Here is all of Joe's transactions. I'm sorting them into Wins/Losses/Undecided/Irrelevant. Let me know if you agree. Overall I think he has done fine. He has more wins than losses and a lot of his moves are still TBD. Wins February 8, 2022: Traded CJ McCollum, Larry Nance Jr. and Tony Snell to the New Orleans Pelicans for Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Josh Hart, Didi Louzada, Tomas Satoransky, a 2022 1st round draft pick, a 2026 2nd round draft pick and a 2027 2nd round draft pick. New Orleans also received a trade exception Portland also received a trade exception 2022 1st-rd pick did not convey, becomes future 1st-rd pick 2026 2nd-rd pick is more favorable of two teams 2027 2nd-rd pick is NOP own I think this was a clear win. We dumped CJ and his enormous contract and we got a pick, we got Hart and we got a TPE. This is arguably Joe's best trade. June 23, 2022: Selected Shaedon Sharpe (1st round, 7th pick), Gabriele Procida (2nd round, 36th pick) and Jabari Walker (2nd round, 59th pick) in the 2022 NBA Draft. I still love the Sharpe pick so I consider this a win. July 6, 2022: Traded Gabriele Procida, a 2025 1st round draft pick, a 2025 2nd round draft pick and a 2026 2nd round draft pick to the Detroit Pistons for Jerami Grant and Ismael Kamagate. Detroit also received a trade exception conditional 2025 1st-rd pick is MIL own 2025 2nd-rd pick is DET own 2026 2nd-rd pick is more favorable This trade makes sense because Joe was still trying to keep Dame happy and we didn't give up much for a productive player. February 9, 2023: As part of a 4-team trade, the Portland Trail Blazers traded Gary Payton II to the Golden State Warriors; the Atlanta Hawks traded a 2026 2nd round draft pick and a 2028 2nd round draft pick to the Golden State Warriors; the Atlanta Hawks traded a 2023 2nd round draft pick (Rayan Rupert was later selected), a 2024 2nd round draft pick (Oso Ighodaro was later selected) and a 2025 2nd round draft pick to the Portland Trail Blazers; the Detroit Pistons traded Saddiq Bey to the Atlanta Hawks; the Detroit Pistons traded Kevin Knox to the Portland Trail Blazers; the Golden State Warriors traded James Wiseman to the Detroit Pistons; and the Golden State Warriors traded a 2026 2nd round draft pick and a 2028 2nd round draft pick to the Portland Trail Blazers. Golden State also received a trade exception 2026 2nd-rd pick is ATL own 2028 2nd-rd pick is ATL own Portland also received a trade exception more favorable 2023 2nd-rd pick ended up as ATL own conditional 2024 2nd-rd pick is ATL own conditional 2025 2nd-rd pick is ATL own conditional 2026 2nd-rd pick is MEM own 2028 2nd-rd pick is GSW own Signing Payton was a loss to me, but I give him credit for recognizing his mistake and actually turning GP2weeks into assets. September 27, 2023: As part of a 3-team trade, the Portland Trail Blazers traded Keon Johnson, Nassir Little and Jusuf Nurkic to the Phoenix Suns; the Portland Trail Blazers traded Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks; the Milwaukee Bucks traded Grayson Allen to the Phoenix Suns; the Milwaukee Bucks traded Jrue Holiday, a 2028 1st round draft pick, a 2029 1st round draft pick and a 2030 1st round draft pick to the Portland Trail Blazers; and the Phoenix Suns traded Deandre Ayton and Toumani Camara to the Portland Trail Blazers. 2029 1st-rd pick is MIL own 2028 1st-rd pick is a swap 2030 1st-rd pick is a swap I think the Dame trade was a win. I don't think we get this much value if we wait a year. I think maybe we get a little more if we had traded him a year earlier, but overall I thought the trade was a win. February 8, 2024: Traded TO_TRADE to the Boston Celtics for Dalano Banton and cash. Boston received a trade exception in return Small win, but still a win. Banton is a decent player. July 6, 2024: Traded Malcolm Brogdon, Carlton Carrington, a 2028 2nd round draft pick ( was later selected), a 2029 1st round draft pick ( was later selected) and a 2030 2nd round draft pick ( was later selected) to the Washington Wizards for Deni