We got the #3 pick. Discuss the possibilities.

I just think the most likely scenario is that no deal is made for Bridges or Brown because both teams ask for more. I think gun to their head, the Blazers would do Ant/3 for either, but wouldn't be happy with it. I don't think Brooklyn/Boston do it even with a gun to their head unless they can find a 3rd team that can take Simons and return something that Boston/Brooklyn would actually want. I don't Portland would even entertain any other players (besides obvious guys like Embiid who won't be available).

Would Dame stay? I think he still wants to, but I don't think he likes having his word tested years and years in a row. Last off season they failed to get something done. This trade deadline they failed again. Everything was set up for this summer and if they fail AGAIN, I just think there is an actual chance he finally asks out. I've heard rumblings from just about every Portland media member plugged in to the FO that there is a team that is a Dame destination if it actually happens. Likelihood not high, but if Marang/Highkin/Richman/@hoopsjock all allude to a team being out there then I think it's at least a possibility. Or a higher possibility than it's ever been in the past.

 

We keep talking KAT but I wonder if a team like Minnesota would give us Ant Edwards for Dame,

 

I think there is a chance that Schmitz is using Givony as a mouthpiece. I think that the Nets are saying they don't want to give up Bridges even if they wouldn't mind doing that if it gets them two young starters. Most likely we want Bridges and one of the Nets first rounders in that deal. I think Ant and the number 3 pick in this draft is an overpay for Mikal. Mikal is good and he might be an all star but the same could be said for Ant and I think most people think Scoot and Miller are likely going to be all stars.

So I think there is some media jockeying going on. I guess we'll see though. I just have a really hard time believing that Dame would be cool with us drafting Scoot and expecting Dame to stay.

 

Why would he use Givony as a mouthpiece? Since Cronin has taken over, the Blazers have not played the media game at all. I think it's much more likely that Schmitz (being an actual draft guy), loves both Miller and Scoot, and that by moving into the top 3, we've actually decreased the likelihood of us moving the pick because they love the guys they're now in a position to draft.

If the FO believes Scoot and/or Miller are franchise changing players, then it may be worth being okay with the scenario that Dame leaves. I think the "building around Dame" talk is mostly lipservice to the fanbase. They would like to build around Dame....within reason, but they are totally okay with going a different direction. They are not going to do everything they can to maximize Dame's prime, because literally none of the moves they have made would signal that.

 

the thing is that Dame, reportedly, is plugged into everything that's happening. I believe he has said he and Cronin talk almost every day. He was apparently informed right away what Toronto was asking for OG and thought is was a crazy ask

I'm pretty sure that Dame & Olshey NEVER had the relationship and communication that Dame & Cronin do. Just the opposite because the circumstantial evidence is that Dame didn't like Olshey, at all. So I don't know if Dame will point a decade of impatience at Olshey at the current front office. Maybe, but I doubt it

that's not to say he won't ask out. He very well might. But it's pretty certain he doesn't want to and may use smaller reasons not to do what he's hinted he might

 

Yup. 100% agree. They're saying one thing and they're doing something else.

Look at this list of transactions since Joe took over. Which ones would people classify as "win now" if you had to look. The only one that seems to actually be a "win now" move to me is the signing of GPII. That's it.

• February 4, 2022: Traded Robert Covington and Norman Powell to the Los Angeles Clippers for Eric Bledsoe, Keon Johnson, Justise Winslow and a 2025 2nd round draft pick ( was later selected). Portland also received a trade exception 2025 2nd-rd pick is DET own

• February 8, 2022: Traded CJ McCollum, Larry Nance Jr. and Tony Snell to the New Orleans Pelicans for Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Josh Hart, Didi Louzada, Tomas Satoransky, a 2022 1st round draft pick ( was later selected), a 2026 2nd round draft pick ( was later selected) and a 2027 2nd round draft pick ( was later selected). New Orleans also received a trade exception Portland also received a trade exception 2022 1st-rd pick did not convey, becomes future 1st-rd pick 2026 2nd-rd pick is more favorable of two teams 2027 2nd-rd pick is NOP own

• February 9, 2022: As part of a 3-team trade, the Portland Trail Blazers traded Nickeil Alexander-Walker to the Utah Jazz; the Portland Trail Blazers traded Tomas Satoransky to the San Antonio Spurs; the San Antonio Spurs traded Juan Hernangomez to the Utah Jazz; the Utah Jazz traded Elijah Hughes, Joe Ingles and a 2022 2nd round draft pick (Jabari Walker was later selected) to the Portland Trail Blazers; and the Utah Jazz traded a 2027 2nd round draft pick ( was later selected) to the San Antonio Spurs. Utah also received trade exceptions 2027 2nd-rd pick is least favorable least favorable from HOU, IND, MIA or OKC Portland also received a trade exception 2022 2nd-rd pick is MEM own

• February 22, 2022: Signed Drew Eubanks to a 10-day contract.
  
