We can trade the Milwaukee pick, but that has much less value than our lottery pick. Why would Detroit want a less valuable pick? They could just trade our pick this year for multiple future picks to a 3rd team if they don't want another rookie now. There really aren't other future picks of ours that are easy to trade. I guess we could give up a complicated contingent pick and/or pick swaps. I hate the idea of giving up pick swaps, that could turn into giving up a #1 overall pick Duncan level of star since we have such a possibility of horrific Blazer seasons ahead. If Detroit says they want our draft pick, is Cronin capable of holding firm in a negotiation? I expect he will have an idea of what he wants and just gives up whatever assets to ensure he makes it happen. Then he will complain nobody offered anything better. Not a good quality of a GM.
We get it. You think Cronin is an idiot. And he would be if he gave Detroit our top pick for Grant. But I doubt that will happen. If Detroit wants more than what we are offering then we move on from Grant. Not sure which other teams can absorb Grant's contract, that wants him. I do think that is who we would be competing with.
Very true, but my belief/hope is that when given two options, Dame will side with the smarter choice. I still think we have a chance with Grant depending on who else wants him and what that team is willing to give up. If we lose out on Jerami, then maybe Dame (and Chauncey) set their sites on a full MLE candidate. I do believe that Chauncey will be more successful than Terry when it comes to recruiting.
While an obvious exaggeration, the fundamental point isn't wrong. There are always some good players in the draft. There are always players that wind up beinging drafted later than they should have. It is the GM who fails - not the strategy.
Unfortunately there isn't a good enough recruiter to convince guys to come to Portland (and our high taxes, lack of diversity, and lack of night life) over glamor markets.
Kyle Anderson or TJ Warren are probably the top free agents available. I'd be esctatic if we signed one. But if that is the only starter addition we are going to be in the lottery next season.
