What if we trade nobody?

[Everything Beagle]

How would you feel about the rest of this season, the draft, and next season if we just didn't trade anyone at the deadline (or over the summer)?

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

I think we need to trade Malcom, but I don't think it needs to be by this trade deadline. Maybe next year? I think his presence will be more of a benefit to Scoot and that value eclipses the picks we would get (people want) for him.

 

[stampedehero]

This: NBA Standings - 2023-24 season - ESPN

 

[STOMP]

It takes two to tango and (rumors aside) we're not privy to whats actually offered unless a deal goes through. If a deal happens, I hope it's one that makes sense for the long term as short term needs are not that important.

STOMP

 

[illmatic99]

I would be very upset if we don't trade Brogdon. He will have no value in future trades and we take away minutes from Scoot/Sharpe while winning maybe 10 more games.

Would be beyond idiotic to keep him on this roster and perfectly emblematic of the directionless bullshit we have observed with this franchise for decades.

 

[AquaXI]

We do need some veterans and I would be good with this team as constructed for the long haul.

 

[illmatic99]

I think we need to trade Malcom, but I don't think it needs to be by this trade deadline. Maybe next year? I think his presence will be more of a benefit to Scoot and that value eclipses the picks we would get (people want) for him.

What trade value do you anticipate an injury prone guard will have with one year left on his contract, who other teams know HAS to be traded due to roster reasons? Keeping Brogdon past the deadline is not a smart decision.

His value is at his peak right now having finally distanced himself from the past summer where he was red flagged in a physical for his health. Not capitalizing on his showcase over the past few months would be an incredibly wasted opportunity.

 

[Cugel]

With Embiid out now for a good while things change. Are some East teams thinking it's worth making a run and go for talent to get them there? Like Grant and Mal?

Does Philly make a move? They have to keep Embiid happy so he doesn't ask out. What would that look like? He could be ready for the playoffs but they might need a bit of help to ensure a good pole position.

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

Interesting interview with Ant. Now we know why he gets off to slow starts. This is a segment from the full interview that will come out later.

What trade value do you anticipate an injury prone guard will have with one year left on his contract, who other teams know HAS to be traded due to roster reasons? Keeping Brogdon past the deadline is not a smart decision.

His value is at his peak right now having finally distanced himself from the past summer where he was red flagged in a physical for his health. Not capitalizing on his showcase over the past few months would be an incredibly wasted opportunity.

your attached value is purely external. Why is mentorship so undervalued. Did you see the clip I quoted above in this post? Ant explains why I value him on this team as much as trading him now.

So we get one less 1st for him but he helps Scoot reach his potential. I’ll take that trade off.

 

[SheedSoNasty]

What trade value do you anticipate an injury prone guard will have with one year left on his contract, who other teams know HAS to be traded due to roster reasons? Keeping Brogdon past the deadline is not a smart decision.

His value is at his peak right now having finally distanced himself from the past summer where he was red flagged in a physical for his health. Not capitalizing on his showcase over the past few months would be an incredibly wasted opportunity.

This all depends on what is offered, though.

 

[illmatic99]

This all depends on what is offered, though.

I don't think this is the right way to evaluate it. I am of the mind that his value now will be greater than what we can get for him this summer or at the next deadline.

So what his absolute value is is irrelevant to me as it will only get lower from here.

And on top of that... the minutes crunch that will arise when Shaedon comes back; I think trading him now is not only paramount, but a no-brainer.

 

[illmatic99]

your attached value is purely external. Why is mentorship so undervalued. Did you see the clip I quoted above in this post? Ant explains why I value him on this team as much as trading him now.

So we get one less 1st for him but he helps Scoot reach his potential. I’ll take that trade off.

What is Chauncey's role here? Is he not a mentor? Is Ant/JG not enough of a mentor for Scoot? I value on court experience as more beneficial as is.

It's not about one less first. He might walk for nothing in the summer of 25. Especially considering his upcoming free agency (and his injury history) I don't see the value in keeping him.

 

[illmatic99]

Not to keep belaboring the point, but I want to point people to look at what happened to a similarly injury prone player we have: Rob Williams.

What value is he providing to the team right now?

Brogdon is similarly one injury away from becoming an albatross contract. Is this something we really want to risk just to have Brogdon sit in film sessions with Scoot?

