CJ was never that efficient. Simons doesn't play like CJ. Beyond being the same size, they're nothing alike.
I'd like to see Dame Ant Scoot Sharpe. Sharpe gets a few minutes at SF. Yeah I know I'm in the minority, but it would be so awesome having a great backup guard duo plus coverage when inevitably one of them has injuries. Id be ok with an Ant trade if it's really good value coming back. I don't see the Blazers contending soon so I'd want to see younger players or picks in return, nobody close to or over 30. Only way I'd consider Ant for someone around age 30 or older is if it's the second of two moves to bring in contending level help. Also before I move Ant I'd want more of a commitment from Dame. I wouldn't want to move Ant and a few months later Dame is demanding a trade.
Posters just want to take all their frustrations of CJ out on Ant. I wonder if we draft Scoot how long it is until some posters do the same with him.
I agree they aren't the exact same type of players, but they sure are similar in several basic ways the biggest difference, and it's why Ant has posted better efficiency, is 3pt attempt rate. Ant has a career mark of .542; CJ''s career mark is .366. CJ's habit was to over-dribble in order to get to mid-range shots. And when he got there he trashed his efficiency by pathologically avoiding contact. Ant doesn't over-dribble nearly as much even though, like CJ, he's allergic to contact. Ant's career FT rate is 16.2%; CJ's is 16.5%. They are both wimps neither are PG's, but CJ is a bit better at some PG things than Ant. And they both suck at defense, but Ant sucks more Ant is 24 so he does have some upside potential left. I just hope he reaches it on another team
CJ was one of the most frustrating players I think I have ever watched on this team. He was terrible at running a fast break. I always joked that his first, second, third, and four option on offense was CJ. MeJ gonna MeJ. I don’t think Simons is that bad, but I agree that they both suck at defense and neither is a point guard.
This is all fair, I think the question from me is -- if we're trading Dame, and there's statistical evidence to suggest that Ant may perform better as a lead guard, as opposed to an off-ball guard, would it be smarter to let him showcase that before taking 60 cents on the dollar for him. I would suggest that it probably is...
I don't think more commitment from Dame is possible or reasonable. He's as committed as any player in the league, and far more so than most.
ok...that's all well...but not good in my view if Portland is trading Dame, they should just say fuck it and go for high lottery picks for a few years. The best asset(s) the Blazers would get from a Dame trade are those high lottery picks for being a shitty team. The Blazers should trade Nurkic and trade Grant. Maybe Thybulle too although that wouldn't really matter and they should dump Ant. No team is going to be fooled by Ant putting up bigger stats on a bad team. He's been in the NBA for 5 years. He's played in 290 games and started in a hundred. He's known, and jacking up his PPG from 21 to 24 as he channels MeJ isn't going to enhance his value. But what it could do is give Portland 3 or 4 more wins and that could drop them from a 3rd pick to a 9th pick sorry, but there's no payoff in my view by keeping Ant around post-Dame
I just can't see them keeping all 4 in the backcourt if the Blazers draft Scoot. Unless Dame suddenly asks out, it has to be Ant that is going. Majiri continues to be unrealistic about what he wants for PS or OG. Orlando still seems like the most natural fit for one of those Lottery picks. Just what could Portland do with that to get a vet?
I just have this feeling..... that it's going to be Ayton. Or maybe KAT. The Suns desperately need more depth and getting Simons/Nurk would help with that. Not saying I want it... just saying that it feels like the kind of move that Joe would make.
In another thread forgot which one but I think the obvious landing spot for ANT if we take Scoot and keep Dame is the Nets for a package that centers around getting Claxton and other pieces .
I could see us trying to work something out with Minnesota. I just don't think it will include the third pick.
Nate do not even joke like that but reports from a Suns insider said the Blazers were not even interested in Ayton
disregarding that the Vulcans may shit bricks at any high priced C, combining rumors: Nurk + Little + Keon for Ayton Ant + 23 for Derozan and all picks back Dame Sharpe DDR Grant Ayton it's kind of intriguing but the Blazers might get slaughtered on the boards most nights. I really can't tell if that's a fair price Portland is paying or not. DDR is still a really good player
I just have a feeling that if we don't get fair value for #3, but we still want to keep Dame, I think it's gonna be some kind of moderate upgrade.
I have been saying those things since the lottery...even before in fact after the Gobert, Mitchell, & Durant trades, the value of 1st round picks has never been lower. I believed after the lottery that no team was going to turn loose of enough assets to convince the Blazers to trade the pick. And the more I hear about Zion, the less I believe he's really on the market or that Portland would have interest in him at the price the Pels will set. Or if it would be a good idea no matter the price so, for the last month I've been about 80% sure Portland would keep the pick; and that Cronin would pivot to trying to land a lesser vet or two. It just made too much sense to me, after hearing the Bulls were going to tear it down, to not elevate DDR to the top of the Blazers-settle-for-less stack. He's a good friend of Dame; he's still a very good player, an all-star in fact; and the bonus for Portland is likely getting their picks back. And Cronin has said he has had conversations with the Bulls front office regularly now, if Ant + 23 is enough I don't know. I think a lot of teams would have interest in DDR
I think Ant's value is higher around the rest of the League than it is in this forum. He's an elite offensive talent who is young and only improving.
