Portland late offseason plan (NYK, LAC, SAS, DAL)

[Tim Lehrbach]

Trade #1: Blazers-Knicks
Portland trades
Deandre Ayton
Jabari Walker (via TPE)
Delano Banton (via TPE)

New York trades
Julius Randle
Jericho Sims
2025 second round draft pick (from Brooklyn)
2026 second round draft pick (from Minnesota)

Portland perspective
The Blazers balance the roster a bit, save money by waiving or trading Sims prior to next season, and gain a couple minor draft assets for the war chest.

New York perspective
The Knicks gain a full-time center who replaces Randle's midrange game and rebounding while letting Bridges and OG log the forward minutes. Walker and Banton add some rebounding and potential scoring punch, respectively, to a thin bench.

Trade #2: Blazers-Clippers
Portland trades
Jerami Grant

Los Angeles trades
Norman Powell
PJ Tucker
2031 first round draft pick (lottery protected for two years, then debt extinguished)

Portland perspective
More savings and a possible first rounder. I believe there is no offer for Grant which returns a definite first round pick, even a well-protected one, so the Blazers and Clippers get creative and offer Portland a two-year window at a LP pick conveying.

Los Angeles perspective
The Clippers add a credible third option to their Kawhi/Harden core. This may be a bargain if the pick doesn't convey.

Trade #3: Blazers-Spurs
Portland trades
Anfernee Simons

San Antonio trades
Keldon Johnson
2027 first round draft pick (own, lottery protected in 2027, top-three protected in 2028, two seconds thereafter)

Portland perspective
Immediate savings are offset by the extra year owed to Keldon, but he's a bigger guard/wing, and the Blazers add to the draft pick collection.

San Antonio perspective
Simons is not popular 'round these parts, but I have him as a great fit alongside Castle and Paul in the backcourt and draining open jumpers all day playing off Wemby. The Spurs don't give up any of their valuable near-term draft capital to get a player with a lot of prime left for a team starved of scoring punch.

Trade #4: Blazers-Mavericks
Portland trades
Matisse Thybulle

Dallas trades
Maxi Kleber
2025 second round draft pick (from Detroit)

Portland perspective
Since Thybulle is likely to opt out of his final year, the Blazers get what minor asset they can for him now.

Dallas perspective
The Mavericks obtain some 3ish-and-D help in the form of a player they tried to obtain last offseason.

Portland roster
Henderson/Graham
Sharpe/Johnson
Avdija/Powell/Murray
Randle/Camara/Rupert/Tucker
Clingan/Williams III/Kleber/Reath/Sims

This is, obviously, a total tear-down, and it requires further trimming to get down to 15 players by the start of the season. I would hate to watch this team, but it's cheaper and has a little bit more future draft capital than the current edition. Could the Blazers turn any combination of Powell, Randle, Murray, Tucker, Kleber, Sims, Timelord, and/or Reath into extra draft goodies (bad contracts welcome in return!) for the rebuild?

Bash away!

[Chinook]

The Spurs aren't trading their sixth man and a first for a guy who'd push a good player out of the rotation to accommodate.

Paul/Vassell
Jones/Castle

That's what the team has lined up for now. They don't need to add another small guard to that group, especially not for free.

[Rockazoids]

Trade #1: Blazers-Knicks
Portland trades
Deandre Ayton
Jabari Walker (via TPE)
Delano Banton (via TPE)

New York trades
Julius Randle
Jericho Sims
2025 second round draft pick (from Brooklyn)
2026 second round draft pick (from Minnesota)

I'm just going to speak on the Knicks part.
1st off Randle is the best player in the deal
2nd Why are the NYK the one that are giving up assets (Sims & 2 2nds) to make the deal
3rd NYK have been great with cap management but you want them to be on the hook for Ayton $34 M
Your going to have to find some other team to dump Ayton.

[Tim Lehrbach]

The Spurs aren't trading their sixth man and a first for a guy who'd push a good player out of the rotation to accommodate.

Paul/Vassell
Jones/Castle

That's what the team has lined up for now. They don't need to add another small guard to that group, especially not for free.

OK. I thought Simons' skillset -- his shooting, mostly, but also secondary creation -- would make a nice fit. Also figured Vassell could play up a position and still get minutes. But, if Simons isn't attractive over the options they have, it's understandable.

