I was also thinking about Sharpe this morning. He may show a lot of potential and definitely some highlights but he doesn't strike me as having the mentality of a superstar. He is a follower, not a leader. He has leader potential but a deferential personality. Lillard in his rookie year regularly asked for the ball. Yes, Lillard was a 4-year college player whereas Sharpe is, essentially, a HS player but that may change overall maturity, but I don't believe it significantly changes the mentality. I've lowered my expectations for Sharpe from potential all-star to ideally, a very good #2 (or #3). However, I do not see him as a leader. The idea of an Ant/Sharpe led team in the future does not fill me with hope, but it does incite an expectation of numerous trips to the lottery. Both have some skills but neither are a true leader IMO. My .02
I'm not fine with the "no matter the price" component. You already have Dame earning a boatload. Add in a highly overpaid albeit high-level role-player PF and where do you find the funds to improve the team elsewhere? Throwing "great" money at "good" is something the Blazers have done regularly and it as cost them options and flexibility. I'm not good with it. Leads to more of same, borderline play-in team with few options. Pass.
I’ve seen glimpses of star potential. It’s few and far between. I’d like to see him after an offseason or two really refining his game. I’d be hesitant to trade him. But if it makes a ton of sense than I’d do it.
Grant at that price is a Meyers Leonard overpay. Sheesh. When you are in a hole stop digging. This would be digging even deeper. Cronin can talk about wanting to have flexibility to make big moves all he wants but if he does that, it becomes pretty words but signifying nothing.
Given our cap situation, what would your plan be to replace Grant if we let him go for nothing? We won't have $30m to sign someone else. We're looking at an estimated $170m cap in 2025, so Grant would take up only 17% of that, which is in line for what a #3 option should get. Feels different to me than giving a end of the bench guy 9% of the cap.
1. Blazers' lottery pick hits 1 or 2, keep it. Otherwise, all options open. 2. Knicks #15+ pick re-routed to Chicago, all 1st rounders unencumbered. With the above stipulated ... STAY Dame, Sharpe, Grant KEEP as useful players (sacrifices easily made as FILLER for the right trade) Thybulle, Trendon, Eubanks, Walker and as many 2nds as possible to take swings at big, agile guys, Euros, etc. (Mike Schmitz) TRADE for THE trade and to improve Ant (good contract with upside still ...), Nas (good contract and potential left on the table), Nurkic (for a center who plays better D and can move and better motor), Reddish (with some value regained), and Keon (needs an opportunity with minutes). All current and future first rounders on the table (unless the 1st or 2nd lottery pick this year). NOT concerned about Arcidiano, Winslow (out), Knox, Butler and Badji (bigs who wear suits) Worst to Best Players to Get in Trade: Worst < OG < DeRozan < Siakam < Jaylen Brown or Mikal Bridges < Best
30-35 mil for Grant and caring about a luxury tax don’t go together. Kinda like saying we are trying to win now around Dame while still tanking. We have no clear direction, which is why we will be a 13 to 8 seed every year until things change from the top. Jody, Cronin, and Chauncey need to go. Our front office is equivalent to Amateur hour.
Grant for 4 years at 30-32 million (team option on 5th) given the increase in salary cap would still be worth the return if he's then traded as compared to leaving for nothing. Grant is only one move. The trade for his running mate at forward is the other. It's both not just one. If there's no big trade this summer [ ... except for hitting in the lottery ... ] then the clock has started on Dame being traded along with everyone with mileage. The Tankorama-Re-Build around Shaedon and Ant begins. IMHO and I cannot see anything but these two roads.
The issue to me was always that Portland would have to pick between Hart/Grant on who they would re-sign. Signing both would put them well over the tax.
Grant for $30-35M only hamstrings this franchise further. He is good, but not great. 4 rebounds per game from your PF who isn't that good of a one-on-one defender? He is much better as a 'help' defender (which the Blazer guards need plenty of) but it just seems like another overpay that keeps this team in a mediocre rut. Curious as to what other teams would pay him that much?
Not entirely. They DRAFTED two other all NBA players, so it’s much easier to go into the tax area if you need to. Different dynamics
Grant is an overpay and without getting the Go For It trade this summer, then he probably doesn’t move them out of the rut. The best part of this summer is making the big deal or shopping Dame.
If we win the lottery and get Wemby would people want to move Dame for more young pieces/picks knowing him and Sharpe need a few season to develop or do we keep him?
That's fair. It also goes to exactly what I was saying when I jumped into this conversation about trading Dame for Dame's sake. I'm saying that's not part of the deal, because Dame doesn't want traded. People actually might want to trade him for the very reasons you make, but they just don't want to say "Hey, Dame, we love you, you're great, but we don't think we can win with you, we think we have a better chance to contend without you and we're sending you to the team that gives us the best deal." Because, I'll tell you what, if Blazer fans could get five firsts from Houston or five firsts from New Orleans for Dame, they aren't going to choose the latter, even though that clearly would be Dame's better shot at a ring. Now, the organization has to determine a couple of things: 1, Is it worth keeping Dame even if it means likely mediocrity because his presence means more than winning and 2, Do you think you have a better chance to contend with five lottery tickets over five years and no Lillard or by finding the right combination with him. Someone said if the Blazers get lucky and get the first pick and get Wembanyama it'd be the smart time to trade Dame for those five firsts. It's worth discussion, although I'd bet most people would think adding a talent like that to what we already have with Dame and the rest of this cast upgrades are ability to contend immensely.
Personally, I think you keep Dame. I don't think it takes Wembanyama that long to be a major factor. I think Sharpe will be improved next year, maybe considerably -- I remember people talking when we drafted him that he'd barely see the court this year but he's been a rotation guy, albeit one with peaks and valleys. Now you've got another scoring threat with Dame who also gives us length and rim protection. The whole complexion of the roster changes with that one addition. I'd rather have a proven, great veteran to be a role model for Wembanyama to see every day rather than Wembanyama playing with Sharpe and Ant and Nas and whatever other guy we draft in the first round next year. I can see the other side to the argument, but this is what makes sense to me.
Yeah, reward the guy who’s stuck with this loser franchise by trading him if you win the draft. That’s how you get star players to stay loyal lol.
