I can't stop laughing. I almost fell off the throne. https://www.si.com/nba/trailblazers...r-forward-in-exchange-for-jerami-grant-ak1987 Sure, we don't need Grant anymore but why the FUCK would we want Middleton?? He's old and broken and burnt out and can't play for shit. And this guy acts like we'd be getting such a GREAT player!!!1!1! Most moronic trade idea I've ever heard. Would be AMAZING for Milwaukee, but diaper shit bad for Blazers. Wow, what a great idea!!!! Let's give them Camara, too! They'd LOVE that. Speaking of Toumani: I bet Phoenix would sure like to have Camara back, as well---- and maybe they could give a single 2nd round pick for him? That would be a GREAT deal. Why the fuck did they trade him in the first place? Dude would be first team all defense if his team had a better record. Anyway.
To quote the column, "This exchange wouldn't really be about adding a former NBA champion and elite wing to Portland's roster. It would be about that draft pick." But really, it would be about getting a player with two fewer years on his contract.
The 2031 lightly-protected Bucks 1R pick that would come with Middleton, though, makes this a lot more worthy of consideration. If you trade Grant, you have to bring back salary. If you're bringing back salary, make it a guy that doesn't need to play much. And get draft compensation along with it. That's where the article misses the point. The Blazers don't need Middleton, but a lottery pick? Yeah, I'd do that.
The Bucks obviously just REALLY want to get rid of Middleton, though. We sure don't want him. And how valuable is a 2031 pick from the Bucks? That's a long ways away and who's to say the Bucks will be in the lottery then?
Plus they could possibly flip Middleton to a playoff team eventually. He still has value to contenders.
An extra 1R pick is better than not-an-extra 1R pick, whether it's a lottery pick or not, but the Bucks' core is aging, they aren't a big market, and they've dealt a lot of draft assets heading into 2031 (including some to us), so I'd say the odds they're in the lottery are rather good. Whether they Bucks want out of Middleton or not isn't an issue for the Blazers. We want out of Grant, who is going to make increasingly higher salary over the next couple of years, seems to be declining, too, and doesn't have much on-the-floor value to the Blazers. You'd be trading Grant essentially for a similar player that requires less floor time, can be traded AND who only has one year left on his deal after this season. Plus, as Q said, he can be dealt to a contender for a 2R pick if he shows any signs of life.
Id trade Grant for Middleton straight up even if we don't get a pick. Middleton contract expires next season. Grant contract goes until 2028. Middleton is injured often and has a lot of bad games. Grant is our worst player on the roster that's started a significant amount of games. Neither have a purpose with the Blazers long term, so the one on a better contract is much more valuable.
I'd be all over this trade. Especially if we had some guarantee of a first round pick in the deal eventually.
Especially when Giannis and Dame are long gone, owning multiple Milwaukee picks when we're way above the luxury tax are terrific assets to have. Obvious yes from us for a guy in Grant who has no place on our roster.
I read the thread title and all I could think of was Kingspeed having sex with an NBA player. Did we ever find out who that was?
Greg Oden? I heard there was in a kinky game of Dance Dance Revolution in which frontal nudes were taken and Greg injured his knee by spinning too fast without a jock strap on.
Is there a guarantee Billups won't put Middleton in the starting lineup? Billups is the only reason the Blazers really NEED to get rid of Grant ASAP.
Slow down. Middleton scored 21 points on 9 shots last night and he’s a champion. That kind of experience is good to have around the young guys.
I'd be thrilled if they could make that deal, heck I'd be for including some draft capitol to take Grant off the books but if straight up is ever on the table hells yeah. Definitely want to hang onto the future draft pick swaps with the Bucks... I think those will be of great value in the middle of Portland's dynasty run Simons, Ayton, RWIII & Thybulle also have contracts concluding after the 2025-6 season. Depending on how they stagger the resignings, they could have significant cap space and be a desirable landing spot for Free Agents that summer prior to the 2026-7 season STOMP
The Grant trade is good. A lightly protected first is the best case scenario. Then you try to flip Middleton in the off-season (easier than Grant since his contract expires sooner).
