The village in Scotland? A bit windy in the wintertime but I definitely recommend checking it out. Beautiful area.
If we're offloading a bunch of salary in a Dame trade, Ayton wouldn't be a terrible player to spend it on. 25 years old is still plenty young enough to be part of a rebuild. Good rebounder. Dunks the ball more than twice as often as Nurk does.
This is who I've been hoping for in a deal. An upgrade at a position of need. His salary is big, but the Blazers will likely only have one other big salary after this trade, so it's not likely to be any kind of hinderance. They've got quite a few years of rookie salaries left which make his easier to swallow too. Still room to grow as well. I'm all in for Ayton. If they can get him, all they need now is a SF and a couple of years of seasoning.
I like Ayton and Scoot could get the best out of him. Totally underrated. Very skilled. Our future would look brought between him Scoot, Shae, and Ant (or what you get for him).
Sure, I would do this Portland gets: Ayton, JJjr, Jovic, and Lowry Phoenix gets: Herro Miami gets Dame and Nurk
I'm good with bringing in Ayton; however I don't want us giving up multiple picks or such to do it. He's a tad overpaid but its really not relevant with the Blazers right now as were not going to sign free agents, were dumping Dame's supermax contract, and we won't have any Sharpe/Scoot extensions kick in for many years. Ayton contract is totally fine when you start looking at all the long $200+ million deals handed out two months ago.
Phoenix wants to contend...they won't be contending very well with a Drew Eubanks/Bol Bol big man rotation. That's all they would have, and that's not going to cut it against Jokic, or Memphis with JJJ and Adams, Minny with KAT and Gobert, Lakers with AD and Wood. I'd think at the very least the Suns would want Nurkic. Of course that really kinds of bollixes salary matching for Miami and Phoenix
They're so deep in luxury tax they may prefer an expiring and pick to Nurk. I was going to send a rotational/bench player to Phoenix but salaries are difficult to balance.
Dames 33, Aytons 25. I don't see why it's weird. Personally I'd probably prioritize picks over Ayton but I don't hate getting him if it's only one less pick.
I wasn’t on board with Ayton ever. But if there were any time to take a chance on him, it’d be now. I agree, I would not want him if it came at the cost of picks. I would still demand ‘24, ‘28, ‘30 unprotected and swaps in ‘27 and ‘29. A straight swap where we get Ayton for Herro would be what I’d agree to.
that's a valid point. they only have 4 guaranteed salaries in 2025-26: Kevin Durant $54,708,609 Bradley Beal $53,666,270 Devin Booker $53,676,000 Deandre Ayton $35,550,814 Team Totals $197,601,693 that's insane