RealGM

With Portland drafting Donovan, there is no need to keep Ayton (not that there ever was). What team would want him? And, what would the trade look like?

I don't see anyone wanting him, and I don't see Blazers paying to get off of him. So he's stuck for the next year or so.

Nope

Someone will gamble on him.

If the Warriors don't find a bigger star available something like CP3/Looney for Ayton?

GS saves some money this season and gamble on a young guy with some talent finding motivation (similar to Wiggins), Portland shaves a year off.

If the Blazers plan is to just start all the young guys,you'll plant yourself in the lottery for a few more years but it might work.

For those that see no interest in Ayton, don't criticize. PORT can have the rights to their protected pick back with Nikola Vucevic and Dalen Terry in exchange for Ayton.

eminence wrote:If the Warriors don't find a bigger star available something like CP3/Looney for Ayton?

GS saves some money this season and gamble on a young guy with some talent finding motivation (similar to Wiggins), Portland shaves a year off.

Why would the Blazers do this?

Fo-Real wrote:Someone will gamble on him.

Will they? I feel like the book is pretty much out on him. Great counting stats but not an impact player, plus attitude/effort concerns

ChettheJet wrote:If the Blazers plan is to just start all the young guys,you'll plant yourself in the lottery for a few more years but it might work.

For those that see no interest in Ayton, don't criticize. PORT can have the rights to their protected pick back with Nikola Vucevic and Dalen Terry in exchange for Ayton.

I'd actually be totally down for this deal.

He's got two years left on his deal and Portland doesn't have to trade him until Donovan is ready

Just too hard for contenders to justify his contract and hard to trade him due to apron restrictions. And rebuilding teams have seen enough to not want to play through him. Could he fetch expirings/2nds? Maybe but I just don't know what team would take that leap. OKC could make some sense with their clean cap. Chicago...if someone would take Vuc cheap enough or Portland just takes him in. NOP...maybe if they move Ingram bring in Ayton as part of the deal.

gswhoops wrote:

Fo-Real wrote:Someone will gamble on him.

Will they? I feel like the book is pretty much out on him. Great counting stats but not an impact player, plus attitude/effort concerns

Totally agree.

Portland isn’t going anywhere in the next year or two anyway, might as well keep him rather than attach assets to offload him. Next year might be easier since he will be expiring.

To Orlando along with Simons for cole Anthony and Wendell Carter junior and Denvers 25 1st

I'd probably trade Steven Adams and Dylan Brooks for Ayton. It probably wouldn't be a smart trade for Houston.... but really need to clear playing time at SF, Adams probably not in for the long haul, and Ayton is still full of talent and closer in age to the other guys on the rise.

Adams would be a big character upgrade for Por, and downgrade for Houston. Brooks has been everything we've asked him to be.... but better players have to take his spot for the Rockets to reach the next level, and they need playing time to get there. I'm proposing the trade and second guessing at the same time.

Maybe Memphis for Kennard plus Zhaire plus Clarke?

My thoughts are expand the Avdija trade to include Ayton and Poole.
At the very least, Portland saves money. Washington puts Sarr at the 4.

gswhoops wrote:

Fo-Real wrote:Someone will gamble on him.

Will they? I feel like the book is pretty much out on him. Great counting stats but not an impact player, plus attitude/effort concerns

He had at least two pretty darn good and successful years as a contributor and impact player on a good playoff team. Then of course he had some issues with the coach and the way his extension was handled and then last year the Blazers were tragic all around and it took him a long while to settle in but was looking much better at the end.

I'm not saying he's a great player without any warts or anything but he has been a good player before and nothing materially changed since then. Overpaid sure, inconsistent sure, but he does have the ability to be a positive impact player and has shown it previously even if it isn't in the most recent history. But I get it, it's a what have you done for me lately league and so two bad years and everyone basically writes him off entirely.

To Chicago for Lavine
To Brooklyn for Simmons
To Milwaukee for Lopez
To Golden St for Wiggins (not CP3)

Richard4444 wrote:Maybe Memphis for Kennard plus Zhaire plus Clarke?

You don't draft a center at nine and then turn around and trade for a non big impact max center.

I think if Chicago isn’t actually tanking, they make the most sense.

But they should be tanking.

I still think Toronto could get value for Poeltl and accept Ayton and the third team first and it would be a nice gamble for them, probably throw Boucher+2nds at Portland to make it work fully.

Capela and Hunter for Ayton isn’t a good idea, but I’ve suggested worse ones. Probably best as a three team trade though but seems easy enough.