  February 22, 2022: Signed Brandon Williams to a two-way contract.

• March 14, 2022: Signed Drew Eubanks to a 10-day contract.
  
  March 14, 2022: Signed Kris Dunn to a 10-day contract.

• March 24, 2022: Signed Drew Eubanks to a 10-day contract.

• March 30, 2022: Signed Reggie Perry to a 10-day contract.

• April 3, 2022: Signed Drew Eubanks to a 10-day contract, then signed to a contract for the rest of the season.
  
  April 3, 2022: Signed Kris Dunn to two 10-day contracts, then signed to a contract for the rest of the season.

• June 23, 2022: Selected Shaedon Sharpe (1st round, 7th pick), Gabriele Procida (2nd round, 36th pick) and Jabari Walker (2nd round, 59th pick) in the 2022 NBA Draft.

• July 1, 2022: Signed Shaedon Sharpe to a multi-year contract.

• July 6, 2022: Traded Gabriele Procida, a 2025 1st round draft pick ( was later selected), a 2025 2nd round draft pick ( was later selected) and a 2026 2nd round draft pick ( was later selected) to the Detroit Pistons for Jerami Grant and Ismael Kamagate. Detroit also received a trade exception conditional 2025 1st-rd pick is MIL own 2025 2nd-rd pick is DET own 2026 2nd-rd pick is more favorable
  
  July 6, 2022: Traded Ismael Kamagate to the Denver Nuggets for a 2024 2nd round draft pick ( was later selected). 2023 2nd-rd pick is more favorable
  
  July 6, 2022: Signed Jusuf Nurkić to a multi-year contract.
  
  July 6, 2022: Signed Gary Payton II to a multi-year contract.
  
  July 6, 2022: Signed Anfernee Simons to a multi-year contract.

• July 7, 2022: Signed Drew Eubanks.

• July 13, 2022: Signed Jabari Walker to a multi-year contract.

• August 2, 2022: Signed Jared Rhoden.

• August 3, 2022: Signed Isaiah Miller.
  
  August 3, 2022: Signed Norvel Pelle.

• September 7, 2022: Signed Olivier Sarr.
  
  September 7, 2022: Signed Devontae Cacok.

• September 23, 2022: Signed Wesley Iwundu.

• October 20, 2022: Signed John Butler to a two-way contract.

• November 18, 2022: Signed Ibou Badji to a two-way contract.

• February 9, 2023: As part of a 4-team trade, the Portland Trail Blazers traded a 2029 2nd round draft pick ( was later selected) to the Philadelphia 76ers; the Portland Trail Blazers traded Dani Diez, Bojan Dubljevic and Josh Hart to the New York Knicks; the Portland Trail Blazers traded a 2027 2nd round draft pick ( was later selected) to the Charlotte Hornets; the Charlotte Hornets traded Jalen McDaniels and a 2024 2nd round draft pick ( was later selected) to the Philadelphia 76ers; the New York Knicks traded Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk to the Charlotte Hornets; the New York Knicks traded Ryan Arcidiacono, Cam Reddish and Ante Tomic to the Portland Trail Blazers; the Philadelphia 76ers traded a 2023 2nd round draft pick ( was later selected) to the Charlotte Hornets; and the Philadelphia 76ers traded Matisse Thybulle to the Portland Trail Blazers. Charlotte also received a trade exception 2023 2nd-rd pick is more favorable 2027 2nd-rd pick is more favorable Philadelphia also received a trade exception 2024 2nd-rd pick is NYK own 2029 2nd-rd pick is POR own Portland also received a trade exception
  
