To get value you have to give up value. We seem to be loaded with guys 6'3 who just aren't tall enough to defend at a playoff level. Is Portland in a position to do a consolidation trade that involves some combination of CJ, Ant, Nas, Norm and Roco, picks, for an elite or semi-elite 3/4? It feels like Ben Simmons has sucked all the air out of the room forever, and although I still see that as a possibility, it seems way too narrowly focused. I think the handwriting is on the wall for Olshey, so even CJ will likely be on the table. Which guy seems a most likely get, given what we have to offer and who might be available?
Apparently Norm can't be traded before March, so cool your heels. Also, don't get your hopes up about Olshey, I have a feeling that he will be "exonerated" by the "investigation".
Something has to be done at some point....because: Dame will return to 'Dameness' CJ wants to take the most shots Powell needs more shots Ant is the most efficient (so far) It's tough to imagine paying Ant while paying so much to the other three. That said, Ant will get paid to stay here thereby facilitating a move of CJ or Norm. Since they just signed Norm, the obvious (except to Neil) is CJ.
I’m looking at Toronto. Barnes looks like the real deal. OG has also elevated his game. Could Siakam be available? And if not, how about Boucher? His role has been minimized and he’s a pending free agent. I’d look at those two guys.
outside of the toronto guys, i'd add ATL as a place to find wings. They've got: Heurter who they just paid, Bogdanovic and Gallo who they paid last year, Reddish and Hunter playing really well, and are going about deep in the tax very soon. Something's gotta give, especially if they continue to play poorly. (Bogdanovic is 6'6 and is Dame's guy, fwiw.) Also, the Pelicans are 1-10, granted without Zion. But Ingram alone isn't carrying them anywhere.
Onyeka Okongwu He’s not beating out Collins any time soon when you consider contracts. Package Ant if you have to
I am feeling more and more that we need to just blow it up. Start over. Fire Neil and start the hell over.
Why? Why not trade CJ for the best 3/4 you can get and give it a shot... You can start over next year if you want.
I haven't posted nearly enough to have done it after every loss. Losses are irrelevant to me at this point. I'm looking at the big picture. This team isn't talented enough to win a championship and I'm not sure there's a fix, short of trading for a superstar.
The dream would still be to flip C.J. for Siakam somehow. Might have to be a 3-team deal. Then shop RoCo plus future pick(s) for a 3 to repalace Norm (who moves down to the 2)
Downside: Memphis is already a shit defensive team so I don't see their motivation, other than that they get the only "star". Also: we would need another consolidation trade. Also: according to some of you, Dillon Brooks is an asshole.
I think a swap for Siakam would be ideal. Maybe Barnes' emergence there early makes them consider? They've got a lot of talent, but still could use someone viewed as a #1 scorer, which CJ could provide. alongside Van Vleet, with Barnes and OG in frontcourt, moving Trent to the bench. At the same time, if I were them, I'd rather push development of OG and Barnes, and live with any negative results, and look to see if I could swing Siakam for a slightly younger return elsewhere. SIakam for Turner would help out both teams quite a bit, IMO.
McCollum doesn't strike me as the type of player the Raptors would target. I feel like they want defensively versatile players with good passing awareness rather than a scorer who doesn't do much else. McCollum does have some passing ability, but he seems Westbrookian in his passing--he needs to be the hub of either scoring or passing to be successful at it, not someone who blends seamlessly into a passing offense.
Shit dude, why didn’t you remind me? I almost forgot my appointment! Another blazers loss….. time to blow it up!
