As a matter of fact, no. Blazers' goal was to take back minimum possible salary, not maximum talent. Whether the Pels would have agreed if the Blazers had asked is another matter.
plan for the worst case : portland's single pick is the haul. draft and trade as part of a package including the 2025 mlw pick for real talent that can deliver on day 1.
There is no way that was on the table. We would have taken it. The goal was to take back maximum talent at minimum possible salary.
We are not getting that pick, book it. They are absolutely capable of beating those trash ass Lakers and then one of Clippers and Timberwolves
Worst case isn't zero picks. The Blazers will keep their pick. They aren't making the playoffs. Worst case is the Blazers somehow end up with the 11th+ pick and don't get the Pels pick. The best case is that the Blazers lose all their remaining games and get help from Oklahoma City and Detroit and end up with the 3rd spot before the lottery draw. Then they win the lottery and get the #1 pick. Somehow New Orleans loses in the play-in and we get their pick too. That's the best case scenario.
“I think about it,” Batum said, with a smile, at shootaround before his 900th career game. “I was like, imagine those two guys, RoCo and me and Mook … on defense. I mean, yeah, can be special. Very excited, actually – I mean, take your time, get 100%, don’t want to rush them back. “But can be interesting.”
They're capable, I'll give you that but I still don't think it's likely so I won't be booking anything thanks.
If I understand correctly, the odds are no different between 1st. 2nd, 3rd & 4th so we only need 4th to get maximum odds.
I'll share a terrible idea I just had. What if the Pelicans miss the playoffs and we all take a collective sigh of relief, just to have them win one of the top four picks in the lottery. That would be soul crushing.
Since I care more about rebuilding the team to competitive levels than I do about maximizing their profit levels - I'd say it is a very bad thing. And yes, I understand the argument that stripping the team of assets makes the team more attractive to a certain type of buyer.
