I might be wrong cuz I’m traveling and having fun and tiring myself out, but didn’t I see someone in the media say that the Grant trade wouldn’t take place until 7/6, so wouldn’t Wednesday make more sense?
I didn't see that but I wasn't really looking but I think it's safe to say we'll have a presser some time next week.
All good. Not paying much attention as I chill in Hawaii, but I could’ve sworn I saw something about a July 6 date, but I could wrong. Not that they couldn’t have multiple pressers, anyhow…
First: I love GPII. Dude is a hustler. Wish we wouldve signed him back when he was available at the min. Now at 8M, Im in doubt about the valur, because he wont have the room the operate like he did playing with Klay, Poole, Steph and Dray. Im afraid it might turn out to be a bad match. Also not a fan of Jerami Grant. He believes hes better than he really is. His defense has been shabby for a while too, now. All in all disappointing summer so far and I doubt we have the means to move beyond being a threadmill team.
Maybe I'm too optimistic for the long term plays, but I am happy with this offseason. I gotta imagine Portland is just about done. I'd guess that they move Bledsoe in the next week to a team like the Spurs or Pistons who can take in the 19 million and then cut him for the 3.9, and the Blazers pay them out 5-6 Million for their troubles. At that point, the Blazers have ducked under the luxury tax for one more year, have 14 players under contract, 2 2-way players, and use this as a bounce back/development year. Next year they have more salary on the books that they're able to move, have the ability to make moves without being hardcapped, and have another year of evaluation for Ant, Nas, Sharpe, Keon. I know people want championship moves or bust every offseason, but I think this is a good first step towards the end goal. Every year, players that you don't expect to move, become available. Hopefully by next offseason Portland is more able to get into those conversations with a mix of good young players, all of their draft picks available, and larger salaries to match contracts.
A measured and reasonable take, IMHO. I do expect Cronin to keep swinging for a trade. To be in on one of the moves-yet-to-be-made without getting the whale in the trade … Ayton, Durant, Bam … I also don’t see Cronin giving up on OG unless he’s traded elsewhere.
I hope somebody will ask some tough questions like did using our MLE put us in a position where we can't do anything else, or do they have a plan?