Ayton or Timelord?

If one had to be traded (for filler and a low first-rounder, say) which one would you keep?

Yes, I'm aware RW III is on a minutes restriction and very injury-prone.

 

If the return is the same for both, I'd keep RW3, strictly due to the lower salary.

 

a healthy Timelord (fantasy?) seems like a prototype NBA C. Rebounding, versatile defense, BBIQ. He would be superior to Ayton in many important ways; like rim protection and enough mobility to not be locked into drop-coverage like Ayton is.

depebding on matchups, Timelord might even be capable of playing PF some of the time Clingan is on the floor

 

Healthy timelord is a near impossibility. I'd pick Ayton assuming a resign at a fair salary.

 

if Ayton was going to remain in Portland for 5 or 6 seasons, what was the point of using a 7th pick on Clingan?

 

I need more than one good game to really trust Rob is going to be a keeper. Ayton is pretty healthy

 

Ayton. Williams is hurt way too often to be reliable. Ayton seems to want to be here and has been a good soldier as far as I can tell. He’s expensive, yes; but I just can’t see a world where Williams plays more than 50 games. It’s unfortunate because he’s really good.

 

I like having two centers with differing skillsets to alternate based on matchups.

 

ok....but getting back to Ayton vs Clingan...two rather immobile 7' C's locked into drop coverage. The only significant difference seems to be Ayton can hit the mid-range shot and Clingan can't. But we know that's a two-edge sword because Ayton chucks up those shots while drawing the fewest fouls of any NBA C

 

True.

Also, Clingan is VERY slow / heavy footed. I'm not sure I've seen anything from him to indicate that he has the ability to be a heavy minute starter.

 

I'd try to trade either at all times.

With Ayton Id move him but I'm not sure there's a taker. If we can't get anything for him I'd just wait until next year as he might have more value on an expiring deal. If Grant or Ant can't be dealt I'd be more likely to dump Ayton for a useless return coming back though just to give opportunities to more of our youth.

Timelord playing probably raises his value much more since he's been so injured. He also has a tiny salary. So I'd be more eager to keep him and play him to increase that trade value.

 

That part.

DC and DA are far from threats to each other

 

Yeah they're might be a playoff series against Gobert or Jokic or a big center he could play 30+ mpg .... But I could certainly see him getting played off the floor in a series against Wemby, Chet, or an opponent going small.

 

just based on his conditioning, I think he’s a ways away from getting 30 mpg.

 

Don't forget we also have Duop Reath!

 

I’m sure Blazers Brass just needs a couple more years to figure out exactly what direction they want to go in.

 

Best player available. We aren't nearly close enough to start drafting for need, IMO.

 

Chauncey Billups on why Deandre Ayton only played the first two minutes of the second half: “I didn’t like his spirit in the game.”

 

TBH, I don't know how you get through to Ayton. Being benched for Jock Lonsdale didn't do it. His coaches in the olympics tried to get him to be more physical. That didn't stick. How can a guy with that much physical ability rarely be there to stop guys at the rim? This is really on Cronin but also think Billups had input on the trade.

 

Ayton is probably Cronin's biggest blunder, and he's had a few