RealGM

Bulls IN
Butler (1 w/ option)
Nick Richards (1 w/ option)

Bulls OUT
Ayo
Lonzo
Vucevic
2025 Blazers 1st (lottery-protected 2025-28)

Heat IN
Simons (2 yrs)
Vucevic (2 yrs)
Daquan Jeffries (expiring/option)
2025 Blazers 1st

Heat OUT
Butler

Hornets IN
Ayo (2)
Thybulle (2)
RWIII (2)

Hornets OUT
Martin
Richards
Micić
Jeffries
2025 Pelicans 2nd
2027 Blazers/Pelicans 2nd (more favorable)

Blazers OUT
Simons
RWIII
Thybulle

Blazers IN (37.2 million in expirings)
Lonzo (expiring)
Martin (1 w/ option)
Micić (1 w/ option)
2025 Pelicans 2nd
2027 Blazers/Pelicans 2nd (more favorable)

Because reasons:
Bulls playoff run homecoming
Heat Simons and Vuc replace scoring, add depth and spacing on deals that don't run past 2026, plus draft capital for upgrades
Hornets upgrade bench/depth
Blazers tank for cap savings plus rebuild draft capital

No thank you from POR.

No counter offer.

Miami cuts everyone but the Bulls out and takes Ayo, Lonzo, Vuc, and the pick for themselves. The problem is Jimmy said no extension with anyone but the Suns

BBallFreak wrote:Miami cuts everyone but the Bulls out and takes Ayo, Lonzo, Vuc, and the pick for themselves. The problem is Jimmy said no extension with anyone but the Suns

This assumes the Blazers don't want to move multiyear deals, tank, save ~40 million next year and add draft capital.

Also assumes Miami doesn't value Simons.

MasterIchiro wrote:

BBallFreak wrote:Miami cuts everyone but the Bulls out and takes Ayo, Lonzo, Vuc, and the pick for themselves. The problem is Jimmy said no extension with anyone but the Suns

This assumes the Blazers don't want to move multiyear deals, tank, save ~40 million next year and add draft capital.

Also assumes Miami doesn't value Simons.

I don't see why that matters.

They're not required for the Chicago/Miami portion of this and I would hope, if the bulls are this committed to getting Butler, that Nick Richards shouldn't be that much of a concern. If I'm Miami I would rather get Lonzo, Ayo, and Vuc along with that first, and call it a day.

I am pretty low on Portland's vets but even I would not do this.

Think RWIII is worth 3+ SRP.
Think Simons is worth 3+ SRP or potentially even a highly protected FRP from the right team (ORL IMO).
Think Thybulle is worth expirings (And potentially a SRP if he comes back and plays healthy for a bit)

This is just too low.

Jimmy Butler, with Lavine still around is not going to win the Bulls very many games. Lavine wants the spotlight more than wins while Jimmy wants to be seen as the reason his team wins a game.

But besides that, it looks like an offer1/3 of what other teams would look at giving up to get Butler. 5 steals for the Bulls.

BBallFreak wrote:

MasterIchiro wrote:

BBallFreak wrote:Miami cuts everyone but the Bulls out and takes Ayo, Lonzo, Vuc, and the pick for themselves. The problem is Jimmy said no extension with anyone but the Suns

This assumes the Blazers don't want to move multiyear deals, tank, save ~40 million next year and add draft capital.

Also assumes Miami doesn't value Simons.

I don't see why that matters.

They're not required for the Chicago/Miami portion of this and I would hope, if the bulls are this committed to getting Butler, that Nick Richards shouldn't be that much of a concern. If I'm Miami I would rather get Lonzo, Ayo, and Vuc along with that first, and call it a day.

If I'm Miami I'd rather have Simons in my backcourt with Herro. I think there's more talent there.

And if I'm the Blazers I want the expirings over the players I'm shopping for cap, tank, and second round pics (Simons, Thybulle, RWIII).

But I agree, if Miami doesn't like Simons as much as I do, you can cut out the Blazers.

Every dollar going out from Charlotte is an expiring and every dollar coming in must be paid next year.

I understand the idea.

Still a solid No from POR.

MasterIchiro wrote:

BBallFreak wrote:

MasterIchiro wrote:
This assumes the Blazers don't want to move multiyear deals, tank, save ~40 million next year and add draft capital.

Also assumes Miami doesn't value Simons.

I don't see why that matters.

They're not required for the Chicago/Miami portion of this and I would hope, if the bulls are this committed to getting Butler, that Nick Richards shouldn't be that much of a concern. If I'm Miami I would rather get Lonzo, Ayo, and Vuc along with that first, and call it a day.

If I'm Miami I'd rather have Simons in my backcourt with Herro. I think there's more talent there.

And if I'm the Blazers I want the expirings over the players I'm shopping for cap, tank, and second round pics (Simons, Thybulle, RWIII).

But I agree, if Miami doesn't like Simons as much as I do, you can cut out the Blazers.

Every dollar going out from Charlotte is an expiring and every dollar coming in must be paid next year.

A defensive pairing with Herro makes more sense than an offensive pairing.

BlazersBroncos wrote:I am pretty low on Portland's vets but even I would not do this.

Think RWIII is worth 3+ SRP.
Think Simons is worth 3+ SRP or potentially even a highly protected FRP from the right team (ORL IMO).
Think Thybulle is worth expirings (And potentially a SRP if he comes back and plays healthy for a bit)

This is just too low.

The quality of the 2nd round position matters.

