Free your minds people! Forget where Dame wants to go and what team you think wants Dame, or where he fits. It could be a team like the Cavaliers, who went 4 straight seasons out of the playoffs before trading for Donovan Mitchell. I know Detroit wants to "win now." They thought they'd be in the playoff race last season, ended up last, and got bounced out of the top 4 in the lottery. They want to make the playoffs badly. The only stipulation is that the trade can work. Let Miami and the other team sort it out if they want to. Not our problem. Here are some targets ideas: Anthony Black Nic Claxton (+ Noah Clowney) Jeremy Sochan (+ Keldon Johnson) Scottie Barnes Herb Jones / Trey Murphy III Jaylen Brown Taylor Hendricks Zion Evan Mobley Achiuwa + Koloko Edit: Chet Holmgren. Jarace Walker Jarrett Allen
I like this exercise. I think first, we need to look at who has draft picks. That seems to be Brooklyn, SA and Utah. Anyone else? Next, we need to look at young 4s and 5s. Who would be on that list? Lastly, we need to look for expiring deals. I would prefer high-character players who may enjoy mentoring youngsters.
We might have to include a young star with upside. It would suck to let Keon go, but I think Joker is worth it
San Antonio 2024 - Own; CHA 15-30 (via NYK to ATL); TOR 7-30 2025 - Own; CHA 15-30 (via NYK to ATL) if not already settled; TOR 7-30 if not already settled; ATL; CHI 11-30 2026 - Own or swap for ATL; TOR 7-30 if not already settled; CHI 9-30 if not already settled 2027 - Own; CHI 9-30 if not already settled; ATL 2028 - Own or swap for BOS 2-30 2029 - Own
Brooklyn 2024 - To HOU 2025 - Own or HOU (via HOU swap for BRK) if HOU 1-10 or if HOU 11-30 is less favorable than LAC; or least favorable of BRK, HOU 11-30 and OKC; and more favorable of (i) BRK and (ii) less favorable of HOU 11-30 and OKC to HOU if HOU 11-30 is more favorable than LAC (via OKC swap for HOU 11-30 or LAC; via HOU swap of HOU or OKC for BRK); PHX 2026 - To HOU 2027 - Own or HOU (via HOU swap for BRK); PHL 9-30 if PHL conveys 1st round pick to OKC in 2025; PHX 2028 - Own or swap BRK or PHL for PHX; PHL 9-30 if not already settled and if PHL has conveyed 1st round pick to OKC by 2026 [BRK can swap this pick for PHX] 2029 - Own; DAL; PHX
OKC Thunder 2024 - Own; HOU 5-30; LAC; UTH 11-30 2025 - Own or swap for HOU 11-30 or LAC; more favorable of (i) BRK and (ii) less favorable of OKC and HOU 11-30 to HOU then other to BRK if HOU 11-30 is more favorable than LAC (via OKC swap for HOU 11-30 or LAC; via HOU swap of HOU or OKC for BRK); UTH 11-30 if not already settled; MIA 15-30 (via LAC); PHL 7-30 2026 - Own; UTH 9-30 if not already settled; MIA (via LAC) if not already settled; PHL 5-30 if not already settled; HOU 5-30; LAC 2027 - Own; PHL 5-30 if not already settled; DEN 6-30 if DEN has conveyed 1st round pick to ORL by 2025 2028 - Own; DEN 6-30 if not already settled and if DEN has conveyed 1st round pick to ORL by 2026 2029 - Own; DEN 6-30 if not already settled
Utah 2024 - 1-10 Own; 11-30 to OKC 2025 - 1-10 Own; 11-30 to OKC if not already settled; CLE; MIN 2026 - Most favorable of UTH 1-8, MIN and CLE; less favorable of UTH 1-8 and MIN to MIN; less favorable of (i) CLE and (ii) more favorable of UTH 1-8 and MIN to CLE; UTH 9-30 to OKC if not already settled; or Most favorable of UTH, MIN and CLE; less favorable of UTH and MIN to MIN; less favorable of (i) CLE and (ii) more favorable of UTH and MIN to CLE if UTH has conveyed 1st round pick to OKC by 2025 (via UTH swap for MIN; via UTH swap of UTH or MIN for CLE) 2027 - Own; CLE; LAL 5-30; MIN 2028 - Own or swap for CLE 2029 - Own; CLE; MIN 6-30
Detroit Pistons. (player targets: Jalen Duren, Ausar Thompson) 2024 - 1-18 Own; 19-30 to NYK (via HOU to OKC) 2025 - 1-13 Own; 14-30 to NYK (via HOU to OKC) if not already settled 2026 - 1-11 Own; 12-30 to NYK (via HOU to OKC) if not already settled 2027 - 1-9 Own; 10-30 to NYK (via HOU to OKC) if not already settled 2028 - Own 2029 - Own
The other stipulation should be that the team to which Dame is sent can compete for HCA after acquiring him. Why--because that's what Dame wants? No...because there's no incentive for a team to trade for him unless they plan on competing immediately. So Detroit and San Antonio don't make a lot of sense to me, because I don't see how they can become instant contenders by adding Dame. Orlando had been my favorite dark-horse Dame destination, but I really didn't like what they did in the draft (in terms of how their selections might fit here), so I'm basically off of that horse now. Utah...... not really interested in Sexton's or Clarkson's 3-year deals, but if they can be re-routed and we can get Taylor Hendricks (and several picks), I guess that works be OK. But I'd be afraid of Danny Ainge taking Cronin to GM school.
Send Dame down to the G League! I think the Blazers have a new G League team (named Remix?). Just think how many championships he could bring Portland by playing in the G-League! He gets his wish of playing for a contender and bringing a title to Portland.
For me, my wants: 1) 1 or 2 young guys actually worth getting excited about (Jovic, Clowney, Sochan, Barnes) 2) 4-6 unprotected 1sts from 2026-2030 3) expirings
Look at Detroits win/loss record over the years. It's hard to fathom for a Blazer fan. Since the end of the 2007-08 season the Detroit Pistons have had ONE WINNING SEASON. There is a definitely an incentive to obtain a veteran like Dame. Making the playoffs would be huge for this franchise.
My Blazers first trade still ends with Dame in Miami. The part cut off from the image is Caleb Martin who is traded to Dallas for Bullock to Miami and a FRP to us. That's Ben Simmons, Dougie McBuckets, Jaquez, Jovic, Orlando Robinson and 7 first round picks, 6 of them are completely unprotected and the 7th is the Raptors pick in 2024 only top 6 protected in 2024, '25 and '26, if it is in the top 6 all three years it becomes the Raptors second rounder in 2026. This is served up to you who want a dream on a platter but in no way do I think this should be the expectation, then again if you take it team by team it is pretty reasonable.