 

[blazerkor]

I've gone on record saying that if we are keeping win now players whose value is not going up (Malcolm, Jerami and to some extent Tisse) then I think this team is directionless and not capable of truly rebuilding. I think a half commitment to a rebuild from a small market franchise is a great way to end up just struggling to make the playoffs when the few starters you've gotten out of the draft and maybe a trade that works are in their prime.

Joe should be really going for squeezing as much value out of Jerami and Malcolm as he possibly can to whatever team will give him the most right now. For people who understand that there's a minutes crunch at guard, if we can land one more forward prospect we'll have that guy, Tou, Jabari and Kris who all deserve rotation minutes on a rebuilding team. I don't think if we trade those guys we have to go without any veteran presence on the roster either, vets can come back in the trade but not ones that need minutes, just like Earl Watson didn't need minutes when he was one of the culture guys Dame said had a huge impact on teaching him what it means to be an NBA player and wasn't here until Dame's second year.

 

[e_blazer]

What is Chauncey's role here? Is he not a mentor? Is Ant/JG not enough of a mentor for Scoot? I value on court experience as more beneficial as is.

It's not about one less first. He might walk for nothing in the summer of 25. Especially considering his upcoming free agency (and his injury history) I don't see the value in keeping him.

You’re probably correct that Malcolm’s trade value is at its peak right now. There are multiple contenders who would value his game and experience. The thing that makes me hesitate is the small guard issue the Blazers have in trying to play a 3 guard lineup and end up with Ant and Scoot together when Shae is out. It seems to me that a 4 guard lineup with Malcolm solves that problem.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I don't think this is the right way to evaluate it. I am of the mind that his value now will be greater than what we can get for him this summer or at the next deadline.

So what his absolute value is is irrelevant to me as it will only get lower from here.

And on top of that... the minutes crunch that will arise when Shaedon comes back; I think trading him now is not only paramount, but a no-brainer.

I would tend to think you are correct, that his value is highest now, but that is only if there is a team out there who needs him. If there is not and no one is willing to offer a 1st now, I don't think it would be wise to give him away. Matter of fact I think it would be stupid. It's not like he will be a malcontent on the bench if his minutes go down.

Let's hope for a season-ending injury this weekend to a PG on a contending team!
Ok, I am joking ....but it would help...

 

[tlongII]

I'm fine either way. We can make trades after the season if we don't do anything by the deadline.

 

[bigbailes]

I would be pretty disappointed if at a minimum Brogdan isn't traded and I would like to see Grant gone as well. These guys have value to other teams, especially in a league where it sounds like the Blazers could be one of the only sellers on the market. With the play-in games, more and more teams think they have a shot to make a run in the playoffs, this leaves fewer teams to give players up and might mean a greater haul back for these guys. From listening to a few national pods, the chatter seems to be pretty quiet from a lot of teams that might be on the fringes and this could be a big advantage for the Blazers.

 

[blazerkor]

Not to keep belaboring the point, but I want to point people to look at what happened to a similarly injury prone player we have: Rob Williams.

What value is he providing to the team right now?

Brogdon is similarly one injury away from becoming an albatross contract. Is this something we really want to risk just to have Brogdon sit in film sessions with Scoot?

Malcolm has had a ton of injuries throughout his career but he doesn't have anything that comes close to Rob Williams's degenerating knees. The guy just gets dinged up a lot but I don't think he has the red flags of Rob.

That being said, I think people are missing the point. I don't think on a rebuilding roster there is a reason to keep guys who make significant contributions as starters to regular season and playoff wins unless you think their value is going to be on the rise. Neither Malcolm or Jerami are ascending players in the league, they're well into their prime. If both aren't traded it brings up serious questions about what we're doing here. Are we going to sit these guys to maintain our draft position? How does that make sense with two guys that will be on the wrong side of 30?

Do people actually think there is no value out there for two guys like Jerami and Malcolm who have shown that they are two way starting level players... difference makers on any playoff team. They will get any team with championship aspirations more wins/less losses in the playoffs.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I don't want to tank another 3 years after this. So keeping Grant is not a problem for me. He will still be 32 to start the 26-27 season. Until I see that we have an actual replacement on the team, then I see no reason to dump him. Obviously, if someone was willing to trade us a young replacement then I would be OK with it. (i.e Grant for Jonathan Kuminga and filler) But Grant for future 1sts does make as much sense as Brogdon for a future 1st.

