Anfernee Simons trade destinations

When Cronin becomes Trader Bob I'll eat my hat.

We'll also need Jody to pay like its 1999 and the NBA abolish all luxury tax.

Until then..... makes sense to prioritize building through the draft.

 

I don't think we have any experienced, talented guys that are worth the kind of experienced, talented guys we'd want back. Except maybe Simons... and that might be debatable.

 

Deflecting much?

I’m not saying that the draft isn’t important for the rebuild. Just saying that giving up talented vets without getting talented vets back, in hopes that future draft picks will be as good as the guys you’ve traded away, is far from a certain way to success and it’s going to take a long time.

 

Then I’d prefer to keep the talent we do have. A three guard rotation of Ant, Sharpe and Simons is all kinds of problems for the opposition.

 

I think there are limits to how many young players can be effectively developed at one time. To those who say that getting stuck at mediocrity is bad, I say getting stuck at awful is worse.

 

And all kinds of problems for us on defense when we realize that's only a two guard rotation and not three!

 

I would definitely keep that lineup until I we have a better young player than one of those three or until I can get a good first round pick or a starting level bigger 2 way player in exchange for Simons.

 

Which is fine, for the next year or two until we can get Simons traded.

 

That seems to be the consensus......a future first-round pick. But unless it is a high lottery pick then the odds of getting a future starting player back ......is not great.

I would be fine with Black and a 1st and a salary dump. But unless Orlando's GM (or any other GM) is a complete moron he is not going to make his decision based on Portland's " tanking record". Nor whether or not we moved him to the bench so Scoot and Sharpe could start. Each team is different and has different needs. A starting lineup with Suggs, Ant, Franz, and Banchero is better than what they had last year.

 

Defense doesn't rack up fantasy stats. As long as Blazer guards hedge every play, even if their is no screener, the podcasters can blame Ayton, Duop, Thybulle, Eubanks, Winslow, etc etc for not guarding all 5 opponents. The guards did their job. They got out the way, and made someone else play defense.

 

These two things are unavoidable. It will either take a long time or a really really really long time.

I'm hoping for the former, but that would need the Blazers to do an aggressive job all in for the short term on a rebuild as OKC did. Trying to do a slow hybrid win now win later, build now build later, approach just prolongs the pain and keeps this franchise stuck in purgatory for the long haul.

If we were a glamor market there could be an argument to more of a hybrid build - but even NY and for many years the Lakers, etc have trouble with that path. NBA history is crystal clear that the franchises like the Blazers best path is a long term focus and prioritizing the draft. Once you have a core a couple well executed trade or even a free agent signing can be the last piece, they just can't be the first pieces.

 

Orlando is probably a better example....and that was not a short-term rebuild.

As good as Chet and Williams are, OKC is a lottery team without SGA and they got him by trading away a high-priced vet to a team that was being strong-armed by another superstar. Dumb move by the Clippers and many of their fans knew it at the time.

 

He won't make his decision based on that, but it will be a chip in his pocket that we won't really be able to counter with much. Because it'll be true.

 

I think every GM in the league knows what Ant is and is not as a player after six seasons. If Portland makes him the sixth man, every GM knows it is so Portland can see what they have in Scoot/Sharpe. Sure, every GM will try to steal Ant for nothing if they like him. It is Cronin's job not to give him away for nothing, unless he becomes a problem. At this point I doubt he becomes a problem. Personally, I am more interested in seeing Scoot/Sharpe/Ayton with what they get out of this draft. Do not want to see an increase in wins this season. Want the number one pick in 24/25 draft.

 

I'd like that as well. But I do not want to see Ant here in 3 years because we couldn't get a good offer. I want him traded for solid value ASAP.

 

I want him traded ASAP as well. Getting rid of Ant before the draft works for me, and satisfies your wanting him to not come off of the bench in Portland. Good thing is Simons only has two more years on his contract.

 

I would think Ant would be a desirable acquisition as he's young, his game has developed and his contract is reasonable.

 

But that’s my point, those things are assured under the plan of dumping vets for picks. The problem with that is that time is not an ally when it comes to the rebuild. Players want a chance to win. Coaches want to win. GMs who value their jobs want to win. Fans want to root for a winner. It’s only on fan sites like this one, where GM wannabes are found in droves, that the long game is seen as the best route to go.

One trade, say Ant and one of our first rounders for a starting caliber vet PF or SF and suddenly the Blazers’ roster has a reasonable shot at the playoffs or at least play-in range. If Scoot and Sharpe can hit AllStar levels in say 3 years, and if further work is done through the draft and/or trades on supporting role players, then we’re talking contender range.