It was ridiculous when Scoot had that string of exceptional games starting (5 games or such) after the trade deadline with all of them being wins then got benched so the Ant/Grant/Ayton trio could start in front of him. I think there is a way that Scoot could have co-existed with Simons fine the last few years. But not if Grant and Ayton are also starting and option #2 then #3 on offense. Then Sharpe is the key scorer off the bench. Holding onto this worthless trio and forcing them minutes as well as shots has been the biggest black mark on this franchise since the Dame trade. Hell we saw Deni benched for much of the year even with Grant being a horrible option but always being put in front of Deni. Ultimately Deni was the Blazers best player this season. Would Scoot be one of the Blazers best players if he wasn't benched so much the last few years? I doubt it - but to your point we really don't know. Perhaps he would have been much better and a legit starting option in the years ahead.
If the Lakers lose in 5 or 6, changes will be made........... How about Grant for Rui and Finney Smith? DFS is 31 and would more than likely opt out to get that one last contract. So we would be just taking on Rui's 18 million for one year. My guess is the Lakers will hold on to those two for a bigger deal, but it would be worth a shot. No draft picks needed back.
Another variation of my idea before. To ORL: Simons To NOP: Grant 2027 1st from ORL To POR: CJ KCP 16th pick from ORL Pels get a pick as incentive to take on the JG deal. We clear house. Combine the 16 with whatever pick we end up with and move up as high as possible.
I'm all for getting off Grants deal but no way we get a pick to do so. If we can just send him out without losing a pick it would be a major win.
The Big Swing trade I'd like to see is Jody for Phil Knight. (Followed by an offer to Spoelstra to become our Gregg Popovich/Pat Riley)
I like a Giannis trade to GS which gets Mil their picks back from us and we get some other combo of lesser picks and Kuminga. Some might not be high on him but I think he’d fit great on this team. Of course Grant would need to go, maybe somehow in this deal also.
I caught a few of the games earlier in the year where he went for 30+. I think he would fit in as well. High energy.
