Clingan, Toumani, Deni — the keepers. Any media, League, X, forums with trade proposals and chatter and conversations can leave them out. 1. Getting a superstar who is youngish would cost too much and leave too little remaining post-trade. 2. Any big swing trade for a Zion or other “damaged” star means an equally large risk and limiting draft capital going out. I’m up for trades to get Deni’s or Toumani’s, but I’m about OUT on the mega-meal, all star trades. 3. Portland bench players need to get better to have a DEEP bench — need a healthy, reliable, back-up center / need better versions of Walker, Murray, Rupert (great if it’s them but if not …) / need incoming players in “lost trades” of veteran EC’s to be good 6-9th men — the kind of back-ups you could see on OKC, Indiana, Boston — the gold standard of bench guys. Yes, Portland needs a Batman and Robin. If I squint hard enough, could that be Deni and Toumani?
If we trade Camara to the Lakers for Dalton and a late 1st I’ll be done for a long time. He’s probably our best all around player. You need guys like him to win. Trading him would just reinforce the idea that we are basically a G League team for the big markets to take from when they need something.
Hey look - its a repeat of the 10 year old story of how a young Dame can be traded to the Lakers for scraps.
