I feel like Marvin Bagley is a prime Neil target. Injury prone first two years but clearly a young, long, athletic talent. Bagley and Barnes? Bagley and Haliburton for CJ, Nurkic
Lillard would be good as gone if that trade to happen. Bagley and Halliburton might be better than CJ and Nurk some day, but not now and Lillard wants to win now.
Lakers are trash. Warriors have problems since they couldn’t even make playoffs with healthy Curry. And yes, Murray is out. Why do you hate Phoenix?
First, Simmons isn't coming here. Besides that,he is a choke artist. Siakom won't come here as Portland has a negative free agency destination smeared on the city by the media.
Are you getting these two guys mixed up with a superstar like Dame? These guys are not on the level of turning down trade destinations: Ben is locked up for four years and Siakam has three. Both guys could be had without crippling the roster. Despite the fact that you labeled Simmons a choke artist I would give up CJ three firsts and four swaps for Simmons and I think Morey would take it... if Morey demanded four firsts and three swaps I'd probably cave and do that too. As far as Siakam goes, I think if we got a third team involved we could get him for CJ and a first rounder. The point was that both guys would talk about how they can't wait to play with Dame and be the foundation of the team with him, not about the reputation the city has because of the media. Besides superstars, NBA players know that being traded wherever is part of the job description... what they think of a city comes into play when they are free agents. Obviously this is all conjecture but it's a theory that has a little more history on it side than yours does.
I'm just talking playoffs. Which Murray should be back for. I don't hate Phoenix. I think if we add Siakim & Simmons we would be better than them. I think if we add Siakim & Simmons we would be better than them. But sure, let's add them to the list. Even if we add Siakim & Simmons, Phoenix, Utah, Lakers, GS, and Denver are still better if they are healthy.
I think Golden state is past their expiration date. The Lakers just gutted their bench to get Statbrook. I don’t think either of those teams win it next year unless they make a major addition this summer.
Okay, so IYO does adding either or both of those players to the Blazers make us a championship contender?
Possibly but there are too many unknowns until the season starts. What does Neil do with the bench? That’s just as big a question mark as adding a player like Simmons or Siakam. Dame Norm RoCo Simmons or Siakam Nurk That’s a championship caliber starting unit. But what does the bench look like? how good of a coach is Chauncey? So many questions that need answered. But I would say Golden State has just as many questions. As do the Lakers.
Like all of you, I would take either player. Although I doubt we get either. I voted for Siakam because I think he fits in better with the remaining roster on offense. (He can create his own shot) But it would be nice to have a guy like Simmons who you could actually put on either LBJ or AD and feel confident about him slowing either down. For that matter, you could put Simmons on any team's best player like Kawhi, or PG, Booker, Doncic, Michae Porter, Mitchell, Curry etc etc. Jokic would be the one guy that would a problem for him. I may have to change my vote. That would be a nice luxury to have.
The sad truth is I'd be overjoyed to have either but both are so much more valuable than CJ there's no chance we get either of them.
Value is different for each team. CJ has lots of value, just not for either of those two teams. I mean look at the Lakers, who do they need more right now.... CJ or Simmons?
Both Simmons and Siakam have more value to more teams than CJ. I think that clearly affects their overall value around the league, no?
I think team needs are important. I don't see a team need for CJ with Toronto honestly but he is exactly what the Sixers need. With what they have on that roster already, CJ is the perfect fit. Obviously if you're trying to get Simmons for CJ a lot of assets have to be added (that being said, I think if Olshey would just admit that to himself he could just throw in all of our future draft capital possible and get the deal done). If you're trying to get Siakam for CJ a future first and a third team seem to be needed. I know CJ's value in the league varies from team to team, Siakam probably has a pretty steady value among GMs and Simmons is probably wildly different depending on who you talk to. With CJ it comes down to fit and what you need. With Siakam unless you have two all star forwards you could use him. With Simmons it has to do with risk reward, recency bias, fit... there are just a lot of variables.