Avdija. Portland also received a trade exception 2028 2nd-rd pick is GSW own 2029 1st-rd pick is POR own 2030 2nd-rd pick is POR own I think Deni is a borderline All-Star caliber player. We gave up a lot, but he has shown to be really damn good at a position that's extremely valuable. Losses February 4, 2022: Traded Robert Covington and Norman Powell to the Los Angeles Clippers for Eric Bledsoe, Keon Johnson, Justise Winslow and a 2025 2nd round draft pick. Portland also received a trade exception 2025 2nd-rd pick is DET own Joe's worst trade. I don't think anyone would dispute this. February 9, 2022: As part of a 3-team trade, the Portland Trail Blazers traded Nickeil Alexander-Walker to the Utah Jazz; the Portland Trail Blazers traded Tomas Satoransky to the San Antonio Spurs; the San Antonio Spurs traded Juan Hernangomez to the Utah Jazz; the Utah Jazz traded Elijah Hughes, Joe Ingles and a 2022 2nd round draft pick (Jabari Walker was later selected) to the Portland Trail Blazers; and the Utah Jazz traded a 2027 2nd round draft pick to the San Antonio Spurs. Utah also received trade exceptions 2027 2nd-rd pick is least favorable least favorable from HOU, IND, MIA or OKC Portland also received a trade exception 2022 2nd-rd pick is MEM own This seemed like a dumb trade to me and I wish we would have held onto NAW. July 6, 2022: Signed Gary Payton II to a multi-year contract. Stupid signing. Nobody liked it at the time. July 6, 2022: Signed Anfernee Simons to a multi-year contract. Bid against ourselves and gave him a contract that was too high. July 6, 2022: Signed Jusuf Nurkić to a multi-year contract. We were able to get out from under this, but Nurk was washed and now the Suns are trying to dump him. Again, bidding against ourselves. TBD July 13, 2022: Signed Jabari Walker to a multi-year contract. Could be put into irrelevant. We'll see how it goes. He might be out of the league in a few years. February 9, 2023: As part of a 4-team trade, the Portland Trail Blazers traded a 2029 2nd round draft pick to the Philadelphia 76ers; the Portland Trail Blazers traded Dani Diez, Bojan Dubljevic and Josh Hart to the New York Knicks; the Portland Trail Blazers traded a 2027 2nd round draft pick to the Charlotte Hornets; the Charlotte Hornets traded Jalen McDaniels and a 2024 2nd round draft pick (Cam Spencer was later selected) to the Philadelphia 76ers; the New York Knicks traded Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk to the Charlotte Hornets; the New York Knicks traded Ryan Arcidiacono, Cam Reddish, Ante Tomic and a 2023 1st round draft pick (Kris Murray was later selected) to the Portland Trail Blazers; the Philadelphia 76ers traded a 2023 2nd round draft pick (Colby Jones was later selected) to the Charlotte Hornets; and the Philadelphia 76ers traded Matisse Thybulle to the Portland Trail Blazers. Charlotte also received a trade exception More favorable 2023 2nd-rd pick ended up as CHO own 2027 2nd-rd pick is more favorable Philadelphia also received a trade exception 2024 2nd-rd pick is NYK own 2029 2nd-rd pick is POR own Portland also received a trade exception 2023 protected 1st-rd pick is NYK own We got Murray and Thybulle out of this trade. I'm undecided on whether those players were worth it. Hart is better than either player but I am also a believer that Hart wasn't coming back and I'd rather get value out of him. Murray could still end up being a rotation player. I'm hopeful we can trade Thybulle. June 22, 2023: Selected Scoot Henderson (1st round, 3rd pick), Kris Murray (1st round, 23rd pick) and Rayan Rupert (2nd round, 43rd pick) in the 2023 NBA Draft. I still have high hopes for Scoot, but there's a real chance that we regret taking him and passing on Amen Thompson. July 4, 2023: Signed Rayan Rupert to a multi-year contract. This could drop to irrelevant if he doesn't pan out. July 7, 2023: Signed Matisse Thybulle to a multi-year contract. This could end up being a loss if we can't move him. July 9, 2023: Signed Jerami Grant to a multi-year contract. This could end up being a loss if we can't