimum.

 

Neil is the dude who listens to his own music and says "that shit is dope!"

 

From everything I've read, Siakam, Simmons, and Grant appear to be off the table... though I will admit to not wanting to do CJ+picks for Grant (you could talk me into one pick perhaps). Perhaps, we are arguing semantics here, if I am Jody, I eat the dead money and I've fired Olshey yesterday. That said, I'd fire him for getting us here, not for anything that doesn't happen this summer.

Unless, as B-Roy notes above, that a contending, active free agency team wants to pivot to CJ AND wants to give up a valuable win-now piece in the process (or negotiate through a third team), I'm just not seeing it out there. I'd love to be wrong though.

 

Joel Embiid
Ben Simmons
Kevin Durant
Kyrie Irving
James Harden
Giannis
Khris Middleton
Jrue Holiday
Julius Randle
Trae Young
Jimmy Butler
Bam Adebayo
Jaysun Tatum
Jalen Brown
Bradley Beal
Domanta Sabonis
Malcolm Brogdon
Zach LaVine
Nicola Vucevic'
Pascal Siakam
Colin Sexton
Jerami Grant

all he'd have to do is beat out 10 of those guys for the all-star nod

 

Trae Young was not even an All star this year. CJ is nowhere near his level.

 

https://theathletic.com/live-blogs/...dates-news-analysis-trades/Sv5IIlL9fSee?amp=1

Based on this, it seems like CJ+2 picks+2 swaps would get it done.

 

If it came down to it, I'd probably do it. And I don't even like Simmons.

 

I don't think it's ridiculous...as long as there are some protections on any picks/swaps after the next 3 drafts.

 

Neil doesn't have the leverage that he thinks he does.

 

Lol, it doesn't make him right for not doing it. It just makes him stupid.

 

Ιf we include Raptors maybe they can give the 3 picks and we give just one. So we take Siakam instead of Simmons.

 

Yeah, I'd do it, begrudgingly... I still have trouble believing that such a deal would be available to our franchise until everyone receives more clarity on the Dame situation. From everything I've read and heard, a CJ-Simmons framework (even with picks included) is currently off the table.