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

Man this place is gonna blow their collective minds if no one is traded. Ill grab some popcorn. lol.

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

Not to keep belaboring the point, but I want to point people to look at what happened to a similarly injury prone player we have: Rob Williams.

What value is he providing to the team right now?

Brogdon is similarly one injury away from becoming an albatross contract. Is this something we really want to risk just to have Brogdon sit in film sessions with Scoot?

This is like comparing Brandon Roy to Dame......

Injuries not even close to the same.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Doesn't look like we can replace the GM with AI anytime soon.

What trades should the Portland Trail Blazers make?


The Portland Trail Blazers are currently in a rebuilding phase after trading Damian Lillard in the offseason. Deciding what trades they should make depends on their long-term goals and their assessment of the current roster. Here are some potential approaches and trade ideas:

Full Rebuild:

• Goal: Acquire young talent and draft picks to build a contender for the future.
  
  
• Trades: Focus on moving veterans like Josh Hart, Jusuf Nurkic, and Jerami Grant for draft picks and young players with upside.
  
  • Example: Trade Josh Hart to the New York Knicks for a protected first-round pick and Immanuel Quickley.
  • Example: Trade Jusuf Nurkic to the Toronto Raptors for a protected first-round pick and Chris Boucher.

Competing for Playoff Spot:

• Goal: Remain competitive in the short term while developing young talent.
  
  
• Trades: Acquire win-now pieces that fit well with the young core but don't sacrifice future assets.
  
  • Example: Trade Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick for Malcolm Brogdon from the Indiana Pacers.
  • Example: Trade a protected first-round pick for a veteran wing like Jae Crowder from the Phoenix Suns.

Develop the Young Core:

• Goal: Focus on maximizing the development of Scoot Henderson, Anfernee Simons, and Shaedon Sharpe.
• Trades: Stand pat and avoid making any major moves that could disrupt the team's chemistry.

Ultimately, the decision of what trades to make lies with the Portland Trail Blazers' front office. They will need to carefully consider their goals, the value of their current players, and the available trade options before making any moves.

Here are some additional factors to consider:

• Salary cap situation: The Blazers have some flexibility under the cap, which could allow them to take on larger contracts in trades.
• Draft position: If the Blazers are projected to have a high draft pick, they may be less inclined to trade future assets.
• Free agency: The Blazers could also choose to wait until free agency to add new players.

I cannot make specific recommendations on which trades the Blazers should make as the NBA landscape is constantly changing and the best course of action depends on many factors. However, I hope this information helps you understand the different approaches the Blazers could take and the factors they need to consider.

https://bard.google.com/

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

What is Chauncey's role here? Is he not a mentor? Is Ant/JG not enough of a mentor for Scoot? I value on court experience as more beneficial as is.

It's not about one less first. He might walk for nothing in the summer of 25. Especially considering his upcoming free agency (and his injury history) I don't see the value in keeping him.

You didn't watch the Ant interview, did you? Coaches are coaches and yes can be mentors, but they are not on the court. I think if you look back in history, most good to great players had someone in their young days on the court they were able to learn from. Brogdon has stated publicly he wants to and is helping Scoot watching film, explaining things, etc.
This is such an undervalued commodity by some...

People acting as if if Trade Malcom, we are going to be contenders and if not we will wallow in the lottery for every or something. He will have value in the summer or at next trade deadline. In danger of walking AFTER that, but we have a year to trade him. Not 5 days....The mentorship, in my opinion, could very well be more valuable then the perceived diminished return we would get by keeping him one more year.

We have a 24 yr old guard. We have a 21 year old guard. We have a 19 year old guard. The toughest mental position in the game. Malcom offsets that youth with experience and consistency and I find that valuable.

I'm fine trading him if the return is great, but if not, I do not see the point. To get a first and another young prospect? We have enough young prospects.

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

Malcolm has had a ton of injuries throughout his career but he doesn't have anything that comes close to Rob Williams's degenerating knees. The guy just gets dinged up a lot but I don't think he has the red flags of Rob.

That being said, I think people are missing the point. I don't think on a rebuilding roster there is a reason to keep guys who make significant contributions as starters to regular season and playoff wins unless you think their value is going to be on the rise. Neither Malcolm or Jerami are ascending players in the league, they're well into their prime. If both aren't traded it brings up serious questions about what we're doing here. Are we going to sit these guys to maintain our draft position? How does that make sense with two guys that will be on the wrong side of 30?

