Simple PDX Offseason (ORL / LAL)

[BlazersBroncos]

TRADE 1

Portland Trades
Anfernee Simons G
Kris Murray F
Duop Reath C

Orlando Trades
Cole Anthony G
Goga Bitadze C
#25

WHY FOR PORTLAND
They finally turn the keys over to Scoot and Sharpe. Cole is a meh backup but fills a role, Goga and Clingan would make a wrecking crew of a C rotation and they get a late FRP.

WHY FOR ORLANDO
They finally make the move for a scoring guard. Simons is a high volume 3PT shooter who can also create his own shot. His on and off ball play is ideal with Franz and Paolo playing initiator the majority of the time. They move off Goga, but he wasnt playing much in the PO's and they have Mo coming back as well as JI avaliable. They also manage to keep the higher FRP, potentially to be used in a second trade for another win-now piece (Using KCP and/or JI as salary ballast). They kick the tires on Murray and get the cheap floor stretching Duop to alleviate big man depth loss w/ Goga outgoing.

TRADE 2

Portland Trades
DeAndre Ayton C

Los Angeles Lakers Trade
Gabe Vincent G
Maxi Kleber FC
Dalton Knetch GF
Shake Milton G

WHY FOR PORTLAND
They move off Ayton and decide to roll with Donovan / Goga at C. They bring in a lot of expiring ballast here but the prize is Dalton who is a ideal fit off the bench for the shooting starved Blazers.

WHY FOR LAL
They would explore bigger needle-moving deals before using their expirings in this way - but the assumption here is that LAL doesnt find a big fish, while also wanting to improve their roster AND continue to ensure they are a big player in the 2026 FA market. Ayton is a huge expiring, but he also brings elite rebounding and can finish well above the rim in the PNR. The cost is relatively low and this type of fence sitting move (Improve while not taking on long-term salary) is the direction I strongly believe LAL takes (Barring a big fish pushing their way to LAL this offseason).


NBA DRAFT
#10 - Noa Essengue F - The type of high upside swing PDX really needs as their roster is too good to tank but lacking true deep playoff talent.
#25 - Nique Clifford GF - The opposite of Noa in he is a pretty well developed guy. Thybulle is a EC and Clifford can take that 1st guard off the bench role in time - or even if he exceeds expectations allow PDX to move off Sharpe and avoid paying him a huge deal.

G - Scoot Henderson / Cole Anthony / Gabe Vincent
G - Shadeon Sharpe / Matisse Thybulle / Nique Clifford
F - Toumani Camara / Dalton Knetch / Rayan Rupert
F - Deni Avdija / Jerami Grant / Noa Essengue
C - Donovan Clingan / Goga Bitadze / Maxi Kleber

IR - RWIII
Bought Out - Shake Milton

[Godaddycurse]

Dont think Orlando wants to hardcap itself at the 1st apron. They are already over the apron unless they drop a number of players. This adds too much salary for them/raises their tax bill quite a bit

Ditto for LAL, this hardcaps them and makes it impossible/illegal to fill out rest of their roster. they will be at 195M with 8 men and 1st apron is ~196M IIRC

Target makes sense but they need to send out alot more money

[Texas Chuck]

I think both Orlando and LA look really hard for better options. So I don't see Orlando willing to do this in time to use a draft pick this year. But if you could replace that value reasonably I could see both teams doing this at the end of the off-season as well this is better than what we have and there is no long-term commitment so sure.

Value looks fair.

[Mavrelous]

Like GDC said, hard to pull off a trade for Ayton to LA at his salary, best scenario is buy ouy and sign as FA.
Same with Simons, ORL don't have enough fillers.

[JRoy]

Trade 1 is ok.

Trade 2 just no. No, no, no.

[Skybox]

Like GDC said, hard to pull off a trade for Ayton to LA at his salary, best scenario is buy ouy and sign as FA.
Same with Simons, ORL don't have enough fillers.

Maybe POR keep Murray and ORL add Jett Howard (to balance the salaries)

ORL sends: Goga, Cole (expiring TO), Jett Howard, #25
POR sends: Simons, Reath

I like the OP's thinking. Bringing in a C seems counterintuitive, but Ayton's gigantic deal is expiring (so movable or let it run). Goga is a really solid backup/borderline starter at the right salary...Counting on Time Lord is a tough one, but he is good enough to keep around and/or move to a contender at the TD. Clingan is clearly the present and future.

*If he's not - send him to ORL

[Godaddycurse]

Like GDC said, hard to pull off a trade for Ayton to LA at his salary, best scenario is buy ouy and sign as FA.
Same with Simons, ORL don't have enough fillers.

Maybe POR keep Murray and ORL add Jett Howard (to balance the salaries)

ORL sends: Goga, Cole (expiring TO), Jett Howard, #25
POR sends: Simons, Reath

I like the OP's thinking. Bringing in a C seems counterintuitive, but Ayton's gigantic deal is expiring (so movable or let it run). Goga is a really solid backup/borderline starter at the right salary...Counting on Time Lord is a tough one, but he is good enough to keep around and/or move to a contender at the TD. Clingan is clearly the present and future.

