Effectively if instead the Blazers had taken Detroits place in these trades; would you prefer to have the assets Detroit got to what we got in Grant?
I had trouble figuring out what the Blazers did with pick #46. Apparently Denver is giving us a 2024 second rounder
Duren by far. I don't care about "Dame's prime" if we're not getting another superstar. Edit: it could be argued that Duren will make us better in the short term as well, and is also insurance if Nurk gets hurt which would end any title run.
Duren and Procida and Simons and Sharpe and Little are a team that should tank to build the future. Load management in the extreme. And I like the skill building possibilities …. On a team with Lillard that needs another forward (SF) and minutes getting big (Bamba) in free agency/trades, Grant fills the PF spot at both ends. Done. Within the context of the team as it is and where it is, for me it’s not that close of a choice. [In the theoretical just as players … I’d swing for it and go young.]
As I've said elsewhere, I like Grant and have argued for attaining him but with him Portland is still several pieces away from contending. Like Sharpe, I think Duren will need a couple seasons but has big time potential. I'd much rather suck now and have three big time talents (Ant, Sharpe, Duren) maturing and positioned to add a couple more then hover in NBA purgatory trying to chase the impossible. STOMP
Duren would fill a need as much as Grant. We could be looking for another forward now instead of a backup center. Duren could also be very very good someday. I'll be surprised if Grant plays better overall than Nassir Little and Justise Winslow. Those guys do not take plays off. Plus, we have Hart and Sharpe to get time at small forward.
Duren could immediately be a back-up at 5 and likely 4. Sharpe is a 2 who become a SF as he develops physically. Harts should play as a 2. Little is unproven as a starting SF. Ingles should be a back-up. Grant is best as a PF. The Blazers need a starting SF and back-up big. … IMHO
you sure seemed convinced that Portland was going to trade the 7th pick away, probably for Grant...no?
I certainly hope to be surprised. He seems like a flash in the pan, glorified role player to me. That would be depressing if he doesn't surprise me.
A glorified role player is what we need alongside Dame, Ant, and Nurk. How is that a bad thing? We haven’t had a glorified role player at SF since Scottie Pippen.
Detroit just got Nerlens Noel essentially for nothing because they had cap room, too. I'm starting to feel played here.