I liked both deals at the time. Not that I knew a ton about either guy at the time, it just seemed like they had potential to be good. Plus the concept of getting Ayton was interesting. Particularly in exchange for a checked out Nurk.
I loved the Deni pick, I had no clue about Camara but I do not watch a lot of College ball. I happened to be in Israel for a business trip some years ago and got to see a very young Deni play for Maccabi Tel Aviv in a small place in Haifa and was impressed - so I was aware of him from before (the guys I worked with there knew I like basketball and they did too, so they took me to the game which was very nice).
Same: loved the Deni trade (it seemed too good to be true) but saw what we're now calling "the Camara Trade" as just a way to swap Nurkic for Ayton. I probably checked out Camara's performance in SL and was pleasantly surprised.
I’m surprised by poll so far, seemed like a lot of people thought we overpaid and were extremely frustrated when he started slow last year. I thought we got a great deal on Deni while I could care less about Camara I was excited about getting Ayton.
I thought Avdija could hit the next level, but didn't expect him to be this good. Camara was a guy D69 and I liked as a long-shot 2nd round pick but had no idea he would be this type of defensive player.
I didn't like the 2029 pick we gave up in the Deni trade and leaned towards it being a bad deal. Said at the time though if he could hit the 3 as in his final Wizards season it would be a good deal. Yeah I've changed my opinion to now it being a great deal. All the other moves I haven't changed my opinion - its been obvious at the time if they were smart moves. Yeah ideally we'd have drafted Jalen/Amen instead of our backcourt but thats very normal to see with every draft so I have zero concerns on those and don't think that is mistakes. Have to view it in the context of what was known at the time and how good the decision making process was then. Not good or bad luck that happens in hindsight. Here are all the major Cronin moves; DUMB Clippers trade was horrific then and just as stupid today. Norm was better than any current or former Blazer guard in the NBA last year OK Pelicans trade was ok GREAT - Picking Sharp DUMB - Contrat given to Nurk DUMB - Contract given to Ant DUMB - Grant trade, would've much prefered taking Duren DUMB - Hart trade was stupid GREAT - Picking Scoot DUMB - Picking Murray DUMB - Contract given to Grant DUMB - Matching Thybulle deal AMAZING - Dame trade was a haul GREAT (incorrectly judged as Poor) - Deni trade GOOD - Clingan pick So yeah 14 moves and 13 of them it was easy to grade correctly in the moment. So 93% of the time its obvious. Yeah not looking great with this offseason so far; DUMB - Trading for Jrue (even though I love him as a player) GREAT - Trading 11>16 for unprotected pick and seconds DUMB - Reaching for Yang 17 moves for Cronin; 10 DUMB moves 1 OK 1 Good 4 Great 1 Amazing
I liked Avdija but I was concerned about that 2029 1st, and how good it might be. But the level Deni played at in the 2nd half of the season pretty much erased any worry didn't know a thing about Camara....but it's a hefty price having had to watch Ayton in a Blazer uniform doing his empty-calorie shit; and Timelord in street clothes
It was clear in the first game this season Deni was our best player. He just was Miscast in his role early on in the season.
