That’s why we should draft Tre Johnson if available and we move on from Ant(hopefully). Johnson is a bucket.
I hope the Blazers aren't trying to contend for a title next year so we really don't need to plan for such short term goals as shooting roster fit of a player on an expiring contract.
If not Zion or Sabonis — Onyeka Okongwu should be the primary target. He’s the next Deni: breakout player with a bigger role. Perfect PF next to Clingan.
Doesn't that sound like a coaching issue? It'd be interesting to know if Black thinks he's being well-used or could stand a change of scene.
I agree that both of those FRPs for Ant isn't at all likely. That being said I don't think you can read into a deal not having "already happened" before the lotto, after which Joe will have a concrete undertanding of his assets heading into the draft. I think that we could see Ant and a couple of future second rounders going to the Magic for Black, Anthony and the 16th pick or just Ant for those two players and the 25th pick. We'll find out soon enough.
The "Big Swing"/Overreaction to 2nd round loss" trade: Cleveland does a soft reset. Garland is still very good. Mobley is great. They replace their SG and C with much cheaper SG and C. Portland trots out Simons/Mitchell/Tou/Deni/Allen with Grant, Scoot, RW3, Tisse FAs off the bench and makes a 2 year push.
They said they want to go for the playoffs next year. If you trade Simon’s we will have zero plus 3 pt shooters. Guys can grow into that but it’s going to make life a lot harder for guys like scoot and Shaedon. Teams will dare them to shoot
Somehow I really hate this trade for both teams. Blazers wouldn't be able to contend and would have sold away their future. Cleveland won 64 games and is dealing with multiple injuries - they need much more than two FRP to switch to a rebuild. They gave up what 4 FRP for Mitchell? I could maybe see them looking to trade one of Garland or Allen or something this summer - more along the lines to get a better positional fit though. Not Mitchell and not multiple starters.
I hate this trade for us, changing in all of that potential for two proven pieces that I just don't think make us close to a contender. Then on the other side this is a total gut punch to Cavs fans, they probably feel they are one good trade or signing away from contention and the team decides to hit reset and bet on potential. The reason the trade sucks so bad is because you have two fan bases that have a vision of what next year and years to come might look like and your dashing the hopes of both. You're telling us that we better get comfortable with being an also ran playoff team when we're hoping for a contender in 4 or 5 years and your telling the Cavs fans to wait 4 or 5 years to see what they can become when they're hoping for a real shot at a title next season. Rarely is a trade this bad for both teams, not so much functionally but from a fan and marketing perspective.
Agree with both of you I don't like it for either. Was just throwing out a big swing. I think Mitchell leaves us and we're left with little, and yeah, Cleveland flips off their fans.
