Exclusive Blazers take Scoot at #3!!! Now what?

So we trade Ant in the next few weeks then Dame asks out in a few months? Or what if Sharpe is ultimately better at SF?

I wouldn't trade Ant unless both it was a similar talent coming back and we have a long term commitment from Dame.

In fact if Dame doesn't want to commit now, it's probably better getting picks from Brooklyn in a trade for him and not giving Grant a massive boat anchor of a contract.

 

even if dame asks out, the future is Scoot/Sharpe.

Ant can go too.

Grant can walk.

Fire Cronin also. I'm happy with the Scoot pick but let's be honest, he simply took BPA here and did nothing.

 

where is the press conference?

 

https://www.nba.com/blazers/now/

 

I would re-sign Grant if the contract is reasonable, and then try to trade him at the deadline.

 

Totally fair, and I agree 100% that something more drastic than tinkering around the edges is the only way we'll ever have a shot.

Probably it comes down to where we're each willing to place our risk. You're willing to risk a reset with a promising draft pick. And accept the unknown in order to retain flexibility for a few years.
I'm willing to risk a lack of flexibility and a bit of an all-in push to continue riding with the known quantity that is Dame. I just happen to enjoy watching him enough (I haven't enjoyed watching any Blazers player as much as him) that I'm okay if we come close-ish, but short with his remaining years.
But this is just my opinion and while I can't vibe with the trade Dame side of the argument, I can definitely understand it. (As long as it's in good faith, looks yours and not trollish like some folks)

 

I honestly understand both approaches, and I wasn't completely against going win-now, but I just wanted us to pick a lane. It sounds like we're not doing that. We're going to keep straddling the two timelines.

 

We seem to excel at that.

Unfortunately, I think these leaked timelines and ultimatums from Dame's camp (real or fiction) will be what picks our lane. Other GM's smell blood and have no desire to help us out (even worse than our historically bad track record).

Coincidentally, I think your vision for the team and mine both rest on Scoot and Sharpe being amazing this year.

 

Oh my, sounds like this 19 year old kid isn't finished developing.

 

I wanted Miller and Amen more. I hope Scoot proves me wrong

 

I'm excited! we have our future PG under rookie contract!

 

If we're keeping Scoot then all the focus has to go into the frontcourt. Need to add size, rebounding and rim protection.

If our only pieces in doing so are Simons, Little, Nurkic and free agency then it's not going to be nearly enough I fear.

 

I don’t see all the hype about Scoot, he reminds me of Eric Bledsoe just more explosive.

It’s just the m.o. of this fanbase, then look for a scapegoat...

This right here, the kid needs to work on his game a lot, tons of explosive athleticism, but his shooting is a issue and people are too over hyped about him here without him playing a second of NBA ball. People here are the funniest, and quite silly with their over the top exceptions.

 

I agree on keeping our expectations low, but i think we need to ask ourselves: yes, he's a bad shooter. not a great defender etc. Does he have the character to push himself and improve in those areas?
his physique and reputation says he does.

He's 19 years old. He has a lot of time to grow as a player.
Many all-stars and superstars came into this league with glaring downsides.

It's wayyyyy to early to be too high or too low on him at the moment.

 

I agree with everything you said.
I’m not trying to pour cold water on people’s high expectations, but at the same time it’s like come on, let’s see some flashes of it first or how it does in the NBA for at least one season.

Those concerns I mentioned were more just I want to see how those things pan out, he is young and has lots of time to grow, let’s just give him that time first before we put over the top exceptions on him.