the radio show is telling us Houston doesn't want their #3 pick. The Blazers can supposedly trade a bag of potato chips to snag the Rockets pick. Now, this same radio show also told us we needed to wait 2 weeks for Gary Payton to turn the Blazers into a contender. So I'm not going to get hyped about stealing Udoka's new rookie.
I think Ant would beat great spot for Houston. Van Fleet can be the third guard and Amen can be the guy who feeds Ant and Green.
they don't have cap-space now and they won't in July so there wouldn't be a lot of dumping. Max salary differential is only 7.5M maybe Brogdon for Jeff Green + Landale but they sure wouldn't attach a 3rd pick for that; and Landale is a scrub who has 3 years left on his contract I'm guessing, if Houston is in win-now mode, they'll want to keep Steven Adams (assuming he's healed from his injury), and Adams has the biggest salary filler of players the Rockets may be willing to part with I don't think the Blazers have anybody the Rockets would be interested in. They have Jalen Green, Brooks, and Amen at SG; Jabari Smith, Amen, Brooks and Tari Eason at SF. I think that depth at wing eliminates Ant from the equation, and goes some distance in eliminating Grant maybe the best the Blazers could do is Brogdon + 7 for Green + Landale + 3. But I'd bet Houston would get better offers.
He has one more year around that amount....then there is a team option. They would be crazy to pick his last year up at 44. So if Amen is destined to be their PG of the future, VanVleet will be gone from Houston in another year. I bet they try to trade him.
Apparently, Tidjane Salaun may be rising even higher. His workouts are impressing and now there is talk he could go as high as #4 to the Spurs.
FVV is a small-baller at age 30. The clock is ticking and that t-opt next summer is a nice reduction in team salary for Houston and even better for Portland. Going with Ant + either Grant or Ayton would be huuuuge reduction in salary after a year for the Blazers … along with #3. I’m good with Ant & Ayton to Houston followed by Grant and 14 to Detroit for 5. 3 — 5 — 7 But I like the draft. Yes, I know this draft is not strong especially at the top. However, in a future’s market to get possible dudes, it’s also about roster management and a tanktastic season. The Blazers cannot just rearrange the deck chairs. Get the new boat.
Portland gets out from under a big contract while moving up nine spots. Grant gets to shut it down early for at least a fifth year in a row. Detroit ... ? Two out of three ain't bad. Let's do it!
Been a lot of rumors with this - hoping its like that last Grant trade that was heavily rumored for awhile before becoming true.
Portland should be open for business to move up. Just not give up future draft picks. Vets on the roster and this years picks should all be available to move up in the draft.