move him. October 1, 2023: Traded Jrue Holiday to the Boston Celtics for Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams, a 2024 1st round draft pick (Bub Carrington was later selected) and a 2029 1st round draft pick. 2024 conditional 1st-rd pick is GSW own 2029 1st-rd pick is BOS own, Portland also receives a trade exception This is going to hinge on whether we can move RWIII and what happens with that 2029 pick. Much too early to tell if the trade was bad. October 2, 2023: Signed Duop Reath. Curious if we end up moving him for an asset. He was a cheap pickup. June 26, 2024: Selected Donovan Clingan (1st round, 7th pick), Bub Carrington (1st round, 14th pick) and Tyler Kolek (2nd round, 34th pick) in the 2024 NBA Draft. Too early to tell with Clingan. He seems like a really solid player though. This could end up being a win but I want to see how he pans out. Irrelevant July 6, 2022: Traded Ismael Kamagate to the Denver Nuggets for a 2024 2nd round draft pick (Tyler Kolek was later selected). 2023 2nd-rd pick is more favorable December 26, 2021: Signed Jarron Cumberland to a 10-day contract. December 26, 2021: Signed Brandon Williams to a 10-day contract. December 26, 2021: Signed Cameron McGriff to a 10-day contract. December 28, 2021: Signed Reggie Perry to a 10-day contract February 22, 2022: Signed Drew Eubanks to a 10-day contract. February 22, 2022: Signed Brandon Williams to a two-way contract. March 14, 2022: Signed Drew Eubanks to a 10-day contract. March 14, 2022: Signed Kris Dunn to a 10-day contract. March 24, 2022: Signed Drew Eubanks to a 10-day contract. March 30, 2022: Signed Reggie Perry to a 10-day contract. April 3, 2022: Signed Drew Eubanks to a 10-day contract, then signed to a contract for the rest of the season. April 3, 2022: Signed Kris Dunn to two 10-day contracts, then signed to a contract for the rest of the season. July 7, 2022: Signed Drew Eubanks. August 2, 2022: Signed Jared Rhoden. August 3, 2022: Signed Isaiah Miller August 3, 2022: Signed Norvel Pelle. September 7, 2022: Signed Olivier Sarr. September 7, 2022: Signed Devontae Cacok. September 23, 2022: Signed Wesley Iwundu. October 20, 2022: Signed John Butler to a two-way contract. November 18, 2022: Signed Ibou Badji to a two-way contract. March 30, 2023: Signed Shaquille Harrison to a 10-day contract. March 30, 2023: Signed Skylar Mays to a 10-day contract. April 1, 2023: Signed Jeenathan Williams. April 4, 2023: Signed Justin Minaya to a 10-day contract. April 9, 2023: Signed Chance Comanche. April 9, 2023: Signed Skylar Mays. July 1, 2023: Signed Ibou Badji to a two-way contract. July 6, 2023: Signed John Butler to a two-way contract. August 22, 2023: Signed Moses Brown. October 1, 2023: Signed Skylar Mays to a two-way contract. October 2, 2023: Signed Kevin Knox. October 20, 2023: Signed Justin Minaya to a two-way contract. October 23, 2023: Signed Duop Reath to a two-way contract. November 12, 2023: Signed Jamaree Bouyea to a two-way contract. November 22, 2023: Signed Ibou Badji to a two-way contract. January 20, 2024: Signed Taze Moore to a 10-day contract. February 8, 2024: Signed Ashton Hagans to a 10-day contract. February 23, 2024: Signed Ashton Hagans to a two-way contract. June 27, 2024: Selected Osasere Ighodaro (2nd round, 40th pick) in the 2024 NBA Draft June 27, 2024: Traded Oso Ighodaro to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Quinten Post and cash. July 1, 2024: Signed Justin Minaya to a two-way contract. July 6, 2024: Traded Quinten Post to the Golden State Warriors for cash. July 11, 2024: Signed Bryce McGowens to a two-way contract. September 13, 2024: Signed Taze Moore to a two-way contract.
I think most around the league will think very very poorly of POR and Joe due to his inability to get a top 3 pick. It's a head scratcher for sure. POR is the weirdest organization/roster in the league. It's like NBA: "here have a really good chance at a player that could be a franchise type guy" Joe: "naw fuck you we dont want to be good." They made the lotto system for teams like POR.
