It seems like this argument is going around in circles. Almost everyone agrees that a rookie will not be a difference-maker in year one. And almost everyone agrees that if a veteran "difference maker" is available at #7 then we should trade it. However, almost everyone also believes that if you can't get a really good player in a trade for the pick, then it is stupid to trade a lottery pick that could land us a future potential star. You seem to base everything on what you think Dame wants. We don't really know exactly what is acceptable to him. He might be fine with a player who we all think is solid but not great, (Grant) and a rookie who has a lot of potential in the future...if that is all that is available. So until we know if a star (or close to a star) is even available for the pick, it seems like 3 weeks before the draft we should be talking about players who have the potential to be special.
#7 to the Spurs for #9/#20. #9 to the Raptors for OGA. #20 Nikola Jovic Bucks 2025 for Grant. Not quite contender material (not sure there is a move that accomplishes that), but much more length, production and size up front. Jovic has a combination of skills not overly prevalent on the current roster. Can we add Mo Bamba to that list? Nurk as the only center is fools gold. Between him and Nurk, that is good for about one full season.
I would trade the 25th pick if I was San Antonio. I would do it because there now seems to be a consensus group that makes up the top 7 with Chet, Jabari, Paolo, Ivey, Daniels, Sharpe and Murray... there seems to be a perceived dropoff after that. So moving up the two spots could be worth one of their two late first rounders and obviously they should try and make it the later of the two.
His first year with the Knicks he was an excellent defender....then next season with Thibs he got disengaged in playing defense and became more ISO oriented and not a great teammate according to rumors....he needs to get out of there....Thibs did the same thing to Jimmy Butler...he wears on guys.
If they are willing to give up a first-round pick just to move up two spots to #7, we need to find out who that player is.........so we can keep him for ourselves.
As @blazerkor said, maybe instead of the #20, it's the #25. Spurs have 3 1st round picks and doubt they want to use all 3 of those to add to their roster. So at #25, perhaps Koloko or Barlow?
Anyone get the feeling Portland has no interest in letting Nurk walk or trading him. Isn’t he one of Dame’s guy?
I do get the feeling that the team has no interest in Nurk going anywhere but I'm pretty sure CJ leaving can obliterate this notion of Dame having his guys or some shit. Dame is here to win, I don't think he cares about who it's with as long as they're going to go about it in a way he can respect and Dame seems like he can give respect to just about anyone who will give him respect in return.
So the Blazers are trying to follow the LeBron model of resigning overpaid players or trading all their youth for mediocre veterans to appease their star. Then the star gets frustrated and leaves because there's no talent and no assets. It amazes me how time and again NBA franchises let star players or coaches dictate personnel moves when it never works out well. Tim Duncan won more games and titles than any star; we never heard him tell the franchise what players to go sign or trade for.
are you trying to set a record for speculative assumptions in one post? MM may have a great source and be spot-on in his guesses. Or, his source may be not so good and the guesses miss by a mile.
