If a Wiseman + draft pick(s) for GPII comes to fruition, it becomes clear that Cronin and team are playing for this summer and 2023-24 (whether that yields anything then is another question). And frankly, that's the better move than doing something stupid to try to salvage this season. Collect youngish controlled players that might help (including Thybulle in this as restricted free agent with a relatively low QO) and first round picks, and see where the chips fall this summer. If Dame is still fully onboard and the opportunity presents, you have a pick warchest and some other young assets to play with. If the season goes to pot and he asks out, you are still flush with some interesting assets (and would collect more from the Dame trade). I will go down believing that even KD (with what we would have needed to give up) wouldn't have saved the 2022-23 iteration of the Blazers.
We've done a pretty good job of not overpaying leading up to the deadline, so far. We're either gearing up for one big trade by gathering a lot of reasonably-priced assets for almost nothing or we're basically buying lottery tickets now and setting ourselves up for something this offseason or next. If we're getting Wiseman, my guess is Cronin is doing it economy class; his value's never been lower and the Blazers at the very least need a bit more size.
I feel like I'm supposed to be upset about this trade (wiseman to the Pistons)...but I just can't get motivated.
So, the Piston now have both Duren and Wiseman. Interesting. They are quietly building an interesting young team.