Do people actually think there is no value out there for two guys like Jerami and Malcolm who have shown that they are two way starting level players... difference makers on any playoff team. They will get any team with championship aspirations more wins/less losses in the playoffs.

I don't think the goals is to help other teams though? That would not be my priority in wanting to make a trade. I would consider that irrelevant. Whats best for the BLAZERS. A little larger return or some veteran stability in a position riddles with youth?

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that those who want to/will be upset if we don't trade Malcom and/or Grant by this deadline, are going to be pissed at the return if we do....

Happens alot around here...

 

[blazerkor]

I don't want to tank another 3 years after this. So keeping Grant is not a problem for me. He will still be 32 to start the 26-27 season. Until I see that we have an actual replacement on the team, then I see no reason to dump him. Obviously, if someone was willing to trade us a young replacement then I would be OK with it. (i.e Grant for Jonathan Kuminga and filler) But Grant for future 1sts does make as much sense as Brogdon for a future 1st.

We might have replacements on the roster right now. Jerami was a second round pick in his draft, Tou and Bari have already shown a lot. I would like to get back one more forward prospect in one of these trades but I don't think it's a deal breaker.

Neither of these guys should be dumped and we shouldn't hold onto either of them until they're only worth dumping. Both guys should have a good return now. I think you're right on the money with Malcolm getting us a future first round pick and expirings and Jerami getting us two FRPs with expirings. If we take on bad contracts instead of expirings the draft compensation goes up and if we get promising prospects the draft compensation would go down.

The fact is there is a market out there and if Joe can't generate trades for guys with the obvious value these two have, he is most likely incompetent at making trades. That would come from his lack of being able to make any trades besides for Jerami that added to a roster that made sense around Dame along with this. That or Joe wants to straddle the line between a rebuild and whatever the fuck we're doing and that would be equally discouraging. For those who say it takes two to tango, I've heard it too many fucking times with this guy and his previous boss. Somehow good GMs find one dance partner out of 30 when they want to make a trade.

 

[andalusian]

Doesn't look like we can replace the GM with AI anytime soon.

One of the things you need to remember is that generative AI, at the moment, has a big issue - which is that it is frozen in time for when it was last built. You can not continuously update the data-model that was already built, you need a brand new training session.

That's why they tell you what the training date is for each model. For example, ChatGPT 4 cut-off day is January 2022. So, any new data since is not part of the training model.

As to why the lag so much? I have been to a couple of lectures with people that work or worked there and in other AI companies, at the moment, the cost to train a large scale LLM model like ChatGPT is in the tens of millions of dollars. IIRC, the cost to train ChatGPT 4 was around $50 million USD...

We have been doing our own machine learning work for some time now on a much smaller scale for a very specific application - and we are basically updating our model about once a year, it just costs a lot of money.

 

[Propagandist]

your attached value is purely external. Why is mentorship so undervalued. Did you see the clip I quoted above in this post? Ant explains why I value him on this team as much as trading him now.

So we get one less 1st for him but he helps Scoot reach his potential. I’ll take that trade off.

I don't think we will trade Brogdan for this very reason (but you can ask my wife: I'm often wrong).

 

[Phatguysrule]

You didn't watch the Ant interview, did you? Coaches are coaches and yes can be mentors, but they are not on the court. I think if you look back in history, most good to great players had someone in their young days on the court they were able to learn from. Brogdon has stated publicly he wants to and is helping Scoot watching film, explaining things, etc.
This is such an undervalued commodity by some...

People acting as if if Trade Malcom, we are going to be contenders and if not we will wallow in the lottery for every or something. He will have value in the summer or at next trade deadline. In danger of walking AFTER that, but we have a year to trade him. Not 5 days....The mentorship, in my opinion, could very well be more valuable then the perceived diminished return we would get by keeping him one more year.

We have a 24 yr old guard. We have a 21 year old guard. We have a 19 year old guard. The toughest mental position in the game. Malcom offsets that youth with experience and consistency and I find that valuable.

I'm fine trading him if the return is great, but if not, I do not see the point. To get a first and another young prospect? We have enough young prospects.

I disagree. We do not have enough young prospects, IMO.

We still need more talent. We can bring in mentors later. If we can improve talent wise I hope we trade Brogdon.