I wonder if this was ever true? When an agent or team wants to drive up value, they usually say Blazers are interested, because it seems like Blazers have a policy of never denying rumors.
It's just funny/sad because Simons is essentially pulling a Dame and hurting our chances at a lottery pick. Dame did the same thing the year after LMA left.
Blazers figure to be in the market for a backup C. As much as everyone wants Mo Bamba, I have a suspicion Robin Lopez could end up back with the team. He won't command much money, he has a little bit left in the tank, he fits the community, his game is like Nurk-lite, he fits the culture.
Ideal is subjective. My ideal offseason would be 1 of 2 options: Option 1 Secure both lottery picks. Take the BPA with both picks. Trade Dame for another young building block. Roll with Simons/Nas/picks and maybe Hart. Option 2 Trade Ant and pick for star caliber small forward Trade pick/filler for one of Grant/Collins/Randle Dame Hart (young star SF) Grant/Collins/Randle Nurk
I mean, Freedom and Whiteside were available for the minimum last year. I don't know I would sign someone for much more than that. Could probably even resign Mr. Glass (Zeller) for the same.
Yeah, I just cannot comprehend why after these last six years, anyone would think that Dame and Ant would make a good back court... it's just not the case. The only reason why Ant hasn't looked like a complete mess at all times on defense is because he is covered by every other guy playing. We always needed someone like Hart next to Dame, we definitely don't need someone like Ant next to him. So I would go with Option 2 but I can see the logic in option 1. I won't be furious if the team decides to go either of those two ways. I will also give the team until the trade deadline to move Ant or Dame if it takes that long for this reality to sink in but after that unless I'm extremely surprised by some Dame/Ant synergy, I will be furious if we're wasting the rest of Dame's prime and then his declining but still all star level years on Dame/CJ 2.0.
Freedom had success here to some extent but doesn't really seem to me like a fit under Chauncey. Whiteside's already kind of shown this organization he's not a fit. I think RoLo probably would be. Big bodied screen setter, defender and rebounder. He wouldn't be my first choice of target -- that probably would be Hartenstein unless someone else comes on the market -- I'm just saying I could definitely see him being the guy the Blazers turn to if they keep Nurk.
If Brooklyn gets bounced embarrassingly, it's definitely possible that Ben Simmons is scapegoated and he could be on the move. How do I know he'd be a great fit for the Blazers? Because of Justice Winslow. Getting Grant to Brooklyn with one or two lotto picks for Ben Simmons while Brooklyn gives up a late pick or two they got from Philly to Detroit could be enough.
Another possible backup C would be Dewayne Dedmon. He's a 7 footer who can catch lobs and shoot 3-pointers. He's playing for Miami this season and has started 15 games. Here are highlights from one of his starts
Simons is not CJ he's already a better all around player and 22 CJ had reached his peak by that point. Is Brown as good as Butler/PG13? Serious question. I would consider this trade as Brown is very good and we need to even out the team and Hart is fine as a SG. That said Simons is already better than CJ and has almost unlimited potential. People need to stop pretending they are carbon copies. They aren’t. I never ever thought CJ would be a star. Simons could reach perennial all star scoring champion status. Will he? That remains to be seen, but he’s already a better all around player than CJ. We have never seen Ant next to Dame for extended minutes since Ant’s emergence. Cronin kept the right guard zero doubt in my mind.
did I say they were carbon copies? no, and that wasn't my point at all the comparison was to overvaluing a lesser player over a proven elite player (CJ over PG13 & Butler). And in this case, actually overvaluing Simons over two proven players: Dame & Brown, because that might be the combo Portland could have if they didn't cling to Simons like he was all-pro. Right now Simons has established some things but a lot of the bet is on his potential upside. And a big portion of that upside is still 'maybe' rather than certain I don't know whether anybody else noticed that when Simons was incredibly hot and got everybody excited, CJ was out. Once CJ came back Simons 'cooled off' dramatically. That 9 game hot streak was followed by a 1o game stretch where Simons was not hot anymore, in either his overall shooting, or his playmaking. Then CJ gets trade and Simons has 2 hot games again now it just could be coincidence, but it sure kind of looks like Ant doesn't play well if he has to share the stage with somebody who commands touches, shots, and usage. And that may be the case if he was sharing it with a player like Dame or a player like Brown all I suggested was that Ant + lottery pick + filler might be enough to get Brown. Probably not, but at least we know that Dame can share the stage
No, you are not alone. Granted I need to see more film on who could be there at #3, but I would think it would be someone pretty good at PF. The only debate is that Brown would speed the process up vs a rookie. (for Dame's sake) But I would rather have Dame, Simons, Hart, Little, and a rookie PF then Dame, Brown, Hart, and Little But it is close
I think that's a leap to compare Ant playing with CJ to Ant playing with Dame. Dame would pass Ant the ball. CJ did not.
Ant has shown far more chops as a playmaker in the P&R than CJ ever did. (Perhaps the stats don't show this, but my eye test certainly did). I think Ant is a much more willing passer and does a terrific job of reading backline defenses and his playmaking is closer to Dame's level than it is CJ's level. I've been on this trip for a while in a potential Dame-Ant backcourt to get a second P&R partner for Ant if Dame is paired with Nurk. A respectable shooter for a pick and pop threat or as a roller to put on the other wing when Dame-Nurk cook defenses on one wing. John Collins would be incredible in this role.
Ant + top-4 pick? maybe an overpay. Ant + #9? probably not. Boston would likely have the opposite view. They've only seen Ant in one game this year and he didn't play that well. an issue may be what else the Blazers would have to add because Ant in a S&T would be BYC and the Blazers would have to deal with a sizable salary differential
the post i responded to was Ant + #3 for Brown. Disregarding cap mechanics. But in a vacuum, I think that's insane value to give up for a guy who is a clearcut #2 on a good team.
