No way we trade him until next summer. Clingan only played like 22 minutes per game at UConn. He isn’t ready to log starter minutes. Also I’m sure he’s gonna have foul issues. All rookie centers do.
Ayton was our best player late in the season. Clingan, like any non-superstar rookie, needs 2 years to approximate where Ayton is now. Jason Quick wrote a hate piece on Ayton, with no substance, claiming that someone anonymous doesn't like Ayton. Quick has a history of racist writing against players with black accents. Contra argument: Ayton is paid a lot. A year from now, maybe we could survive without him, to spend that money on a greater need.
Management doesn't know, Ayton doesn't know, nobody knows. If Ayton plays great this year, he's a 25-yo cornerstone, and won't be traded ever. This is very possible. If Cling Kong sucks (foul trouble) or can't log heavy minutes (which is likely), then he won't be ready to take over a starting role. If RobWill is ready to log starters minutes and my aunt has a mustache, then she'd be my uncle....
Ayton is eligible for an extension in mid July, if there aren't even discussions or negotiations that would lead me to suspect he is not part of the Blazers long term plans.
Ayton is under contract for two more seasons. If he's not re-signed to an extension, he'll become a UFA after that when he's 28. You'd think he has every motivation to perform this season both as a competitor and to set himself up for another contract. I doubt that Portland will just let his dollars come off their cap regardless of the development of Clingan... he'll be re-signed &/or traded. A year from now management (& the league) should have a pretty good idea of how good DC is going to be. Hopefully both guys have a healthy and productive year and give the team trade options to choose from. https://www.spotrac.com/nba/player/_/id/26967/deandre-ayton STOMP
I didn’t realize he was eligible for extension. That definitely changes things he commented last year he’s a max player, but I can’t imagine we consider him a max contract. I could see him pushing for max contract as soon as he’s eligible. Now I understand why it was so important to have Clinigan.
Are you talking about his contract or his skill set? Almost every team would want him if they got him on a reasonable contract.
Actually wouldn't surprise me if you genuinely believe this - you admit in this last draft (and seems like in most drafts) you'd prefer many more second round picks to guys taken in the first round or lottery.
No one knows more about centers getting injured than Blazer fans. We need at least two good ones. The question will be if Ayton will sign for less on his next contract. If he will then I hope he is a Blazer for a long time.
Yeah, you said what you said, but what you said makes no sense. What team would take Ayton plus whatever we might offer in exchange for Flagg?
