If we could move the #7 for multiple parts that increased our frountcourt talent, I'd be happy. I don't see any player at #7 that is getting us a title in Dame's timeline. Something where he get at least a couple of: OG/Collins/Grant/Bamba/Jalen Smith A lengthy young forward to build the 'next' round of talent - Eason/Jovic/Williams/Barlow/etc The theme here is lengthy athleticism that isn't breaking the bank....because I don't see anyone that would be that expensive being that much of a difference maker. Ayton might be that, but that is a whole other, quite complicated conversation.
My question is does Nurk want to be traded? He has to sign off on it too. Both the salary and the team he goes to. More importantly how offended will he get when they go to him with the various trade scenarios, essentially telling him... "even though we said we wanted to sign you last season when we asked you to sit out during the tank job, we changed our mind and want someone we think is better." And what happens if the proposed sign and trade falls through? Is Nurk the type of guy who will sulk about being slighted? Or will that trust between him, his agent, and the Blazers be gone forever? IMO the only way it would work is if the sign and trade initiates from the player first. The bottom line is I think you guys might be wasting your time with the sign and trade scenarios.
Conversations happen. Bogdanovic not being informed as it moved along — FUBAR. Just dumber than dirt. With Nurkic, expect that wouldn’t happen, and Lillard would know, too. As to an Ayton swap for Nurkic-plus … it’s good for both sides. Details are all that matter, IMHO. With that said, I’d be shocked if it happened.
Yeah I agree with this. The Blazers shouldn't initiate exploring sign and trades with Nurk. Now if first the Blazers acquire a more valuable player, or if there is a trade proposal that gets the Blazers a more valuable player sure go ahead and consider it. But the team shouldn't shop those, or present a bunch of these possibilities to Nurk.
Right now, I like trading down to #13 and #15 for Eason and Sochan, and trading Bledsoe + Winslow + MIL 1st for Grant. I would want a C at #36, but if the draft process reveals Nzosa Yannick will go undrafted or will be available in the #50s, I’d pick the BPA at #36 and draft Nzosa with the second 2nd or sign him as undrafted. That would be a nice little rotation at forward. Grant, Sochan, and Eason are all lanky defenders at forward, and Nassir is a great point of attack defender. Watford and Brown are still on the roster as well which takes care of your forward rotation and ensures Hart plays most of his minutes at SG. They would be set at guard as well, with Dame/Ant plays PG and Ant/Hart play SG. Let’s see what happens to Keon with a full year of development at PG. Re-sign Nurkic. Sign Jalen Johnson with MLE. We would still have the TPE, which I would probably try to absorb a contract for a 2023 1st so we can get into next year’s draft. But the framework of this lineup—I can be satisfied with: Dame/Simons/Keon Simons/Hart/Keon Grant/Little/Eason Sochan/Eason/Watford/Brown III Nurkic/Johnson/(Yannick or C at #36) (not including whoever we get for the TPE) In a competitive WC, I think we could still make the 2nd round. But we need to address the forward situation now. After a disastrous trade deadline, landing Grant/Sochan/Eason would still be a decent outcome.
I like all of that for the long-term future of the Blazers.....but doubt Dame likes that for the immediate future of the Blazers. Our PF position would be the Diaper Dandies.
Murray may very well drop to us at 7, but if the Blazers feel strongly about him, they should try using the 2nds or the Bucks pick to move up to take him before he's gone. Let's hope Daniels or Duren sneaks into the top 6.
https://www.nbcsports.com/washingto...re-does-shaedon-sharpe-slot-after-nba-combine 2022 NBA MOCK DRAFT 9.0: This mock draft has us taking A.J. Griffin. Thoughts?
So forwards are Grant, rookies, and scrubs? Next season this is at best a playin team and more likely a lottery team. I actually don't think your proposed moves are bad... This more just shows how much work this roster needs.
That’s actually so funny, cause for some reason, Dame continuing to be loyal despite the trash moves at the deadline tells me he doesn’t care. I honestly see Dame being like Beal atm, comfortable life in the situation he’s in without the need to care about whether or not his family will ever be hungry. It seems like he’ll be happy riding the treadmill till he’s not, at which point he’ll leave and the Blazers will be sold. And at the same time, Keljin DOLLA has had a spot on the team for two years. So with all due respect to Dame, if he wasn’t okay with it and decides he’d be elsewhere to actually compete, I’m at the point where I will be willing to trade him. Dame will fetch a very decent return. This is all assuming you’re correct that he wouldn’t like that for the future. I tend to think the opposite—I doubt he’d have a problem with that roster as long as they can be competitive. If you could find a starting PF with the TPE, awesome. You can’t have a terrible trade deadline and think you can have it all in the offseason though. If Dame has a problem with this roster, he should’ve had a problem with trading Covington and Powell for nothing. You keep Dame by building the team the way you envisioned and ensuring it puts Dame over the top to compete, not lollygaging in the front office and signing family members to keep him happy or trading 2 cheap rookie deals of Bey or Bane or Maxey, etc for 2 years of Covington. I learned from my mistakes supporting the Covington and Afflalo deal. But that’s just me ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
You can’t have a terrible trade deadline and think you can have it all in the offseason though unfortunately, which is the problem. Who exactly do you think is the scrub on that team, if you don’t mind me asking. Keon? Yeah, a trade from the deadline that I didn’t support, what can ya do. Hart? Yeah, a trade from the deadline. Watford? Yeah, he was undrafted. Brown III? Yeah, we already knew he was raw. If it’s one of the rookies you were thinking that scrubby—yeah, they’re rookies. You’ve already tied my hands behind my back unfortunately, so how do I make the omelet?
Yuck. Griffin's best case scenario is basically like Kyle Korver... a 3 &___. Griffin is a very good shooter & has a great NBA body - but really doesn't do much else beyond shooting.
There are a number of teams in Salary Cap hell, or right on the edge that Portland may be able to 'help'. Cronin is supposedly a cap guru as is the new hire from the Jazz. . It's a roll of the dice, but D69 has done more than just Draft digging, and there are some teams that need to make moves financially. Maybe we actually get something out of the TPE, EBEC, Ingles, Hart, etc.
I would only trade Hart if we were set on drafting Dyson Daniels. I can at least be excited about a Dame/Ant/Daniels trio at the guard position. But man, if we traded Hart and got back someone who doesn’t help, we basically got nothing for CJ. That’s a stinger.
I think it's very possible the Blazers don't take whomever is available at #7. Whether that is to move down for a player, a player/pick, etc, there is a lot of things pointing to them not taking the pick. Here is one small example. The Raports will have or have had in Dyson Daniels and Benedict Mathurin. Their first pick as of now, is at #33. They have cap issues coming this year and even more so next year. Getting off some of the cap obligations with either an ending contract and/or a pick that they don't owe so much money to would help them a lot. The Spurs are also very interested in Daniels and know that the Pelicans want him, so need to move up to get him. If #9 would get you OG, I'd trade #7 for #9 and either #20 or #25. Get OG, and a young player or use that pick or the Bucks pick to go after a Grant or a Collins because the Hawks are in the worst Cap situation in the league. That would be a BIG upgrade in our forwards situation. Not sur that is contender status, but it is a a huge jump. I'd also like to somehow see Bamba or Jalen Smith added to that if they could. More Bigs!
If they can't draft Murray, i think he would be their top choice. Along with John Collins. In a perfect world, the Blazers would probably love to draft Murray, and acquire OG. Team need wise , and financially, that would be a huge win-win.
