I want it to be noted that I was against trading Ant Simmons....

Before he's traded by this loser organization and becomes better than Lillard as early as next season while also being a decade younger, in what will be remembered as just one of many boneheaded moves this team has done, I want it to be fully noted that I wanted us to keep Ant and trade Lillard

 

Ohhh boy. Here we go….

 

I wish other team's GMs also sees Ant as you do

 

This thread could have been a response.

 

Look at how many teams won a title lead by a player older than Lillard. Its almost unheard of, only happened 4 times with MJ LeBron Wilt.

Time to move on from building a team primarily around Dame. If he wants to stay here then fine, but no don't give up a 23 year old Ant for that doomed to fail attempt to win now with an aging Dame.

 

That part I agree with. And there is a BIG difference between those players and Dame not only in talent, but in size. It is just very rare that players of Dame's size lead a team to a title. Add in the type of game Dame plays, and it's nearly non-existent.

Again, it doesn't diminish his talent, or how good he has been. It's just that someone of his size with that style of game as the best player leading a team to a title at that age.... total outlier.

 

On top of what has been said, it can be just as difficult to find a third/fourth option as it is to find a first/second option.

Simons is a third and fourth option type player. Realistically, he is probably current Jalen Brunson tier when he hits his peak.

The hope is that Sharpe is #1 and the 3rd pick yields a reliable #2.

Perhaps if the Blazers acquire Scoot, they can trade Simons away for a wing who can consistently be the third/fourth option.

But for now, I won't discount Simons, either. His contract is good and his talent isn't as common as people would think.

 

Not that it really detracts from your overall point, but I'd add at least a couple more all timers to your list. From just 2 years back, Curry was older then Lillard will be and Kareem was pretty damn dominant in 1984-5 at age 38. Both had tremendous seasons earning all league honors and placing among the regular season MVPs before winning finals MVPs.

STOMP

 

If management sees Sharpe as ready for a bigger role, he should start at 2 guard. I don't see that as an indictment of Simons talent so much as that he's a poor fit next to Lillard especially defensively where neither are big enough to effectively guard wings. Many have pointed to this obvious fact for a while now. However the 6th man role including leading the attack while Dame rests would be great for him and the team IMO. If the team is to stick with Dame as it's lead, it's silly to think he's not going to fade physically in the coming years needing his minutes curtailed and more rest management. Potentially trading Ant to address their frontcourt issues is a little bit of robbing Peter to pay Paul

STOMP

 

I thought there were a couple more as well, but it even more so, it establishes how rare it is and only 1 player was under 6'6".....the greatest shooter in the NBA who excels both with the ball in his hands AND playing off ball. That doesn't bode well for our local hero no matter how much we like him and are vested in him. If the goal is a championship, history, precedence, and almost every other factor tells us this later career build is not the way to go. If it is just to enjoy a few more years of mediocrity, even though that level may be improved mediocrity, then that is quite likely what we will get.

For fans that enjoy that, that is certainly their prerogative. For those that want more, I can certainly understand where they are coming from. This is rated as the best/deepest Draft in years and we have the highest pick since 2007. Giving that asset away for the opportunity to likely be boat raced by the Nuggets for the next couple of years seems not a very fruitful path.

 

You’re such a big fan you spelled his name wrong?

 

Yeah I've always thought of Simons as Lillard's replacement. There is room for both with the contract Simons is on.

 

I am happy.

Happy because I have never signed in to a sports discussion board to start controversial threads.

 

Why do we need to know this or why should we care?

 

Well it IS a blazer forum and this is a blazer related topic.

I think the reason why the kids stay away from this place is because we’re a bunch of old curmudgeons and for some reason most of you like to pour all news into mega threads. Reddit is much much more popular than this site with the youngins.

 

Well I guess yeah it is Blazer related, but not really a great one for discussion. And friend I am 36 years old so do not really consider myself a youngin as you put it; though I still do get carded when I buy alcohol but that's more down to my good looks haha.

And Reddit is a cesspool.