When Dame asked out, Utah was not the first team that popped into my head as a suitor for him, but there's been chatter (Windhorst and the other ESPN guys, along with a thought piece on the Athletic yesterday) that it might be a fit. From Portland's perspective: Utah has lots of expiring deals to match salaries (I think I heard $40m, although that doesn't seems to align with what Fanspo has) They have some good young players to trade without gutting their depth They have LOTS and LOTS of draft picks to trade without gutting their future Dame went to college in Utah, and the team looks like they'd have a chance to contend with Dame, so it's not quite like sending him to Siberia Throwing a trade idea out there to get the conversation going... Portland takes on Sexton's deal, and MAYBE we'd be able to move him for second rounders or something rather than taking him on. We also get Hendricks, who I really like but doesn't seem to be critical for Utah given they have Collins and a bunch of picks. I actually think Utah is a co-leader with Brooklyn from my perspective in terms of who I hope we trade with.
Think of all of the teams that are loaded with assets and have some good young forwards/centers. Those should be at the top of the list.
Supposedly (this was verbally, from Marang a couple weeks ago, so take it with a grain of salt) Dame has discussed potential landing spots with Cronin in the past, and Utah was on that list. Whether or not we'd be willing to trade our franchise player in-division is up for debate (putting it mildly), but they certainly do have an interesting package to offer. Like with Herro, we'd probably want to reroute Sexton... Speaking of Herro, somebody posted something yesterday suggesting they may be interested in him as a 3rd team as well... And yes, more picks would be needed to trade our franchise player to an in-division rival...
I saw Sexton at the Nike Hoop Summit and thought that the kid looked like the best player out there at times. I'd take him and see if Brooklyn wants Simons for assets if they aren't getting Herro.
Being sarcastic friend haha, but I do love Markkanen and would love him in Portland but a straight up deal would never happen and/or they would not want to deal him. Looking at the Jazz, the situation the OP put forth imo is probably the best we could do. Would love to have Kessler part of that deal, but doubt they would want to part with him also.
I'd want 1 more pick because there are no good young players there and finding a team to move Sexton to for another asset. I supposed you could consider Hendricks the '4th' 1st round pick, but then the player value goes down even further.
Yeah Kessler is probably untouchable (though we could see if adding Nurk changes that), but they have Keyonte George, Ochai Agbaji, Brice Sensabaugh, and Luka Samanic who would all be, at minimum, assets.
Hendricks is a 6'10" 19 year-old power forward that just went #9 in the draft. I'm not saying we shouldn't/wouldn't want more picks, but he's the best young player I've seen discussed in ANY draft other than Maxey, who's allegedly not on the trade block and is a terrible fit in Portland.
I think Dame will be Laker or Clipper bound, just my gut feeling. I know Balmer would love to have him and would put together a reasonable variety package.
Oh I really like Hendricks. Just was saying if he was considered the 4th 1st round pick, the value of the remaining players included in that proposal goes down hill. There is nothing there other than another PG we don't need.
