how about something cheaper.... assume that Cronin wouldn't be able to help himself and would re-sign Simons and Ayton given the chance. Would the Bucks be satisfied enough with those pair of expiring contracts for Dame? Maybe add the worst of the two Portland 2029 first's. It might actually save the Blazers money over the next 2 seasons I know you don't want Dame back, but if the price was that low it might be worth it. Would it make Portland a contender? Likely not, but it would finally put a solid and lengthy Blazer team around Dame
At some point you have to shit or get off the pot with Scoot. It would just be silly to have him coming off the bench in his third year. Either we move him or he starts next year.
I’m too tired to come up with how, but moving on from Ant and Grant is a must. Moving on from Ayton is too, but I can’t see that happening. I think our team needs players like Kevin Huerter. They needs a long athletic 6’11” guy to play PF/C behind Clingan and Avdija. They need a pass first pg to back up Scoot. They need an experienced coach to lead and guide them, not to learn with them If the team went into the season with Clingan Avdija Camara Sharpe Scoot Huerter Long athletic PF/C Vet pass first PG Thybulle Minus injuries, that is a playoff team
If Scoot makes another big jump offensively, then that would work. If he doesn't, then that starting lineup does not have enough offense. You would need to start Ayton and bring Clingan off the bench for another year.
if Billups and Simons return next season, and at this point that seems likely, Scoot will come off the bench. It's not a great outcome, IMO, but I'd rather he's a backup to Dame and Sharpe, rather than Simons and Sharpe heading into next season, I want Simons, Ayton, Grant, and Timelord gone; and I want Billups gone. My hunch is I'll be batting 0-5 when the season starts
it's a good start, assuming Sharpe wouldn't be part of the trade But this season, Sabonis has had Fox/LaVine, DeRozan, Malik Monk, Keegan Murray, and Kevin Heuter around him with Valunciunas backing him up and the Kings will end up with a losing record. Last season, the Kings won 46 games; the season before it was 48 wins and that was the high point of the Sabonis led Kings team. Which is about the high point of what I suggested Sabonis could lead this Blazer team too if the cost was low, like Ayton + Thybulle + a lottery protected 1st, or even two of them...sure, give it a shot. But I just don't believe a highly paid C is the key to contention. Embiid is better than Sabonis, in his 9th season, and he's never even played in a conference finals. Jokic doesn't count because he's not only a unicorn, he's a super-magical nuclear-powered unicorn or maybe a 3 team trade where both Ayton and Simons go out and a little more draft capital heads toward Sacramento
Almost every team needs that third scorer unless you have a superstar on the team. And even the Bulls had a 3rd scorer. Granted, you were just talking about making the playoffs, so I guess you are right. Now I am not saying Scoot can't make that next jump, but until he proves it, I still say he would benefit from playing with Ayton...unless Clingan makes a huge jump as well.
last season, the Blazers were 14-41 with Ayton, a .255 winning percentage they were 7-20 without him, a .256 winning percentage this season, Portland was 17-23 with Ayton, a .425 winning percentage Blazers are 18-23 without him, a .439 winning percentage that's a 95 game sample size with Ayton; Blazers were a little better without him than with him. I think you're overrating his offensive impact
sure...variables but we're talking about a 163 game sample size and that is going to level out most of the variables
Once Deni took over as the leader, the team looked much better. I think we all agree with that. So, give me the stats starting in January when they went on their win streak. I couldn't care less about last year. Last year is irrelevant to the future. I love how people want to tank and then throw win-loss stats back in a coach's or player's face.
Third scorer is interesting for sure. PER 36, which is an admittedly horse shit stat, Portland has 2 guys averaging 20+ and Scoot at about 18. With the right coach…RIP, we can get there
