actually no...that was probably his best trade, IMO gauged in a non-simultaneous manner (which is how you really need to gauge trades, IMO), it yielded Josh Hart, a future 1st, and the TPE sufficient to take Jermai Grant. So it was CJ+Nance for Hart+Grant+2 second round picks. Which became CJ+Nance for Grant+Thybulle+Murray+two 2nd's. There were other players involved like Snell, Louzada, & Reddish, but they were insignificant salary filler it wasn't some lopsided trade in Portland's favor, but considering that just about every other significant trade that Portland made since landing Nurkic in 2017 saw Portland getting screwed at some substantial level, it was at least a fair trade. In fact, since Olshey was hired in 2012, I can only recall 3 significant trades where the Blazers came out ahead: 1) a TPE + two 2nd's for Robin Lopez; 2) Mason Plumlee + a 2nd for Nurkic + a 1st; 3) the CJ for Grant trade. And Olshey tainted the Nurkic trade by wasting the 1st round pick in the 2017 draft day disaster. I'm probably forgetting a trade, and I'm sure others will have a different take.
Agreed Ant isn't a #1 option on a good team. I don't believe there are any #1 options on this roster, which is why I spend zero time worrying about if we'll keep Banton over Murray as our 13th option. Until we get a legit #1 and #2 option, the bench guys won't matter much. And the type of role players you want will greatly depend on the strengths of the #1 and #2 options.
Ant was a good pick at 24, in 2018, in what turned out as a strong draft. Good value. Becoming Lillard’s apprentice, he’s earned his contract despite defensive liabilities. As others have said, he’d be great to have with strong defenders on a connected team. I like Grant a lot … on Sacramento to go with soon to be 28 Sabonis on a team that could compete next year but needs to keep momentum from recent (relative) success. With older stars on the decline — Lakers, Warriors, Clippers, Suns — SAC has a shot sooner than later amongst Den, OKC, Minn, NewO, and eventually the Wemby Spurs. [Grant = Murray + Huerter or expand it to include Time Lord to help their size and D returning Lyles + Vezenkof … trade-able players in Lyles and Huerter.]
Ant is a tremendous shooter, but even though he is improved on the other side of the ball, he is still a big liability on the defensive side. So for the 10th year in a row, a smallish SG who can score, but often gives up as much as they get. Nice stats, but not leading any team anywhere from a contending standpoint. So let him score, get what you can get for him and move on.
If you’re not trading Ant then why make a player like Sharpe so untouchable? It doesn’t make much sense but I guess that’s the typical Blazers thing to do is just keep holding onto players.
If he's the #1 option on a team playing 8 G-Leaguers in the rotation, sure, there won't be much success. Put him on a roster with a bunch of healthy quality vets, I think there's an argument to be had. Any clown on here making judgments on players to coaches based on the talent level of the past 36 months is ridiculous. How do you know what Billups can do with a roster like Milwaukee? Or Ant running point for the Nuggets? Quite sure there would be some different opinions.
I didn't say I wouldn't trade Ant at all. Just not for anything less than equal value. I would also trade Sharpe for the right value. I don't think anybody on this team should be untouchable.
Clearly he wouldn’t be the #1 option on the nuggets. A player by the name of Jokic might have a say in that.
I remember a game against Minny this season during a FT wind-up the view was on Simons standing next to Edwards talking to each other and it looked like a LB standing next to a punter
it's been mentioned, a lot, about how Ant + Scoot just isn't anywhere close to working, at least not this season. Shows in the 2-man combo: and in the 3-man combos: 4-man combos:
Some lunatic kept trying to sell us on Ant being on Brunson's level and that he was one of the league's best offensive weapons lulz...