He screams of a guy who has no job security. It starts from the top down. I think his moves would likely be different if he thought he'd have a job if he completely tanked.
I think the Murray selection should be separated out of the Hart trade. I have the Hart trade as a clear win, and the Murray selection in the loss or TBD section, personally. A 1st for an expiring Hart who didn't want to stay is a clear win, IMO.
I'd also do some arguing on the Powell trade, but it's been beaten to death, so there's no point in me rehashing that debate. And some will just say I'm praising Cronin and sipping the kool aid.
Drew Eubanks coming in is not irrelevant! He gave us 62 minutes of good basketball in his short time here! What a win!
No need to copy and paste those transactions. Just click Cronin's name on my favorite transaction site.. Search Basketball Transactions by Executive/Team
Holding onto pricey vets when the team should be in a rebuild and angling for a top pick is enough for me to want him gone. When I see a team like Charlotte out tank us blatantly in a game it makes me sick honestly. He was handed the job with the expectation still to build a contender around Lillard. This past offseason should’ve been a fire sale of our vets. Addition by subtraction. We could’ve got placeholder vets and a longer leash to our youth. I’d be very surprised if any worthwhile trades happen to shore up the issue with vets who are expected minutes and shots by the deadline. I think all of his trades have been playing it safe type stuff. Playing it safe doesn’t bring a winner to a market like Portland.
Right when SOME people are starting to blame Cronin we can count on his biggest enabler , fan etc to come forth and defend him. -- right on time at least your consistent. As much as I do not like ya Nate at least you stick to your guns ( opinions ) and do not waffle from them but your so wrong that it's not even funny. I am not even going to try and argue cause we have different opinions -- even if I think your wrong but the thing is he needs to get rid of the vets and even IF i could come around and admit maybe he is not as bad as I think ( not gonna happen ) but what if the fact he has held unto these guys at the determent of the young players is enough to show that maybe he has messed up on this at the very least.
* the Sharpe selection: looking at that draft, the only guy clearly better than Sharpe is Jalen Williams; and probably only 3 or 4 guys around Sharpe's level: Dyson Daniels, Jeremy Sochan, Jalen Duren, Walter Kessler. But all have significant flaws. So that pick is a win. Maybe a tepid win unless Sharpe can find some inner dawg ******************************************************** I think a problem with breaking it down to individual transactions is it kind of obscures the larger picture. That picture being, IMO, that Cronin is continuing the fence-straddling of the Olshey era and there's still an irrational 2-track direction that won't commit to a full rebuild. That the Blazers tanked hard into one of the worst drafts in years last season and are muddling around and screwing their own lottery odds in one of the best drafts in years is a giant loss in my view.
I think he has done a pretty good job of complimentary pieces but the struggle will be finding the star/go to man or who we are willing to give up to get that person.
A lot of us criticized him pretty hard for trading Norm so early before the deadline. At this point, we're only a few weeks away. If he keeps those guys past the deadline, I'm going to be fed up.
These are very subjective groups. Id put some of the Wins and TBD as losses and one of the losses as a win. The biggest problem of recent years isn't the grade on individual transactions Cronin has done. It's that none of them are part of long term consistent plan. Are we rebuilding? Then don't trade for Grant. Are we trying to win? Then don't trade Hart for a bad pick. Are we rebuilding after trading Dame? Then don't resign Thybulle. Etc etc. We're seeing the results of not having a strategic direction when Scoot/Sharpe are benched after playing great and Ant/Grant/Ayton are jacking shots while entitled to minutes. Cronin claimed in the off-season the team was being built around Scoot and Sharpe but that's clearly not what has happened. For another team having Ant or Grant could've been a good move - they along with many of Cronins other moves make zero sense here with where the talent of the Blazers roster is at. Probably the biggest mistake for the Blazers is this 2025 draft which you don't list. We're now in the back half of the lottery of an epically loaded draft after tanking for the 3rd fewest wins in an epically weak draft. That is a massive strategic failure and the predicted result of all the other moves.
I agree, that was one of the worst games of the season. That said, I've seen some insanely tank-oriented games by the Blazers in recent years, against also-tanking teams to boot. The difference this year is that Joe and Chauncey don't seem to have any sort of strong messaging or commitment from Kolde on what the organizational direction is.