[Tim Lehrbach]

Trade #1: Blazers-Knicks
Portland trades
Deandre Ayton
Jabari Walker (via TPE)
Delano Banton (via TPE)

New York trades
Julius Randle
Jericho Sims
2025 second round draft pick (from Brooklyn)
2026 second round draft pick (from Minnesota)

I'm just going to speak on the Knicks part.
1st off Randle is the best player in the deal
2nd Why are the NYK the one that are giving up assets (Sims & 2 2nds) to make the deal
3rd NYK have been great with cap management but you want them to be on the hook for Ayton $34 M
Your going to have to find some other team to dump Ayton.

Of all the deals, this one is the most unappealing to me from the other team's perspective. FWIW, Sims is only included for salary matching because Ayton for Randle doesn't work straight-up. I can't argue with your objections, really, but some people still hold Ayton in higher esteem, so I thought I'd see what might stick. It's really just the outline of an idea: routing Randle to a third team that sends additional value to the Knicks would make more sense than moving him directly to Portland. I just couldn't come up with a third team.

[Rockazoids]

Trade #1: Blazers-Knicks
Portland trades
Deandre Ayton
Jabari Walker (via TPE)
Delano Banton (via TPE)

New York trades
Julius Randle
Jericho Sims
2025 second round draft pick (from Brooklyn)
2026 second round draft pick (from Minnesota)

I'm just going to speak on the Knicks part.
1st off Randle is the best player in the deal
2nd Why are the NYK the one that are giving up assets (Sims & 2 2nds) to make the deal
3rd NYK have been great with cap management but you want them to be on the hook for Ayton $34 M
Your going to have to find some other team to dump Ayton.

Of all the deals, this one is the most unappealing to me from the other team's perspective. FWIW, Sims is only included for salary matching because Ayton for Randle doesn't work straight-up. I can't argue with your objections, really, but some people still hold Ayton in higher esteem, so I thought I'd see what might stick. It's really just the outline of an idea: routing Randle to a third team that sends additional value to the Knicks would make more sense than moving him directly to Portland. I just couldn't come up with a third team.

Sims is not just a filler and you are dumping Walker & Banton on them too along with 2 2nds.

[Chinook]

The Spurs aren't trading their sixth man and a first for a guy who'd push a good player out of the rotation to accommodate.

Paul/Vassell
Jones/Castle

That's what the team has lined up for now. They don't need to add another small guard to that group, especially not for free.

OK. I thought Simons' skillset -- his shooting, mostly, but also secondary creation -- would make a nice fit. Also figured Vassell could play up a position and still get minutes. But, if Simons isn't attractive over the options they have, it's understandable.

Vassell could play up, but Paul/Simons doesn't seem like the kind of back court the Spurs have much interest in starting, considering how they approached the draft.

Paul, Vassell, Barnes, Sochan, Wembanyama
Jones, Castle, Champagnie, Johnson, Collins

I think most expect that to be the rotation, though I would prefer them swap Castle and Barnes/Sochan. I think Keldon is considered to be low-hanging fruit for trades, and folks don't think through the implications of those deals. He's by far the best and most versatile offensive player projected to come off the bench. There were possible off-seasons that could've changed that. But his ability to play swing-forward lets him fill in with a lot of potential units in a way that a much more defined player like Simons can't.

[Tim Lehrbach]

I'm just going to speak on the Knicks part.
1st off Randle is the best player in the deal
2nd Why are the NYK the one that are giving up assets (Sims & 2 2nds) to make the deal
3rd NYK have been great with cap management but you want them to be on the hook for Ayton $34 M
Your going to have to find some other team to dump Ayton.

Of all the deals, this one is the most unappealing to me from the other team's perspective. FWIW, Sims is only included for salary matching because Ayton for Randle doesn't work straight-up. I can't argue with your objections, really, but some people still hold Ayton in higher esteem, so I thought I'd see what might stick. It's really just the outline of an idea: routing Randle to a third team that sends additional value to the Knicks would make more sense than moving him directly to Portland. I just couldn't come up with a third team.

Sims is not just a filler and you are dumping Walker & Banton on them too along with 2 2nds.

Sending Walker and Banton was supposed to be of benefit to the Knicks, but they can easily come out. Sims is there because somebody needed to be added to Randle to salary-match Ayton, and I figured he made the most sense. But I get that you don't like the swap of Randle for Ayton altogether, so adding another useful player only makes it worse. It may be a terrible trade! Again, just trying something new out. Stripped down to its bones -- Ayton for Randle and Sims -- I gather you still decline, perhaps vehemently?

