We got the #3 pick. Discuss the possibilities.

Disagree? It’s not an opinion. We traded down for Martell. We could’ve drafted Deron or Paul if we wanted to.

 

Play the guys who aren’t hurt?

 

I'd say it did, Pacers were a contender for a few years there, not a favorite but they had a realistic shot more than the Blazers have in 20 years. We've seen teams like Toronto win a title with less. Yes it never quite worked out, but they were in the mix.

Remove Jermaine and put Dale Davis back in those Pacers teams and they have zero chance to contend. That's why the Blazers need to try and hit some home runs to win with Dame, settling for a Dale Davis veteran has no chance of ever contending.

 

I don’t think NOLA would be able to give up that much for Dame. Zion would never want to be here, nor would he be coming off the bench. It would probably be something like Brandon Ingram, Dyson Daniels, players that fit in our TPEs, #14, the 2024 MIL and LAL 1st, and their 2025 top 10 protected 1st. If Dame was willing to go there and NOP wanted the trade, I would probably do it.

Draft Scoot at #3, Brandon Miller at #14, Dereck Lively at #23. Overpay for Grant.

Scoot/Ant/Daniels/Mays
Ant/Sharpe/Daniels
Ingram/Daniels/Little/Walker
Grant/Miller/Watford/Walker
Nurk/Lively/Eubanks/(Baji?)

I think I would much rather have this team than Zion’s salary.

 

I know right?

He's trash.

 

I wanted Deron. Paul is a nut punching punk.

 

He is a center? I guess I don't follow that.

I thought he trained or rehabbed in Portland?

I can't see NO wanting to keep a guy that is a serious question mark when trying to build a contender. I could see Portland because we have little choice other than to take risks. If you can't get those two for Lillard, then I guess Lillard isn't the guy anymore around the NBA. Who knows.

 

And that is exactly why I think NO would trade him. He is becoming their anchor and not in a good way. Taking up salary and hurt more than Nurk. I would think they would love dumping his salary as long as a guy like Lillard came back in a deal. Ingram might be the cost of doing business but maybe others think Zion still has positive value around the NBA.

At #14? Zero chance. He will be top 5 but likely #2.

Who knows. Durant returned a lot and he hasn't carried a team to a championship. Jumped on a championship team, but never carried one. So Maybe Lillard gets more than we think. After all, seems like fans around here think Lillard is Basketball Jesus.

 

As Jim Freaken Butler said “we got dogs on our team”. And love playing together.
Do we have any dogs on our team?
Beside Dame!

 

Sorry, Leonard Miller. I always get the Millers mixed up.

 

He struggles on defense with bigger ‘and’ smaller/faster players. Your classic tweener.

The low volume 3pt shooting was a nice addition this year, though the percentages around the rim weren’t promising. He has that push shot and that’s about it.

He plays with joy with the ball in his hands as a secondary playmaker. Is that what we need him to do?

what are you seeing that I’m missing. On the whole his stuff seems less fixable—but what do I know.

 

One got traded, one had some bone marrow treatment I’d never heard of, and one quit before the ink was dry on his contract.

 

Amen? Amen.

 

smaller guys will generally struggle on defense against bigger guys; and bigger guys will tend to have trouble guarding smaller guys. Watford is not a lock down defender, but he's also not a defensive sieve like so many of Blazer front court players have been

and yes it was low volume 3point shooting but he did shoot 39%. That's very promising. His 68.1% shooting at the rim wasn't stellar but it was still pretty good.; especially compared to Nurkic who shot 64.5%. But more that that is that 35% of Watford's shots came at the rim, but 36% came in the 3-10' zone and he converted 56%. That's an excellent conversion rate in that zone, especially considering it's a zone where lots of shooting fouls occur. Watford has a 31% FT Rate. Again, that mark while not stellar is solid

a 12% rebound rate with a 16% assist rate is another solid combination

he's a rotation level player in my view, or at the minimum, he's close with lots more upside considering his age and lack of experience. And at a near-minimum salary he's a worthy addition to the roster. Certainly a lot more valuable than a 2nd round pick

 

Nope.
Although I do think Watford has the potential to be one

 

I’m just not buying the defense. You are, that’s fine.

The offensive stuff it seems you agree with me on, which is neat. When he has his floater going and teams were daring him to dribble it was occasionally electric. That quarter in Utah in particular. If he could keep the efficiency with his 3pt shooting and dial up the volume he might have enough pop to offset the defensive issues on the other end while he tries to figure that part of his game out.

If Portland has him in the rotation I’m frankly worried. If they’re trying to thread the needle by taking the pick while also getting some experience on the roster (my hope—keep the pick!), Watford may be one of the sacrificial lambs.

I don’t hate the guy, and I’m fine if he sticks around another couple of years, but there’s an opportunity cost for every spot on the team. By my back of napkin GMing, there will be a numbers crunch from 11-14 this year. I’m hoping when the injuries hit (and they always do) that there is less of a devastating effect.

 

Scoot Henderson is a dog. I’m hoping we see him as a Blazer for the next rematch of Scoot Vs Wemby.




And despite being a friendly exhibition game, the on-court intensity felt nothing of the sort, matching the magnitude of the spectators who came to see the event's main characters. Henderson and Wembanyama battled as if the winner was going to be the first to hear their name called by NBA commissioner Adam Silver at the conclusion of the contest.
Henderson had that look in his eye the entire night, showing his fearless competitiveness from the get-go. His deadly midrange jumper was falling and his renowned speed and explosiveness looked even faster than we last saw. He showed growth with his playmaking and vocal leadership, and he seemingly made it a point to attack Wembanyama with every opportunity he got.
https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba...t-rivalry-bird-magic/yyeexn1oe7xf36n2ri0lr1vh

 

We had one but traded him to the Knicks