i aint recapping a 50 min podcast. but it's the usual suspects. Porzingis/Middleton were the standouts. As well as Wiseman listen here:
Barnes is a solid defender. Swapping out cj for Barnes in our starting lineup, with a new coach would definitely improve our defense, IMO.
I'd have to believe that if the Raptors would be satisfied with Wiggins/Wiseman as the return for Siakam, the Warriors would just do that deal straight up. Curry/Klay/Siakam/Green is a killer foursome.
Wiseman is a #1 overall pick coming off his rookie year--Nurk is an oft-injured fringe starter. Wiggins is a local hero, and would be a better fit than CJ in a rotation already boasting Lowry, VanVleet, and (likely) GTJ, not to mention being, what, 3-4 years younger? I don't see how CJ/Nurk beats Wiggins/Wiseman in terms of trade value, especially for a team that would be committing to a rebuild were they to deal Siakam.
Wiseman was a #2 pick, but he definitely did not play like one. But yeah, infinitely more valuable to a rebuilding team than CJ and Nurk.
Wiseman looks like he might be the next Oden, a 2nd pick that is always injured. Wiggins is a former 1st pick that never lived up to the hype. Lowry will be gone. They will put CJ next to Vanvleet. Play GT2 at the 3 and behind CJ. Nurkic is far better than Wiseman. But, I guess yeah the younger player probably looks better for a rebuilding team.
Neil likes to take chances on former lottery picks that are "busts" or not as good as advertised, and try to squeeze some value out of their perceived potential. Some targets I think he may look at this offseason: Mo Bamba Kevin Knox Dennis Smith Jr. Marquese Chriss Jarrett Culver
The time has passed for Neil to take chances on former lottery picks. That formula has not proven very successful. Neil, needs to go all in and he knows it or else it's his ass next. He has to at least swing for the fences and make big trades to better this team and put on his best salesman act to bring in defensive minded role players. If he does that and it doesn't work, he can say he tried. That he did what he was supposed to do. If he continues these low risk, mostly low reward moves like a nit then he will lose any leverage he still has to remain GM of the Blazers.
Took him 3 years and a broken leg and a broken wrist but yeah he improved to where most thought a #1 pick should get to at least?
Not sure how likely CJ to Orlando is, seeing as how they already gave Fultz an extension and already drafted Cole Anthony. Even doing a 3-team deal with, say, the Knicks, it doesn’t make sense for them to trade Isaac if all they’re getting from NY is maybe Toppin and some picks. Isaac is already amazing on defense and is young enough that he can probably become a 20 ppg guy. Why trade that away? On the Blazers’ end, is Dame gonna want to trade CJ for a guy who hasn’t had any playoff experience as of yet? I would LOVE a Dame/Powell/Covington/Isaac/Nurkic starting 5, Isaac is one of my favorite young guys, but coming back from an ACL tear, I can almost expect a trade demand next season if we don’t make the conference finals regardless if there are injuries or not. I don’t see an injury excuse working especially if you kind of know what you’re getting into trading for Isaac. In the end, risk might be too high for us, and it wouldn’t make sense for ORL to even consider the trade. They’ve never even given any indication that they are trying to move him.
Jonathan Isaac is locked up with the Magic for the next four years and it seemed like all of their rebuilding moves were to build around him.