  February 9, 2023: As part of a 4-team trade, the Portland Trail Blazers traded Gary Payton II to the Golden State Warriors; the Atlanta Hawks traded a 2026 2nd round draft pick ( was later selected) and a 2028 2nd round draft pick ( was later selected) to the Golden State Warriors; the Atlanta Hawks traded a 2023 2nd round draft pick ( was later selected), a 2024 2nd round draft pick ( was later selected) and a 2025 2nd round draft pick ( was later selected) to the Portland Trail Blazers; the Detroit Pistons traded Saddiq Bey to the Atlanta Hawks; the Detroit Pistons traded Kevin Knox to the Portland Trail Blazers; the Golden State Warriors traded James Wiseman to the Detroit Pistons; and the Golden State Warriors traded a 2026 2nd round draft pick ( was later selected) and a 2028 2nd round draft pick ( was later selected) to the Portland Trail Blazers. Golden State also received a trade exception 2026 2nd-rd pick is ATL own 2028 2nd-rd pick is ATL own Portland also received a trade exception 2023 2nd-rd pick is more favorable conditional 2024 2nd-rd pick is ATL own conditional 2025 2nd-rd pick is ATL own conditional 2026 2nd-rd pick is MEM own 2028 2nd-rd pick is GSW own

• March 30, 2023: Signed Shaquille Harrison to a 10-day contract.
  
  March 30, 2023: Signed Skylar Mays to a 10-day contract.

• April 1, 2023: Signed Jeenathan Williams.

• April 4, 2023: Signed Justin Minaya to a 10-day contract.

• April 9, 2023: Signed Chance Comanche.
  
  April 9, 2023: Signed Skylar Mays.

 

I think Brooklyn wants to win now. Maybe they think Siakam would help more than #3?

 

For the record, if a break happens, I think it would be amicable. Of course Dame talks to Cronin and knows what is/isn't on the table. I'm also sure they've also talked about a scenario where both sides move in a different direction. Hell, Dame has mentioned it multiple times, most recently in the post season presser.

Let's say draft passes and we draft Scoot or Miller. Dame literally said both he and the team will have to make a decision at that point. I know Blazer fans don't like hearing that Dame might leave, I just think it's a distinct possibility.

 

You play who is better. If Sharpe is better he should start.

 

Looking back at the moves that have bene made, I'm the most perturbed by the Josh Hart trade.

According to Fischer, his next contract is going "approach" 18M a year, which means it's only going to start at ~4M more than he was being paid this year. Does anybody not think Josh Hart is worth 18M a year? And yeah he'd probably end up being a bench player but he's going to be a bench player in New York too! Is Josh Hart at 18M a year going to help your team more than whatever the 23rd pick ends up being? Hell yes. And to top it off, reportedly the Blazers never even asked for Hartenstein because they didn't want to take on any salary for next year. They also passed on James Wiseman when they had the chance. So now we don't even have enough tradable contracts to attach to the 23rd pick if we were to move it for another rotation level player.

 

And that's why it doesn't seem like they're actually trying to build a win-now team.

 

Makes sense. Perfect messaging to be leaked out of the Blazer camp from Schmitz to Givony!

 

If the salary cap, tax, and decision to keep Jerami Grant weren't a thing, then I think Hart would be worth considering for $18m/yr.

Unfortunately, those things do exist and tough decisions have to be made. Especially if the Blazers are looking to add a near max player to Dame/Grant, I would argue a rookie contract might be of more value to the Blazers than Hart at $18m/yr with increases.

 

Then I would argue they aren't really trying to maximize Dame's window. They're just kinda meandering, which is what I've felt they've been doing this whole time.

It was always going to be hard building a contender around Dame with that contract. If we're pinching pennies what are we doing? Just trade him already.

Also, the cap is going to spike in 2025. 18M year after the first two years is going to be peanuts.

 

The draft starts with Charlotte. They are having a Oden/Durant moment.
(No, I am not comparing Oden/Durant talent to Scoot/Miller talent. Only the similar situation. Charlotte and their fans think this is a big decision for them.)

 

I'm not sure how you can come to that conclusion when you dig into the CBA.

If paying big bucks to a bench player like Hart, prevents the Blazers from obtaining an All-NBA player and having the exceptions and picks to fill out their bench, I would agrue that signing Hart might have actually hurt building a contender around Dame.

Regardless, that ship has sailed. The Blazers can't undo the trade. Frankly, I don't want Hart at $18m off the bench anyway. I did love how hard he played.

 

It doesn't, you just need to be willing to go into the tax, which the Blazers have so far not shown any inclination of doing.

 

If the Hornets take Scoot, I think we can plug Miller into the lineup, trade Simons for something useful, and try to compete next season.

If the Hornets take Miller........ I think we take Scoot and blow it up.