[giberish]

I feel like the Knicks and Spurs ones are completely DOA.

There's no sane reason for the Knicks to trade their starting PF for a backup center (Robinson is better) that's also more expensive.

For the Spurs, IMO they need forward help as they just have backup level guys, but Castle and Vassell look to be their long-term starters, with Jones and Paul as two more solid guys. Vassell really isn't that big either to slide to SF. If SA is trying this year than Grant or Thybulle would make more sense but I'm skeptical they give up a 1st for either.

[Tim Lehrbach]

I feel like the Knicks and Spurs ones are completely DOA.

There's no sane reason for the Knicks to trade their starting PF for a backup center (Robinson is better) that's also more expensive.

For the Spurs, IMO they need forward help as they just have backup level guys, but Castle and Vassell look to be their long-term starters, with Jones and Paul as two more solid guys. Vassell really isn't that big either to slide to SF. If SA is trying this year than Grant or Thybulle would make more sense but I'm skeptical they give up a 1st for either.

Yeah, the Knicks idea may be a desperate misfire. I do wonder if they'd move Randle because I like the idea of a reliable (in terms of availability) five with Brunson, DiVincenzo, Bridges, and OG as the starters. But I'm not kidding anybody about Ayton. I don't want him either.

And yeah, I guess I really had the Spurs wrong. I look at that roster and see one that needs scoring punch and can cover for Simons' shortcomings. But if the players he'd displace are more highly-valued, then yeah, it's not a fit.

[JayTWill]

Trade #1: Blazers-Knicks
Portland trades
Deandre Ayton
Jabari Walker (via TPE)
Delano Banton (via TPE)

New York trades
Julius Randle
Jericho Sims
2025 second round draft pick (from Brooklyn)
2026 second round draft pick (from Minnesota)

Portland perspective
The Blazers balance the roster a bit, save money by waiving or trading Sims prior to next season, and gain a couple minor draft assets for the war chest.

New York perspective
The Knicks gain a full-time center who replaces Randle's midrange game and rebounding while letting Bridges and OG log the forward minutes. Walker and Banton add some rebounding and potential scoring punch, respectively, to a thin bench.

I wouldn't do this deal if I was New York but they can't take in more money than they send out since they are above the first apron.

[ejftw]

I'd vomit if Clips gave up the last first available for Jerami Grant.

[Tim Lehrbach]

This is going over about as well as I expected.

There is no market, at least not on RealGM, for the Blazers' veterans.

Any constructive feedback towards workable deals would be appreciated, but if they're all just non-starters, that's fine too.

[Tim Lehrbach]

Trade #1: Blazers-Knicks
Portland trades
Deandre Ayton
Jabari Walker (via TPE)
Delano Banton (via TPE)

New York trades
Julius Randle
Jericho Sims
2025 second round draft pick (from Brooklyn)
2026 second round draft pick (from Minnesota)

Portland perspective
The Blazers balance the roster a bit, save money by waiving or trading Sims prior to next season, and gain a couple minor draft assets for the war chest.

New York perspective
The Knicks gain a full-time center who replaces Randle's midrange game and rebounding while letting Bridges and OG log the forward minutes. Walker and Banton add some rebounding and potential scoring punch, respectively, to a thin bench.

I wouldn't do this deal if I was New York but they can't take in more money than they send out since they are above the first apron.

So it's a lousy and illegal trade, lol.

Someday I'll figure the CBA out, I guess. Spotrac had Randle and Sims for Ayton as legal. The other two were to be acquired via TPE.

[Myth]

I'm just going to speak on the Knicks part.
1st off Randle is the best player in the deal
2nd Why are the NYK the one that are giving up assets (Sims & 2 2nds) to make the deal
3rd NYK have been great with cap management but you want them to be on the hook for Ayton $34 M
Your going to have to find some other team to dump Ayton.

Of all the deals, this one is the most unappealing to me from the other team's perspective. FWIW, Sims is only included for salary matching because Ayton for Randle doesn't work straight-up. I can't argue with your objections, really, but some people still hold Ayton in higher esteem, so I thought I'd see what might stick. It's really just the outline of an idea: routing Randle to a third team that sends additional value to the Knicks would make more sense than moving him directly to Portland. I just couldn't come up with a third team.

Sims is not just a filler and you are dumping Walker & Banton on them too along with 2 2nds.