On top returning to Portland the Blazers 2027 2nd round pick with swap rights with the Pelicans (currently 32 in 2027 and they're selling Ingram), Hornets can provide 32 and 34 in this draft whereas other bids may include a greater quantity of second round picks where there is less certainty of any of them conveying at the top of the second round. Hornets have 14 second round picks to compete in the 2nd round pick market.

So if you need 9 you can get 9 from Charlotte but can you simultaneously secure strictly expirings attached to them, allowing you to move off 2025 salary:

$27,678,571 (Simons)
$13,285,713 (RWIII)
$11.5 M (Thybulle player option)

~50 million owed to players who are going to hurt your draft position.

BBallFreak wrote:

MasterIchiro wrote:

BBallFreak wrote:I don't see why that matters.

They're not required for the Chicago/Miami portion of this and I would hope, if the bulls are this committed to getting Butler, that Nick Richards shouldn't be that much of a concern. If I'm Miami I would rather get Lonzo, Ayo, and Vuc along with that first, and call it a day.

If I'm Miami I'd rather have Simons in my backcourt with Herro. I think there's more talent there.

And if I'm the Blazers I want the expirings over the players I'm shopping for cap, tank, and second round pics (Simons, Thybulle, RWIII).

But I agree, if Miami doesn't like Simons as much as I do, you can cut out the Blazers.

Every dollar going out from Charlotte is an expiring and every dollar coming in must be paid next year.

A defensive pairing with Herro makes more sense than an offensive pairing.

I think you underestimate the loss of a go-to scorer who's been integral to three deep playoff runs.

Miami is so well coached on team defense that they can cover for their spacers. And the result of this deal gives Miami's offense competitive edge over other offenses that do not enjoy the same spacing and who do not perform as well with their team defense.

Simons
Herro
Jaquez
Naismith
Bam

Rozier
Burks
Robinson
Jović
Vucevic

That bench is going to stretch bench defenses to the breaking point.

MasterIchiro wrote:

BBallFreak wrote:

MasterIchiro wrote:
If I'm Miami I'd rather have Simons in my backcourt with Herro. I think there's more talent there.

And if I'm the Blazers I want the expirings over the players I'm shopping for cap, tank, and second round pics (Simons, Thybulle, RWIII).

But I agree, if Miami doesn't like Simons as much as I do, you can cut out the Blazers.

Every dollar going out from Charlotte is an expiring and every dollar coming in must be paid next year.

A defensive pairing with Herro makes more sense than an offensive pairing.

I think you underestimate the loss of a go-to scorer who's been integral to three deep playoff runs.

Miami is so well coached on team defense that they can cover for their spacers. And the result of this deal gives Miami's offense competitive edge over other offenses that do not enjoy the same spacing and who do not perform as well with their team defense.

Simons
Herro
Jaquez
Naismith
Bam

Rozier
Burks
Robinson
Jović
Vucevic

That bench is going to stretch bench defenses to the breaking point.

No, I don't. You're not giving us a go to scorer. Jimmy's gone and he's not coming back. You're giving us another guy just like Herro but not as good in Simons. So, I want a guy who can play defense and distribute.

I'd think about it from Portland's perspective...but that's also probably my bias for ACTUALLY embracing a tank shining through.

I honestly don't love that ending roster for Miami--feels very treadmill. That backcourt would be like Lillard/CJ with a touch more height and less intangibles.

So blazers just here to add value and not receive any? I don’t get it

zzaj wrote:I'd think about it from Portland's perspective...but that's also probably my bias for ACTUALLY embracing a tank shining through.

Yeah, the tank desire in me wants Simons gone, the value seeking part of me doesn't love this. I think a starting point for fixing this for Portland is finding a way to redirect the Blazers 1st back to them.

Myth wrote:

zzaj wrote:I'd think about it from Portland's perspective...but that's also probably my bias for ACTUALLY embracing a tank shining through.

Yeah, the tank desire in me wants Simons gone, the value seeking part of me doesn't love this. I think a starting point for fixing this for Portland is finding a way to redirect the Blazers 1st back to them.

I did think about that.

For Charlotte, I'd be willing to send Josh Green plus 2027 Heat lottery-protected 1st (unprotected 2028) plus Mavs 2027 1st top-2 protected for Deni Avdija.

And I'm sure the Heat would send you the Blazers 1st for that Heat 1st because the Heat 1st is more lightly protected, and because if the Heat regain their 2027 1st and make the playoffs this year, they can regain control of all 4 of their 1sts this summer. It allows them to bid for a replacement for Butler should one become available.

So, instead of Avdija you'd have a 2027 Mavs 1st protected 1-2 plus your own 1st plus an even better tank position.

zzaj wrote:I'd think about it from Portland's perspective...but that's also probably my bias for ACTUALLY embracing a tank shining through.

I honestly don't love that ending roster for Miami--feels very treadmill. That backcourt would be like Lillard/CJ with a touch more height and less intangibles.

They're the very definition of treadmill when they downgrade from Butler though, so I'm not sure if your standard for this return is doable for Miami through other bids. As soon as they trade him, no matter where they trade him, they will be treadmill. They're currently the 7 seed.

BBallFreak wrote:Miami cuts everyone but the Bulls out and takes Ayo, Lonzo, Vuc, and the pick for themselves. The problem is Jimmy said no extension with anyone but the Suns

Cut Chicago out as well, no interest at all.

Dez wrote:

BBallFreak wrote:Miami cuts everyone but the Bulls out and takes Ayo, Lonzo, Vuc, and the pick for themselves. The problem is Jimmy said no extension with anyone but the Suns

Cut Chicago out as well, no interest at all.

Lol! Completely understand.