Nets - Lakers - Blazers

[cucad8]

They wouldn't be building around Claxton, again, because the intent is to build around Clingan at C. Moving Scoot for Cam, while likely keeping Anfernee and Grant puts the Blazers in an absolutely terrible spot team building. Peaking at a play-in level team. Just makes absolutely no sense.

Wouldn't Claxton be a better contract than Ayton?[/quote]
I'm not interested in using Scoot to dump Ayton, while taking on another big that makes too much to be a backup here. Directionally, it again, makes no sense for Portland.

[drchaos]

They wouldn't be building around Claxton, again, because the intent is to build around Clingan at C. Moving Scoot for Cam, while likely keeping Anfernee and Grant puts the Blazers in an absolutely terrible spot team building. Peaking at a play-in level team. Just makes absolutely no sense.

Wouldn't Claxton be a better contract than Ayton?

I'm not interested in using Scoot to dump Ayton, while taking on another big that makes too much to be a backup here. Directionally, it again, makes no sense for Portland.[/quote]

So what if Claxton goes to the Lakers and DLo goes to Portland?

This way the Nets take Ayton and Scoot off of your books while you get to keep Cam.

[cucad8]

They wouldn't be building around Claxton, again, because the intent is to build around Clingan at C. Moving Scoot for Cam, while likely keeping Anfernee and Grant puts the Blazers in an absolutely terrible spot team building. Peaking at a play-in level team. Just makes absolutely no sense.

Wouldn't Claxton be a better contract than Ayton?

I'm not interested in using Scoot to dump Ayton, while taking on another big that makes too much to be a backup here. Directionally, it again, makes no sense for Portland.

So what if Claxton goes to the Lakers and DLo goes to Portland?

This way the Nets take Ayton and Scoot off of your books while you get to keep Cam.[/quote]

No. Zero interest in trading a 20 year old for a 28 year old Cam. And you just made the package worse by giving us DLo for Claxton. No.

[Myth]

Can't use the trade machine on this one as Nic Claxton can't be traded until mid January but the numbers seem to work.

The idea here is that the Nets use their cap space this summer and move on from Cam J, DFS, and Claxton in favor of the youth movement.

I think the Lakers are giving up two first rounders (with second rounder possibly going their way).

As I am not sure how to value either Scoot or Ayton I am not sure if the Blazers should be neutral on picks or if anything should be going to or from them.

Nets Give:

Cam Johnson SF
DFS PF
Nic Claxton C

Nets Get:

Scoot Henderson PG
Christian Wood SF
Rui Hatchimura PF
Deandre Ayton C

Why for the Nets?

Nets get draft picks and a young prospect in Scoot while they can try Ayton and Hatchimura on for size with both contracts coming off the books in the Summer of 2026. They would also have a team option on Scoot that they could move off of that Summer if they really needed the cap space. Wood is an expiring contract.

Lakers Give:

Deangelo Russell PG
Christian Wood SF
Rui Hatchimura PF

Lakers Get:

Cam Johnson SF
DFS PF

Why for the Lakers?

They move off of both Russell and Hatchimura to get two players that can help them win now and in the future. DFS has a player option next year but might just find a long term home in LA.

Trailblazes Give:

Scoot Henderson PG
Deandre Ayton C

Trailblazers get:

Deangelo Russell PG
Nic Claxton C

Why for Trailblazers?

Claxton is less expensive than Ayton and locked up on a longer team friendly contract while Ayton has a greater cap hit might simply walk after two years. Scoot has been inconsistent and this gives them a chance to move on with an expiring Deangelo Russell. Claxton is the prize here but they might also be getting draft capital depending on how everyone feels about the value of the players involved.

Absolutely horrendous for Portland. Ayton/Claxton swap is fine. Don’t get carried away

Lol no. Claxton is way better, younger, and cheaper than Ayton.

I’m pretty sure he meant purely from Portland’s perspective.

[tester551]

Would a deal involving Cam Johnson and Scoot make more sense?

I could be down for a trade with Cam Johnson... plus additional assets.

How about something like this:

Scoot + Thybulle ($21M)
for
Cam + '25 1st (best of MIL, HOU, NYK) + '25 Second

Pretty sure that the Nets would prefer an expiring contract to Thybulle's player option or at least a better player with a similar contract if that player is coming back next year.

Ayton and Scoot of Cam and Claxton would be fairly close in terms of salaries giving the Blazers two players with contracts they can build around. I am sure the Blazers have $3-4 mil of fillers they could use to make the deal work.

Would the Nets second rounder this year or one of the three non-Net first rounders be enough for that deal to be attractive to Portland?

If I'm following you... this is the counter offer?

Scoot + Ayton + Walker ($46.3M)
for
Cam + Claxton + '25 1st (one of MIL, HOU, NYK) ($50.9M)

This keeps both teams out of the tax...
I would probably make that trade from Portland's perspective.

[drchaos]

I could be down for a trade with Cam Johnson... plus additional assets.

How about something like this:

Scoot + Thybulle ($21M)
for
Cam + '25 1st (best of MIL, HOU, NYK) + '25 Second

Pretty sure that the Nets would prefer an expiring contract to Thybulle's player option or at least a better player with a similar contract if that player is coming back next year.

Ayton and Scoot of Cam and Claxton would be fairly close in terms of salaries giving the Blazers two players with contracts they can build around. I am sure the Blazers have $3-4 mil of fillers they could use to make the deal work.

Would the Nets second rounder this year or one of the three non-Net first rounders be enough for that deal to be attractive to Portland?

If I'm following you... this is the counter offer?

Scoot + Ayton + Walker ($46.3M)
for
Cam + Claxton + '25 1st (one of MIL, HOU, NYK) ($50.9M)

This keeps both teams out of the tax...
I would probably make that trade from Portland's perspective.

I think we are on the same page.

If the Nets (who are tanking) were offering their own second round pick this year instead of a first rounder would that work for Portland?

[tester551]

Pretty sure that the Nets would prefer an expiring contract to Thybulle's player option or at least a better player with a similar contract if that player is coming back next year.

Ayton and Scoot of Cam and Claxton would be fairly close in terms of salaries giving the Blazers two players with contracts they can build around. I am sure the Blazers have $3-4 mil of fillers they could use to make the deal work.

Would the Nets second rounder this year or one of the three non-Net first rounders be enough for that deal to be attractive to Portland?

If I'm following you... this is the counter offer?

Scoot + Ayton + Walker ($46.3M)
for
Cam + Claxton + '25 1st (one of MIL, HOU, NYK) ($50.9M)

This keeps both teams out of the tax...
I would probably make that trade from Portland's perspective.

I think we are on the same page.

If the Nets (who are tanking) were offering their own second round pick this year instead of a first rounder would that work for Portland?

I think I would need the first rounder. Primarily because I really like this draft... I see 4-5 high value prospects being available in the 20-25 pick range.

There may be a few interesting players available in the 2nd -> but nothing that I'm really interested in.