So Sims is an asset but Walker is a player being dumped? But no sweat for Portland, I don’t like that trade for Portland anyway. I want to keep Walker (I actually like Banton too, but not as much as Walker). Randle hurts the tank for a year then either demands a massive contract worse than Ayton’s or walks. This is not a direction I want Portland to go.

[cgf]

Brutal for New York

[cgf]

Trade #1: Blazers-Knicks
Portland trades
Deandre Ayton
Jabari Walker (via TPE)
Delano Banton (via TPE)

New York trades
Julius Randle
Jericho Sims
2025 second round draft pick (from Brooklyn)
2026 second round draft pick (from Minnesota)

I'm just going to speak on the Knicks part.
1st off Randle is the best player in the deal
2nd Why are the NYK the one that are giving up assets (Sims & 2 2nds) to make the deal
3rd NYK have been great with cap management but you want them to be on the hook for Ayton $34 M
Your going to have to find some other team to dump Ayton.

Of all the deals, this one is the most unappealing to me from the other team's perspective. FWIW, Sims is only included for salary matching because Ayton for Randle doesn't work straight-up. I can't argue with your objections, really, but some people still hold Ayton in higher esteem, so I thought I'd see what might stick. It's really just the outline of an idea: routing Randle to a third team that sends additional value to the Knicks would make more sense than moving him directly to Portland. I just couldn't come up with a third team.

You could send Randle to New York. I’ve heard the Knicks are interested in him.

[clippertown]

I'd vomit if Clips gave up the last first available for Jerami Grant.

Clips would greatly prefer Randle to Grant. I could see them them giving up a fully unprotected 31 pick to get him.

Unfortunately, Clips must unload both Norm and PJ to make salaries match. Knicks don't want Norm. If any other team would give up anything useful for a superb scorer to add something for the Knicks, then this deal could work out. Clips could add Mann to replace PJ, but then the lost pick hurts even more and maybe is not worth it for the Clippers.

LAC IN = Randle
LAC OUT = Norm + PJ + 2031 Pick (unprotected)

NYK IN = PJ + 2031 Pick (unprotected) + ???
NYK OUT = Randle

Third Team In = Norman Powell
Third Team Out = ???

[Tim Lehrbach]

I'd vomit if Clips gave up the last first available for Jerami Grant.

Clips would greatly prefer Randle to Grant. I could see them them giving up a fully unprotected 31 pick to get him.

Unfortunately, Clips must unload both Norm and PJ to make salaries match. Knicks don't want Norm. If any other team would give up anything useful for a superb scorer to add something for the Knicks, then this deal could work out. Clips could add Mann to replace PJ, but then the lost pick hurts even more and maybe is not worth it for the Clippers.

LAC IN = Randle
LAC OUT = Norm + PJ + 2031 Pick (unprotected)

NYK IN = PJ + 2031 Pick (unprotected) + ???
NYK OUT = Randle

Third Team In = Norman Powell
Third Team Out = ???

Based on the reaction to my proposal, I would expect a strong rebuke from Knicks fans for any idea which sells Randle off without getting a win-now upgrade. But at least you're not trying to foist Ayton on them like I did.

[taikibansei]

Trade #1: Blazers-Knicks
Portland trades
Deandre Ayton
Jabari Walker (via TPE)
Delano Banton (via TPE)

New York trades
Julius Randle
Jericho Sims
2025 second round draft pick (from Brooklyn)
2026 second round draft pick (from Minnesota)

I'm just going to speak on the Knicks part.
1st off Randle is the best player in the deal
2nd Why are the NYK the one that are giving up assets (Sims & 2 2nds) to make the deal
3rd NYK have been great with cap management but you want them to be on the hook for Ayton $34 M
Your going to have to find some other team to dump Ayton.

Of all the deals, this one is the most unappealing to me from the other team's perspective. FWIW, Sims is only included for salary matching because Ayton for Randle doesn't work straight-up. I can't argue with your objections, really, but some people still hold Ayton in higher esteem, so I thought I'd see what might stick. It's really just the outline of an idea: routing Randle to a third team that sends additional value to the Knicks would make more sense than moving him directly to Portland. I just couldn't come up with a third team.

The Knicks of old would have thought similarly and jumped at such a deal. Fortunately, we've finally evolved as an organization (at least I hope so...).

Ayton really needs a full season playing to his potential on offense and defense before you can construct a trade to get assets back for him. I don't think this is a "What can Portland do?" issue. It's all on Ayton.