We got the #3 pick. Discuss the possibilities.

When does dame’s trade restriction end? Is there a restriction?

 

Good that means Grant won’t walk.

 

July 9
https://www.spotrac.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/damian-lillard-10814/

 

That's about where I stand as well.

 

Just not seeing the #3 +Simons for Brown. I think this would haunt us for some time. The only reason this would be done is to keep with Dame, and I honestly don't see how Dame + Brown is a contending team.

#3 + Sharpe + Simons(sixth man) + Grant + Watford(this is the year he puts it all together) + Dame is the best bet. Get Dame to buy into a different style of play, and it's a fun year. I know he's no Jimmy Butler, but if he could learn from him, this team has the tools.

 

Agreed. If you're not getting an All Star you keep the pick.

 

So Jaylen Brown an all NBA two way wing who has been the number two on a team that played for the title last year doesn't do it for you but running it back with the guys we just lost 49 games with and the third pick sounds good? The fact that you threw Trendon in as an important piece to your puzzle is pretty hilarious by itself.

If we can get Brown for Ant and #3 and if we can Nurk, filler, #23 and future picks into a C that fits Chauncey's style of play and get bench pieces with #43, the TPMLE and our TPE then we will have a competitive team. Those are a lot of ifs but I think if we just try to do our best with a rotation where the first six players are Dame, Shaedon, #3, Grant, Watford and Ant then Dame is going to demand a trade before that team ever sees the floor and he should because that team would win about 39 games.

 

I don't understand this.

A young, All-NBA player will haunt us? And you want Simons, making $20m/year coming off the bench? It doesn't make sense to me.

 

Please don't get me wrong. Although I have a sentimental attachment to Dame it doesn't mean I'm not a Blazers fan for as long as I'm breathing. So if Brandon Miller is available at three and he's something really close to KD then we've got to take that kid and if Scoot Henderson is available and is something extremely close to AI then we've got to take that kid. If we take either we've got to ship Dame out heartlessly to the team offering us the most future currency (if that's young players or unprotected FRPs) and hopefully a place that Dame has a chance to win big. If we trade Dame we have to cash in everything else we can for young talent or future picks.

I don't think either of the guys at three are sure fire future MVPs like KD and AI they might be but that's not how I'm seeing them. So let's find the teams that do see them that way and sell them that pick on draft day for the best win now pieces that make sense on this roster right now. At the same time let's send out Nurk or Ant (if they're not involved in the trade with pick 3) along with pick 23 and future picks if necessary for another starter that fits our system. Let's use pick 43 and the TPMLE on players that fill needs on our bench and if necessary let's use a future pick or picks and our GP2 TPE to sure up the rest of our bench. Youth rebuild or going for the title next year... nothing in between!

 

Hey, it’s under 4 weeks until the draft. Until then, we can all enjoy the experience of dropping in here to hear how stupid and uninformed we are to be thinking what we are about Blazers moves.

 

at the 12 minute mark, they talk about the Blazers

 

That gets tricky. I think we should be a little more flexible than that. I mean Bridges has never technically been an all-star. (Although has made the NBA all-defensive team) Maybe enlarge that pool of players to include someone who can help us contend? We don't want to exclude up-and-coming players who we think could play at an all-star level.....sooner than anyone we would draft at #3

 

Yeah, I guess it should say "All-Star caliber". Really, it needs to be a player better than Grant at a position of need.

 

A few comments from that Woj Podcast that I have been thinking about as well:

There is more parity in the league now so teams think they can more easily make that jump next year

Scoot shoots really well off the dribble

Most agree it is a 3 player draft. We kind of knew that but still, it is nice for the national media to reinforce that....giving the pick more value.

 

The more I think about it, the more I'm willing to take either Scoot or Miller if there isn't a fair deal for Bridges/Brown/Siakam.

Ideally they can still make tweaks by using Ant/Nurk/future picks for better fits. If not, Ant needs to come off the bench.

 

When Neil was hired, he talked about developing players, and then making a big consolidation trade - he was never able to do it. Now, a young, all-NBA, 2-way player who fits a team need and wants to come to Portland (Brown) is available, and you don't want him? Dreams don't get any wetter than this, especially for small market teams.

Now, I understand not wanting Siakam because of fit reasons. But, Brown and Bridges (if they don't want the moon) are too perfect in fit and ability to pass up.

 

Let's say we end up with Miller. I think we look to move Simons for another key player.

Why would Brooklyn do this? Why would they want Siakam? Why wouldn't they want the #3 pick?

 

well, yeah, those appear to be the two main tracks available to Portland right now. One or the other. Then the next pivot point is how Dame reacts

I guess it's kind of simple. I want Dame to stay but I also don't want the Blazers to pay much more than #3 + salary for Bridges or Brown. #3 for Siakam seems a bit high so it would have to be a bigger trade

if those trades aren't available, than take BPA at the draft. If Dame wants out, so be it. If that happens, hopefully the Blazers make more trades for draft capital (Ant-Nurk-Grant) and go for more lottery balls