We got the #3 pick. Discuss the possibilities.

Lauri Markkenen. Had his best year last year. Truly came into his own. Not just a spot up 3 guy like he was in Chicago & Cleveland. 25.6 pt. per 39 % 3pt. 8.6 rebounds per. Potentially perfect PF next to Nurk. Only 26 years old. Why isn't he discussed more as a trade possibility. Has 2 yrs. left @ 17.2 mil. I've brought him up before with others , but he could be a sleeper here. Could the Blazers get Lauri with picks 9 and 16 for the #3 and Ant?

 

Well I'm not interested in him because two of our biggest problems...

1) Overall defense
2) No POA defender

Aren't solved by adding him.

A lot of these trades seem like our grand plan is to score 150 points per game and "hold" the other team to 149

 

See, this is the kind of deal I like… get a star without sacrificing completely with draft picks. Way better deal to get Lauri, 9, 16 than only Bridges IMO.

 

I think our front office better check on this. The word is that they view Markkenen as their franchise player but that could be just another front office floating bullshit to elevate return.

 

With 9 and 16 , you get a chance at Blake Lively (defensive big) at 9. And you could trade #16 to Chicago for DeMar DeRozan & pick reconciliation. Nurk, Markkanen, Grant, DeRozan, Dame. Sharpe 6th man. Free Agency, add a dead eye shooter.

 

I love your thinking here. This builds a balanced roster. I think Bridges would be worst case scenario… giving up all our assets for a slightly better River Covington/Norman Powell is definite mediocrity.

 

Blake Lively? Hmm

 

Yeah, I don't mind the idea of getting Bridges in a trade but it if it's for pick 3 it needs to be him and Claxton, the Nets need to take Nurk off of our hands and Ant should be routed to a third team that gives us some draft capital back.

I could be on board for this trade, I wouldn't be jumping for joy or anything and it would be even better if Orlando was willing to give up pick 6 but this wouldn't infuriate me. 3 and Ant for Bridges would be really fucking painful.

 

I hope we keep it

 

Yeah, I can see Joe just doing the easy thing and drafting BPA and telling Dame it's for him with his mouth while his actions continue to say, "Fuck the prime of your career!"

At the same time I could see us pulling off the Zion trade if Scoot is there at 3... and still getting even better by either trading Ant to a third team in that trade or in a different trade altogether. Really interesting time to be a fan of our team.

 

All I know is if Sharpe and 3 are sent out to appease Dame with some middle aged borderline all stars I might be done till new ownership arrives.

 

I think you're safe on that one.

 

Same… doesn’t even need to include Sharpe. Trading 3rd pick and Simons for someone like Bridges who gives you ZERO chance at title would be it for me. Should be franchise over the player… Dame has made almost half a billion dollars, we don’t owe him anything. We should be making best decisions to position the team for a title, not a couple years of first round exits so Dame can play with his friend. We wasted years trying this with CJ.

 

a 7’0” All Star PF that can shoot the lights out + lottery pick at 9 + additional pick at 16…

vs

A 6’6” non all star and nothing else in return

I don’t understand your logic

 

I think the thought is the cost would be less allowing us to then make more moves.

 

I WOULD be jumping for joy! Two really good starters who fit much better than the guys going out and are both still really young. And we get a lottery pick back also!

 

Could we then flip 9 and salary fillers to chi for DDR and releasing our future firsts and still keeping16 and 23?

 

Can’t give my source but from he chased down after this snippet from Windy is that PDX has been talking with BKN and TOR on a 3 team deal where we get Bridges/Clax/OG while keeping Sharpe. Would be contingent on Scoot being there.