When Looney is better than Wiseman, that’s not their game. And a top center isn’t NEEDED for a winning team … I agree. But the signs point to Ayton’s availability … there’s plenty of chatter down here in AZ. Ayton is good in the paint on O — and not just at the hoop. Ayton gets 12+ on 10 shots while the Mo Harkless of centers gets 10.5 from 3? And Ayton gets O-Rebs being closer in AND should be getting to the line. I’m not saying go get any “top” center and fork over $30 million. Nurkic tops out in a totally different neighborhood in a lower tier. And Gobert is significantly overpaid as a distant #4 option on O. Ayton’s just better, IMHO. Yes, he can be option #2. For me, with centers, it’s a small list on a contending team where the C is, or should be, #2.
You never know. Suns already don’t wanna pay him, either they’re gonna have to pay him or swallow and their pride and take a crappy offer lol. If I was the blazers gm I would offer Ayton max, and if the suns want to make a deal only Nurkic is on the table. Suns are in a crappy spot, don’t give into the pressure
Ayton is about to be 24 years old and had a true shooting percentage of 63% last season. He's also just 1 year older than Anfernee Simons. Ayton is almost 24 and Simons is almost 23 years old. Those two could have good careers together.
Because 1.2 points per shot is better than 1.05? Because the big guy could collapse the defense, making 3-point shots easier? Both of those teams have their top-flight center as the primary offensive option. Our top-tier smaller guy is ours.
Sign and trade is the way for Ayton. I’ve seen numbers crunched. 3-teamers. What other teams could do, instead. BUT the reasonable thinking against $30 million centers who don’t shoot 3’s will be the same league-wide. Few teams, IMHO are in a place to do a deal AND Ayton has to want it, too. I’d rather see the forward spots fixed … but don’t see a veteran star. Maybe a couple #3 options (Anunoby and Grant, for instance).
The Blazers basically have to do a sign and trade. Someone had a good post on it here because of Ayton BYC, but basically they have to receive ~$41 million in salary so Ayton plus something else and send out likely Nurk and another player. Probably have to renounce the trade exception. If the Blazers are going to also do another trade for a veteran (Grant, Woods, Randle, OG, etc) it might have to all be done in one single trade to get the salaries to match up. The tricky part is the Blazers have to first draft #7 (which likely has to be part of such a trade) but then cant agree to a deal with Ayton until July. So it might be very hard to get all parties to agree to both. And once there are multiple parties negotiating, we've seen how Cronin move is to just give everything away.
Can the Blazers offer him a max deal? The problem with relying on 3-point shooting is obvious. You need to have a way to get high-percentage two point shots as well.
I honestly think with the emergence of Daniels, there is a serious dropoff after 7. So I think that the Spurs will be willing to trade us 9 and 25 for 7. I'm hoping we get Sochan at 9 and can get Grant for 25 and maybe just include giving Detroit their 2025 second back as well but I'm afraid Joe might overpay and give Detroit 25 and the Bucks first. If Joe doesn't overpay and we get Sochan and Grant without giving up the Bucks pick. I then think that Nurk and the Bucks pick would be enough to obtain Ayton as far as the Suns are concerned but I don't know how the salary matching works out at that point because if the Suns can re-sign Ayton for what Nurk's salary is going to be then they'll just do that.
hopefully it’s not 7 for randle. Only acceptable trade for randle would be 7 and bledsoe for 11 and Randle. I would be ok moving down a few spots for Randle, but not giving up our lottery pick for him.
Getting Randle and #11 would be incredible. Then you could draft Duren, Sochan or Eason at #11 one of them will be available or maybe a hail mary mega drop by a better prospect. That's a trade I'd actually be straight-up stoked about. I'd even consider the #11 for Grant. Lillard Simons Grant/ or Sochan/ or Eason Randle Nurk/ or Duren That's pretty damn solid! Also, if you draft Duren you could try and do an S&T of Nurk for a wing which I think is possible especially if you throw in the Buck's 1st. With Duren having a rookie scale salary, especially at the #11 pick, we also free up salary for the 5 that is currently going to Nurk. I like it!
I think the pick would be Sochan or Eason, but honestly I don't think Sochan lasts beyond the Spurs. But I really don't see it working with Dame/Grant/Randle. Especially since Grant thinks of himself as some kind of superstar.
if we can get him without giving up 7 or if he comes with 11, i'm in. i know some question the basketball fit, but i genuinely think it can work
If we're trading the pick, I hope it's initially with many trade downs to gather extra assets. 7 for 9 and 20. 9 for 12 and 30 or a future first. 12 and 20 for 13 and 15. 15 for 22 and 29. Etc.
