Will be the Heat a few assets from them and from a 3rd team My guess Jovic Martin Simmons Clowney 4-5 picks 2 pick swaps Dame and Nurk out
That's almost exactly what I have had running through my mind. I can't say that I would be overly excited by that return, but I wouldn't be badly disturbed either.
In theory.... 2-3 picks from Miami (if they can get OKC to move off 2025). 2-3 picks from Brooklyn (Probably a pick for Herro and a pick for taking on Simmons from the Nets.) So that's between 4-6 picks.
I think you slide Simmons into the starting lineup next to Grant. You could also start Martin. Scoot Sharpe Martin Grant Simmons
Not obvious Simmons will play, and I don't know enough about Martin - I'll check him out. However, the player I want is Claxton, but I understand that's not likely.
Have you SEEN our roster? Haha. If we trade Nurk and Dame, as Nate pointed out some of those guys would definitely be starting for us.
I think Simmons will play. He's going to want another contract. He's still young. Gotta make that money and he has two years to convince someone he can still do it. But yes... I'd like to get Claxton as well.
Who gets Nurk in that scenario? The Nets? So they would get Nurk and Herro for Simmons, Clowney, and 2-3 picks? I guess it is possible, but still not feeling it from the Net's side. They must really like Herro or really hate Simmons. I hope you are right.
Given everything and Dame's huge contract/age that seems fair to me and I'd take it, Get some assets now and in the future, we'd be set pretty well for rebuild which is already off to a good start with Shae/Scoot
Simmons starts. I still think Portland is the best place for him to try to revitalize his career. If he has any interest in being an NBA player, the fans here will embrace him. Jovic is a rotation guy from Day 1 who becomes a very valuable starting piece in probably two years. If you can be patient with him -- and the Blazers can -- he'd be a problem for other teams in the near future.
The other thing about a lineup that includes Thybulle, Martin and Simmons is those are three defenders that give Dame fits. And, right now, I'm here for that. Just seeing him struggle those two games and reading the Miami Herald and Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel beat writers go hyperbolic in their questioning of Dame the next day will bring a smile to my face.
KD was on a team that was one game from the Finals and lost to the 73-win Warriors in Game 7. The same Warriors that had just won a ring. Then he joined them. Dame was on a tanking, rebuilding team that didn't fulfill their obligations and misled him, then drafted his replacement. So he wants to go to Miami, who hasn't won a ring since LeBron. The two situations aren't comparable whatsoever.
Miami, Brooklyn, Portland okay. Herro and Nurkic to Brooklyn. Lillard and Nurkic out. Claxton, Jovic, Jaquez, filler that is expiring in 1-2 years and 4 picks Portland needs a young center who plays D and is athletic Forwards who may become real players. They have guards. THIS is not winning the trade. It’s rebuilding. The Blazers need to make any other moves and Lillard can wait. If he wants to say something, he and his agent can talk to the other teams.
Lillard wants to join a team that was just in the finals, which is what Durant did when he went to Golden State. Both wanted the magic ticket to a championship. The main difference is that Durant joined a team that was so good he was guaranteed to win a title. Lillard is joining a team that isn’t quite as stacked, and there is no guarantee they will win it all with him. The other difference is that Lillard was patient with Portland, and gave them plenty of chances to build a contender. But, in the end, both cases are about jumping on somebody else’s bandwagon to get a ring.
I want the trade done ASAP, but I’d rather have it drag out than have Cronin and the Blazers get crapped on in a trade just because non-Blazer fans and media want it.
