Trade CJ McCollum to New Orleans

I highly doubt it, when its reported by multiple sources in the media including Woj its done.

Think of it like a draft day trade though, sometimes those don't get finalized until early in July with free agency, as other teams are brought it. If POR or NOP want to bring in another team they will make it a 3 or 4 way, if not they will finalize it as has been reported.

 

He would fit right it as he's now out for season and having wrist surgery!

 

A couple years ago Billups was a candidate for some front office jobs. I wonder if this is his little project and Cronin is the cap guru? Part of some big plan for Billups

 

Word is they are doing all of this FOR Lillard. The team is going to be completely rebuilt around him this summer through free agent signings.

 

I think the trade is unofficially done. Kind of looks like the Pels are allowing Cronin time to try and add something to the deal from the Blazer POV

 

Was the team built around Robert Covington before?

 

Cmon Cronin or Kolde… make some more moves

 

And by "built around him" it means that Dame will be next year's starting center. At 6'3", he may be the tallest player on the team.

 

Keyword: Free Agent signings lol

 

Context that makes sense to me:
Blazer brass isn’t sure if Lillard will force out. If he does, they will be bringing back bunches of picks and potential. If he doesn’t it will be because he is satisfied there is a clear star #2 to pair.

So these trades set up either of the following:
1) Lillard asks out. All big contracts are gone and the real potential comes from the Lillard sweepstakes. Extremely flexible roster to move pieces and rebuild.
2) Lillard stays. He only does this if he can convince a great player or two to join him. With contracts gone and all pieces easy to move, if Dame convinces other players to come we will have flexibility and some pieces to make the trades reality.

Basically all these moves are built to be able to work with either tear down or rebuild but the trades don’t maximize the what could be acquired if the Blazers had either clear path (keep or trade Dame) set in stone. These trades are all designed for flexibility. Good enough outcomes.

 

Also a lot of money to take on a player in a trade this summer in case that team wants to sign someone like…ohhhhh…James harden?

 

Kings have been ran to the ground for how long now? They been in the lottery for how long now? That still didn’t get them to move. So that’s that.

 

Pffff haha

Free Agent sightings… yeah

 

Some podcast said Kings haven’t made the playoffs in the iPhone era. Dang!

 

I think perhaps this shows us something…

MAYBE…

The fact we actually moved CJ after LITERALLY BEING LIED TO. It was what, a month ago they said that they weren’t going to break up the backcourt?

Something I myself and some others have thought for a while… Which is that CJ’s contract was not very desired. Perhaps Olshey had tried to move CJ and found no interest around the league. Basically getting stonewalled on every offer.

This might not look great on the surface… But in the long run it might be good.

It’s hard not to think of Ellis/Curry in GS when thinking about Dame/CJ.

Hopefully we can get some better pieces around Dame. Hopefully Dame understands and we have a solid plan to do so. If that is the case, then let’s see where we are next season before freaking out.

 

Also thinking about what Dame has said about ANT. He’s given ANT a lot of praise.

Stating that he’s going to surprise people. Which hopefully he fully believes and is sold on a lineup of him and ANT as much as him and CJ.

 

For the LOVE of all that is holy they better not trade ANY 1st round picks going forward.

 

Yeah, doesn't make sense in a total rebuild to trade away picks.

 

This is why I don't make the trade for Grant now, even if I like Grant (which I don't particularly... at least at his cost). Play out free agency (or at least tamper away until the eve of free agency so you know where you are at) and then the team and Dame can make a decision in conjunction knowing what options are on the table. Grant will still be available around the draft or this summer if that's the direction you want. If you think you can legitimately retool and make a run (signing a big name in free agency, trading someone into cap space), go for it with Dame's buy in. If you are hearing that free agents are not interested, etc., the team and Dame can amicably part ways this summer. In the latter scenario, which I think might be a legitimate option, I don't want Grant (or someone of his ilk) on the books, and I don't want to lose a single first round pick.

I hope Cronin is patient here, and unless it's an absolute slam dunk, wait until at least the draft to push the chips all in on rebuilding around Dame. There is NO reason to do it in the next 48 hours.