I think it would be idiotic to trade everyone but the rookies (and Sharpe) until we actually know the young ones are keepers. What is the rush? Do you guys think that hoisting more shots accelerates their growth? Yes absolutely playing time is a must, but getting a beat down every night will gets old really fast. I can see trading Thybulle (who I like a lot) because Sharpe, if he ever gets healthy, will need minutes. (and they have potential with Rupert) No reason to trade Grant. The problem with trading Brogodon and Simons...what if Scoot gets hurt again? How the fuck do the other players develop without a point guard in the line-up?
I'm not too invested in Reath. He's a nice player... Deserves to have an NBA contract, but will not change the trajectory of the franchise. He's in the Drew Eubanks, Biyombo, Jalen Smith, Dwight Powell tier of player. Basically worth ~$3-5M per year. I'd gladly pair him with Brogdon to increase the return from NYK. Brogdon + Reath <=> Fornier (expiring) + Grimes + '24 Det (Lotto Protected) 1st feels fair. Then flip Grimes to another team (Philly for KJ Martin + 2nd?)
I was done watching Dame's ISO ball and the stand around D so glad his huge salary oblig. is off the books. However, I agree that we need to commit to a rebuild and clear some of these vets away so young guys can get minutes
It's an interesting trade deadline. It appears to be a seller's market (i.e., not a lot of players available), but the bidding for those products right now isn't great. I think Brogdon would have real value somewhere, more than just a low 1st rounder. Grant has played beyond his contract, but he's no one's idea of a 1st option. Thybulle has been great and is on a reasonable deal. It has to kill him to be stuck here. A contending team who wants an elite wing defender could really use him. I think Ant will stay, and we roll out a three-guard unit with Ant, Scoot, and Sharpe. I would love to get some real size at the starting four on this team. I think the combination of Camara/Murray/Rupert is serviceable at the three. Walker has shown his value as a backup four. I like Badji getting some minutes and experience this season and then being the 3rd string center next year. It's been both frustrating and fun to see the youngsters play. It's obviously a transition year (or two or three), so we don't need to end up with our ultimate guy right now. It seems to me we could easily net another 3-4 first-round picks with all the assets we have to trade, but is that what we want? Would we rather grab guys who are not getting minutes due to a veteran in front of them? Once we see who flourishes and who wilts, we can use all that cap space and 1st round picks and get a true impact player who is complimentary to what we have. In fact, Grant may be that player already. It's really Brogdon, Thybulle and even Williams (who has zero trade value right now) who would be first on the block. Anyway, those are my rambling thoughts.
I guess I am confused about who is not getting enough minutes. Sharpe 33 Scoot 27 Camara 25 Walker 20 (and now starting) That leaves Murray and Rupert. I guess you can trade Thybulle to a team of his choice (Per his trade clause) Trading Grant so Murray can get minutes would not be wise. And moving Brogdon does not give anyone more minutes other than Scoot and he is getting enough already Plus in order to match salaries are we going to cut everyone coming back? or just not play them? I can see trading some vets, but I don't think it will help get more minutes for our role layers.
Those are the guys I'd be sad to see go. I'd like to hold onto Badji and Reath and let them finish the season at the 5. Hopefully we'd get some vets that don't need PT but are high character guys. Maybe get a couple of prospects that only have up to a few years in the league. Load up on picks for future trades.
Grant isn't that player. He is too Iso heavy and reckless. It makes sense for Brogdon to be traded if he we commit on going young. Same for Thybulle who doesn't really want to be here ..but hey who does? Cronin assured a quick rebuild and likely not just just to us fans. If he sticking to that, which he likely is, it would behoove him to keep the veterans around.
Posting with no substance, hints or “guesses”. As it’s close to the deadline, we’re all “hearing” whispers.
They can't just get playing time, they need actual reps, high usage and yes a lot more shots will accelerate their growth or show us what real problems we have. When Shae and Scoot play without Ant and Jerami they rarely defer to anyone and take the onus upon themselves to get shit done on offense. The only reason I am eager to move Malcolm is because in theory he should have more value to a team trying to win now than to us. I don't think any of these guys should be dumped but I think in a sellers market there are assets to be had that just seem like they'd make more sense for our rebuild. It's a rebuild, obviously we would have to fill the holes left on the roster by these guys with other players so your concerns about Scoot should be assuaged even if those players are nowhere close to as good because winning isn't what matters right now. The reason to trade Jerami is the same reason to trade Malcolm, both guys have a helluva lot more value on a team trying to win now than they do here and by the time we're trying to win now they won't be as good as they are right now. In fact I think every game they play has the potential to really hurt their value if they get injured. Also moving those guys frees up both playing time and the ball on offense. I just don't like the way Ant fits on this roster, that's why I want him gone but I didn't think the Wolves' roster made sense and it seems to, I didn't think Luka and Kyrie could be productive together and I was wrong so take it for what it's worth. I do think that you don't have to worry about anything besides the prospects you keep busting when you are in a rebuild.
Instead we gave a similarly huge salary obligation to a dude that has no motivation because of it. Nice!
one of those pondering Blazer podcasters floated out a Thybulle trade for chicken scratch. "Ohhh, a contending team might want Matisse." Gosh darnit! Matisse hasn't even been here a year, and that would stink losing his defensive energy just so Jody can stay under the Luxury tax next year.
Well, that is patently untrue. DA's remaining salary including this year is around $100m for 3 years, Dame's remaining salary including this year is around $220m for 4 years. One of these things is not like the others. The Blazers with Dame had no reasonable path for contention, DA is a salary filler that had/has some potential. That's all he is. If he is great, he is worth it (not it), if he is good enough, he might be available for less when they Blazers are hopefully starting to perform when the new kids grow up and you know who is worth big salaries in the next round of Portland signings and if he is not, he is a filler that fulfills the minimum salary requirements. It was time to close the door on the Dame era and DA is salary place holder with some potential. That's all.
