https://syndication.bleacherreport....nly-available-lac-wont-give-him-away.amp.html Cronin did talk about "seeds" during his presser. The Knicks initiated talks about George before pausing in part because they believed George's representatives would ask for an extension if traded, Andrew Greif and Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times reported. George currently holds a player option for 2024-25, which will pay him $48.79 million if exercised, and is set to become a UFA in 2025. The Portland Trail Blazers also expressed and then withdrew interest in George, Greif and Turner reported.
here's an idea. math is a bit tricky and the above does not reflect it, but the gist of it is... - WAS gets something in return for Kuzma who could just simply walk. I don't see any reason for the Wizards to actually re-sign him. Instead they S&T him to LA for something like a 4/100 deal. - LA cuts bait with a big contract and instead fills a position of need in a lead guard while also getting another 20 ppg scorer in Kuzma who doesn't miss games. Also gets Rubio for their trouble. - CLE ws rumored to covet Nas, so they exchange commensurate salary and a future second. - We pick up a guy who has a high ceiling but also a massive injury risk, while fulfilling some promises to Dame. Also, given the length of his contract, it's not nearly as bad as it might seem. And having some rookie scale deals as our depth allows some flexibility. Need to S&T Cam for some contract like 3/14 We end up with: Dame / Scoot Sharpe / Scoot / Rupert PG/ Thybulle / Murray Grant / Watford / Murray Nurk / ?
I never believed the crap about LAC refusing Ant+Nurkic+#3+Sharpe. Not for a second because Portland would not have offered it, IMO there was a blizzard of bullshit for weeks before the draft, but the blizzard became a hurricane in the 3-4 days before the draft. I didn't have much respect for the talking heads and bloviators before all that. I have not a shred of respect for them now
of course Portland didn't offer Sharpe. I'm just about certain he was never on the table in any of these trade discussions. I seem to remember, somewhere, that LAC 'supposedly' turned that offer down bu maybe I'm confusing the noise from PG13 with the noise from Zion
I'm pretty sure it was just put out by the Clippers to try to set up a narrative of George's trade value.
I wonder how the Clips feel about SGA and those 5 First round picks. We would be talking about that 40 years later if the Blazers got robbed like that.
I think this kinda move is magnified if small market teams are the ones making them because it's harder to acquire talent through means outside of the draft. It's bad for LA but someone will always go there in FA or force their way there in trades. Probably contributed Cronin's fear in trading a young potentially future superstar.
I do think we’re about to free up our Chicago pick and try to attach like 3 unprotected firsts to ant to get a veteran forward. Maybe George, maybe someone else. Not sure how I feel about it. But I think the two timelines strategy is about to happen.
Possible I guess, don't really want to "straddle" the two scenarios (prefer a committed rebuild) but what the heck, would be fun to watch Scoot and Shae with Dame and some Vets - Grant and ?
I'm against mortgaging the future for the always injured and aging George, Leonard or Zion. They are boat anchors for their teams. Plus those huge contracts are a problem with the new CBA. If we were to trade for one of these wings it makes Grant unnecessary as he is not a four.
PG is owed 45.6 next year and then has a PO for 48.8 the year after. He will prolly exercise that second year, but we can cut bait in the summer of 25 when Shaedon and Scoot will have presumably come into their own.
I wouldn't do this, but Zion is closer to Scoot's timeline and could make some sense in a Lillard trade, assuming we're only giving up vets. PG13/Kawhi are in a totally different category for me.
Clippers declined Eric Gordon's contract so he'll become a free agent. Its a bit of a change in their strategy as they had always spent any amount in recent years if it improved their talent. Gordon still had value on the court, although obviously the $110 million of luxury tax the Clippers save is much more than his on court worth. Rumors are Ty Lue might even be interested in a mutual separation and there are grumblings of the team wanting additional larger changes. Now I don't think the #3 for Paul George ever made any sense. But what about a package of Ant, Nurk, NAS and pick(s) - with Zubac coming to PDX? Clippers get a young exciting scorer to put up buckets next year and be marketed the following season for the debut of a new arena. Blazers get a SF they've been wanting forever to make Dame happy of the effort to win now. Also one flexibility benefit is the Blazers won't be hard capped as they would if they acquired Draymond or Cam Johnson in a sign and trade. Blazers still would have the tax MLE to spend on a player like Plumlee. Dame Scoot Sharpe Thybulle George Kris Grant Watford Zubac Plumlee Eubanks
2 or 3 1st is not "Mortgaging the future". They're not gonna trade a dozen 1st rounders. I even heard where the next couple of Drafts look "meh". Now there always could be a special guy in there. But no guaranty we'd have access to that player. I can guaranty that Dame is in his prime. Playing an amazing quality of ball. And with some additions , could help the team become a lethal force. There are no Superteams, and many teams , like Phoenix, are hamstrung to even fill their supporting cast with any quality at all. The Blazers have just added a couple of , potentially , special talents. And still have Dame. If Sharpe and Scoot are special, then the cream will rise to the top, sooner, rather than later. Meaning the Future is now. Go get it done Joe.
I guess one concern with acquiring George is what do you do with his contract? He has a $49 million player option next season and is eligible for I believe a 4 year $250+million type of extension. He's already 33, so that would be paying him until he's 38 which its questionable if he's even a bench player at that point. Just doesn't seem like the type of move the Vulcans/Jody would go for. I'm not in favor of overpaying Grant, but 4 years from now when he's 33 I'm much more optimistic of his ability to play than a 38 year old George who's already battled extensive injuries.
