Exclusive NBA Trade Deadline Thread 2024

The Blazers also already have 19-year-old Rayan Rupert who has been handling the ball, even coast-to-coast sometimes, with the G League. He's 6' 7" with a 7' 2" wingspan.
In the last game he shot 3-3 on 3-pointers.
He was drafted for his defense and potential on offense, which was very raw.

I wish the Blazers would commit to rebuilding and give meaninful minutes to guys like Rupert and Kris Murray. They could make a jump to being productive rotation players in the mold of Jabari Walker.

 

Rupert should be called up. Let's see what he can do.

 

This is the other thing keeping guys like Jerami and even Malcolm is preventing. Even keeping Ant is preventing this because although he is young Ant is a player who as a second scorer/playmaker on a team of elite defenders would be a good third best player right now and a great fourth best player, on a team contending.

I don't know if Rayan would get regular rotation minutes (meaning more than 20) but he'd be getting minutes in the teens every game and Kris would be getting heavy rotation minutes.

 

Blazers are 4-15 with Ant; they are 8-14 without him. There was plenty of evidence that Dame made his team, and teammates better. There is no evidence that Ant does

and yes, I know there could be a lot of factors at work in those with/without numbers, but a half season is a pretty solid sample size

 

Blazers appear to have renewed the parking pass in the Olshey-dead-end-cul-de-sac of straddling incompatible fences

maybe it's all facade and Cronin will prove me wrong and trade some vets at the deadline. But I've been thinking all along that he had no intention of trading Grant unless a ridiculous deal is offered; and the Nurkic for Ayton trade was fence-straddling 101

 

F that.

 

Nice, that means we can now expect 4 1sts for Grant. I’m excited lmao.

 

Laker fans want Donovan Mitchell. Cleveland is 4th in the East, that's home court advantage. Sounds like a great plan to discect a winning Cavs team so LA. can quit stinking up the league.

 

Anyway, I can talk you into a soft no?

I know, it's just one game, but last night in 25 minutes.....Precious shot 90% (9-10) with 11 rebounds.
6'8" 243 lbs with a lot of energy is something we don't have

 

Isn't a 6'8" PF with a lot of energy exactly what Jabari is for us?

 

I also believe Orlando might be a trade partner. Started off strong but offense suffering. These guys suggest Simons to Orlando but no suggestions who will come back.

1. 
   The Orlando Magic don't have a major motivation to reach for the fast-forward button. Their top two players are 22 and under—Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner—and have time remaining on their rookie-scale contracts. Their front office could conclude this roster isn't ready for an all-in type of transaction, especially with the way things have stalled of late (6-12 since their 16-7 sprint out of the starting gate).
   
   Then again, Orlando's third-ranked defense certainly appears playoff-ready. Its 24th-ranked offense obviously isn't there, but that might be something this club can correct on the trade market. After all, this club has everything needed to broker a blockbuster with more draft picks than they can use, more prospects than they can develop and enough mid-sized salaries to make the money work in almost any kind of deal.
   
   Why not try accelerating the rebuild with Anfernee Simons? He is young enough to grow with Orlando's core but might have too much overlap to coexist with Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe in Portland. The Trail Blazers have barely started their post-Damian Lillard rebuild, and it might be easier to navigate without owing the 24-year-old Simons $77.7 million for this season and the next two.
   
   The Blazers may not see Simons as expendable, per se, but he hardly feels untouchable. If he is up for grabs, the Magic might put a massive offer on the table. He is the high-volume perimeter shot-creator they desperately need, and his ability to play off the ball (43.6 catch-and-shoot three-point percentage on the league's least productive passing offense) means he wouldn't block the on-ball developmental paths of Banchero and Wagner.
   
   Simons' shooting, shot-making and secondary creation would all fill needs in Orlando and perhaps position the Magic to cement a top-six seed and give this young core its first taste of playoff basketball. Plus, they could keep him around for at least two more seasons, ideally continuing to climb the Eastern Conference ladder as he and they improve.
   

 

Simons makes a ton of sense for Orlando. Great scoring option alongside Banchero and Wagner. Suggs is a solid defender alongside him. And they have assets they can burn

 

I admit I did not see the updated roster for the Blazers. The last time I checked (about a month ago) They still had Walker listed at around 200 lbs. Maybe they changed it earlier and it was a caching issue on my end, but I even questioned it on this board. Now they have him listed at 227. That is a big difference IMO.

Either way, I was not suggesting he play over Walker because I am a big Jabari fan. But if we really have to trade Brogdon, and I actually would prefer we didn't as long as he is happy here, then I would rather add the 243 Achiuwa to the roster than a late-round draft pick that many have suggested.

Edit: yeah I am definitely seeing updated weights on the the Blazer.com roster.
Scoot is now 202 and Simons is now listed at 193

 

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One version I saw in a article pushing Ant to Orlando had Franz Wagner coming back. Basically said if you want a good scoring Guard to compliment Banchero, would have to give someone like Wagner up. I would be okay with that trade. Obviously would have to be other parts but I think Wagner would fit in well with the young guys.

 

i dont think this FO has any appetite to move Ant. He is the insurance they have in case Scoot fails to improve.

 

Well, I have been pushing for Wagner since before the draft, so yeah I would do that. But Orlando should not move him, nor will they.

 

Truth is small guards are dime a dozen. Even if Scoot fails, it won't be impossible to finding his replacement. It also seems that we've conceded that Ant can't be a point guard, so trading Ant is more about freeing Shae. I would do Ant for Franz in a heartbeat. I do think Ant in Orlando with Paolo creating would look nice.

 

Ants contract is pretty decent. At this point I just don't see them moving him.