kind of a fantasy question here but with the rumors we have it seems like a couple of targets for the Blazers are Mikal Bridges and Pascal Siakam. How likely either trade is is questionable if you assume that Ant would be going out in either trade, which 4 man lineup would be better: Dame Sharpe Bridges Grant or Dame Sharpe Grant Siakam ??
Which player would I prefer the Blazers acquire? Bridges all day because he is an iron man and 3 years younger. Who would have a better 2023-24 season? More of a toss up but I might lean Siakam but honesty not much difference either way. Doubt Blazers can acquire either at a price that makes sense such as keeping Sharpe.
Grant and Siakam both play the 4 Many think Grant could play the 3 but Im not sure he and Siakam fit?
We could probably trade Ant, Nurk, #5 #23, three unprotected firsts and 3 unprotected pick swaps. Unprotect the 2024 Chicago pick while giving them a 2nd. But then we don't have a 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th man in the rotation and zero assets to acquire any of them and we lost all our picks unprotected the next 7 years. So yeah probably possible to build this top4. But the problem is the Blazers lack the assets and roster flexibility to also do the required next step. Contenders need 5-8 position role players, especially for the 82 game season. Plus the downside cost of potentially losing 7 years of lottery picks when many of them could be top4 is crazy.
Blazers 2023 lottery pick where the team finished with the 5th worst record. Exact position TBD in a few weeks.
Honesty that's the type of top5 that is needed to contend. Throw in a couple vet minimum bigs and hope you can find a couple more players to help off the bench.... boom legit contender. Problem is Blazers just don't have the assets to acquire both these guys. If Cronin can find a way to do it I'll eat crow and vote for him as exec of the year.
If we are really going to make a move to contend it needs to be one massive trade where we acquire two Siakam/Bridges type of studs all at the same time. One of my fears is the Blazers decide to cash in all their chips to get vets; but it's only half the vets needed. They mortgage their future, but they have nothing left to complete the team and still aren't a contender. Ideally Blazers just win the Wemba sweapstateaks, sign a MLE vet and none of this matters. Assuming that doesn't happen, team should only go for it mortgaging the future if the roster is an immediate contender. If that doesn't happen, then just keep building with youth and sign a couple minimum salary vets to appease Dame. If Dame doesn't buy in and asks out, fine then we just say sorry it wasn't possible to build a contender at this time and move on. I've been very down on Cronin and Jody/Vulcans; would love for them to prove me wrong.
Siakam can play some ball 5 as well. He's better than Bridges imo but I'd be happy with either. I think you can run a lot of the offense through Pascal, much like Toronto did. Both would come along with a much needed wing off the bench. Both teams have a glut of helpful guys. The fantasy is get #1. Draft Wemby. Trade Ant + all the future picks and swaps + Watford or Jabari we can for either. Starting lineup is -- Dame Sharpe Bridges Grant Wemby or Dame Sharpe Grant Wemby/Siakam Siakam/Wemby I think the second one is pretty unstoppable honestly. But I love both.
I like Bridges more because you can attach however many 1sts to Ant for Bridges straight up and still be able to keep Nurk. I think keeping Nurk will be important so Wemby can play more PF as he gains more weight. I would actually bring Sharpe off the bench playing 25-27mpg behind a starting lineup of Dame Bridges Grant Wenby Nurk With Sharpe, Thybulle, and Mays off the bench. Add a scorer or distributor and a big and this is a HCA kind of team.
Dame Sharpe Kawhi or George (whichever you can get in trade) Grant Nurk I know Kawhi and George are hurt a lot but type of players you need to win playoff games and unfortunately also because they have something wrong with them they actually might be available in trade unlike other guys like Bridges. Then you fill in with vets around them. Personally want a defensive center or Draymond type player as center.
WTF is with you man? so you're saying the Blazers would have to trade 4 first's AND 3 swaps, all unprotected, including a top 5 pick, for Bridges or Siakam? That's total fucking nonsense but it fits with the 'Blazers are completely boned' jihad you've been on
So what do you think it will take to acquire either one? Bridges was the centerpiece of a trade for Kevin fucking Durant; and his value is even higher now than it was then after he successfully lead Brooklyn's offense. Siakam won a title with Kawhi and is a multi time allstar. Maybe we can get rid of a pick or two or a swap from what I wrote but its going to have to be a massive offer for either one. We're not getting Siakam for Ant and protected picks or whatever crap people post here. Some might argue my offer would be a nonstarter for Brooklyn as the Blazers retain Sharpe.
what I think is that you don't have to show up as the messenger of death for every discussion that might be a little positive or hopeful or just a bit of entertaining distraction saying that Bridges or Siakam would require the Blazers to fork over 7 unprotected first round picks and swaps with one already being top-7 plus Ant and Nurkic is just nuts
Acknowledged. Well, please go ahead and carry on in fantasy land where the Blazers future is rosy and Cronin is a wonderful GM. I'll go off and spread my message of death.