*If he's not - send him to ORL

Simons alone make more than those 3 combined

[BlazersBroncos]

Like GDC said, hard to pull off a trade for Ayton to LA at his salary, best scenario is buy ouy and sign as FA.
Same with Simons, ORL don't have enough fillers.

Maybe POR keep Murray and ORL add Jett Howard (to balance the salaries)

ORL sends: Goga, Cole (expiring TO), Jett Howard, #25
POR sends: Simons, Reath

I like the OP's thinking. Bringing in a C seems counterintuitive, but Ayton's gigantic deal is expiring (so movable or let it run). Goga is a really solid backup/borderline starter at the right salary...Counting on Time Lord is a tough one, but he is good enough to keep around and/or move to a contender at the TD. Clingan is clearly the present and future.

*If he's not - send him to ORL

Simons alone make more than those 3 combined

Cole 13.1M
Goga 8.3M
Howard 5.5M
TOTAL - 26.9M

Simons 27.6M
Reath 2.2M
TOTAL - 29.8M

Its 3M difference - is that really such a big issue for ORL? Declining the TO on Harris + Houstan + Joseph would save 13.2M. Assume they draft #16 (~4M) and the net would be -13.2M +7M more or less. They really wouldnt have to sign anyone after this as the roster seems full -

G - Anfernee Simons / Anthony Black / Nolan Traore (16)
G - Jalen Suggs / Kentavious Caldwell-Pope / Anthony Black
F - Franz Wagner / Tristan da Silva / Kobe Brea (46)
F - Paolo Banchero / Jonathan Isaac / Trevon Brazile (57)
C - Wendell Carter JR / Mo Wagner / Duop Reath

[Skybox]

Like GDC said, hard to pull off a trade for Ayton to LA at his salary, best scenario is buy ouy and sign as FA.
Same with Simons, ORL don't have enough fillers.

Maybe POR keep Murray and ORL add Jett Howard (to balance the salaries)

ORL sends: Goga, Cole (expiring TO), Jett Howard, #25
POR sends: Simons, Reath

I like the OP's thinking. Bringing in a C seems counterintuitive, but Ayton's gigantic deal is expiring (so movable or let it run). Goga is a really solid backup/borderline starter at the right salary...Counting on Time Lord is a tough one, but he is good enough to keep around and/or move to a contender at the TD. Clingan is clearly the present and future.

*If he's not - send him to ORL

Simons alone make more than those 3 combined

They come out to $27m collectively...Simons is $27.6 -am I seeing it wrong?

[Godaddycurse]

Maybe POR keep Murray and ORL add Jett Howard (to balance the salaries)

ORL sends: Goga, Cole (expiring TO), Jett Howard, #25
POR sends: Simons, Reath

I like the OP's thinking. Bringing in a C seems counterintuitive, but Ayton's gigantic deal is expiring (so movable or let it run). Goga is a really solid backup/borderline starter at the right salary...Counting on Time Lord is a tough one, but he is good enough to keep around and/or move to a contender at the TD. Clingan is clearly the present and future.

*If he's not - send him to ORL

Simons alone make more than those 3 combined

They come out to $27m collectively...Simons is $27.6 -am I seeing it wrong?

this would hardcap you at the 1st apron... which might make it tricky to fill out the roster

[Godaddycurse]

Cole 13.1M
Goga 8.3M
Howard 5.5M
TOTAL - 26.9M

Simons 27.6M
Reath 2.2M
TOTAL - 29.8M

Its 3M difference - is that really such a big issue for ORL? Declining the TO on Harris + Houstan + Joseph would save 13.2M. Assume they draft #16 (~4M) and the net would be -13.2M +7M more or less. They really wouldnt have to sign anyone after this as the roster seems full -

G - Anfernee Simons / Anthony Black / Nolan Traore (16)
G - Jalen Suggs / Kentavious Caldwell-Pope / Anthony Black
F - Franz Wagner / Tristan da Silva / Kobe Brea (46)
F - Paolo Banchero / Jonathan Isaac / Trevon Brazile (57)
C - Wendell Carter JR / Mo Wagner / Duop Reath

They are at 199M right now.

decline TO on Harris, Joseph and Houston would save 9M after accounting for roster holds. add 4M for FRP = 194M.
your trade brings them over the first apron when they are hardcapped.

[Skybox]

Cole 13.1M
Goga 8.3M
Howard 5.5M
TOTAL - 26.9M

Simons 27.6M
Reath 2.2M
TOTAL - 29.8M

Its 3M difference - is that really such a big issue for ORL? Declining the TO on Harris + Houstan + Joseph would save 13.2M. Assume they draft #16 (~4M) and the net would be -13.2M +7M more or less. They really wouldnt have to sign anyone after this as the roster seems full -

G - Anfernee Simons / Anthony Black / Nolan Traore (16)
G - Jalen Suggs / Kentavious Caldwell-Pope / