Assume we don’t get Wemby. Do you prefer to retool meaning trade pick and other youth or rebuild without Dame? Top 5 pick to go with Ant, Sharpe plus potential draft picks and good young prospect (from Dame trade) would be great start to rebuild with everyone being on same time table.
They ARE rebuilding around Dame, Sharpe, and Grant. That’s the obvious conclusion. Plan A. Ant being the guy they’d rather not trade all things considered but Sharpe > Simons as a priority. Watford, Thybulle, Eubanks, Walker are not “essential,” but they’re likely around next season and good to keep. 7 guys. Besides Wemby, who else gets paired with Grant? Ant + lottery pick + more for a close to all star type forward? Ant + more for OG? Shaedon’s play and promise makes this possible. IMHO, this is the range for making the playoffs (with or without keeping a high-ish lottery pick). The ONLY way I can see Ant returning is if Wemby is a Blazer. The two-track win now, build the future MIGHT remain an actual option. I would still favor an Ant trade for a SF.
Retool. Keep the pick (Ausar, Miller, Walker, or Hendricks) and trade Ant. I really like Leonard Miller for #23 - but if he's not available, let Chicago take it to clear future pick encumbrances.
The only way we should keep Dame is if we get Wembanyama. That's literally the only way we can pair Dame with another star who can help in his slim remaining window. (I think VW will be instantly elite at defense, even if not offense.)
My choice isn't on the list. Trade Simons and Nurk. No to trading any picks now or in the future. Dame can stay or go, his choice. If I was Jody I'd tell him that if he wants out to tell me behind the scenes and I'd be the villain that trades him. He shouldn't have to publicly ask out and be seen as changing his mind about loyalty and not running from the grind.
Blazers are getting a top draft pick, while beating the living hell out of the really cruddy teams. It's a nifty little gadget, I say run it. Why fix it if it ain't broke?
I’m not sure what the difference is between retool around Dame and rebuild around Dame. Where is the option to rebuild around Sharpe?
No option to rebuild around Sharpe? because Shaedon might be trade bait so the Blazers can continue Anfernee's illustrious career in Portland.
The only thing I demand from the Trail Blazers is starting Shaedon Sharpe next season and playing him 35 minutes a game. Even if the talent level of the other players is about the same, there will be a world of difference in entertainment value. Hopefully Cronin will make the right decisions and/or get lucky and there will be a world of difference in the standings too. Beyond that, there are too many unknowns.
Is this a joke that just went totally over my head? Lol, what is your definition of "broke"? We have a top 10 player, multiple supporting cast in place, AND WE STILL MISSED THE PLAYOFFS ENTIRELY. It's broken to the point of not being fixable UNLESS we somehow land the generational #1 prospect in the draft.
I can't like a post twice so I just wanted to say this is the reasonable take right now. I want Shaedon starting and I personally only want his starting at SG. Other than that we just have too many variables to even know what we want besides that we want a team that is more compelling, a team that can build to something at the end of the season.
Cronin is getting hung up on during trade talks. " What will you give us for Nurk?... {click}" The Blazers could have no alternative but lose for more super rookies. Might as well hire friends and family of Lillard and Coach Billups. Make it a family fun family happy fun friendly team that loses for a generational rookie.
Lillard, Sharpe, Grant, Watford and Nurk with Simons as 6th man leading the second unit and Mays(yes, Mays is that guy), Thybulle, Winslow and Eubanks would be competitive next year and with a little luck in the draft could be a contender in two years with a bright future. Oh, this solely relies on Lillard changing his style of play to get the ball moving and others more involved. Sharpe is going to be that good.
I don't agree. I don't think we will or should re-sign Justise given his injury history and the fact that he could only play 29 games for us this season... including him in your rotation says a lot. You didn't address the fact that we will likely have a top 7 pick. I also think Joe was very clear that he plans to make a big move this off season to get Dame some more help. All of that being said, that team you put together has nowhere close to enough size to off of the bench to compete. Just a really weird post.
and so to compound it with another wierd post? Lol. He did address this years draft. He said we could be competitive next year AND WITH A LITTLE LUCK IN THE DRAFT, we could be a contender in a couple years. Just because you disagree, doesn't make his post weird… If we get lucky in this draft and get number one, i think he is spot on saying we could be a contender in a couple years. A growing Sharpe and Wemby could do that. Not a weird post at all. Just a weird reply…
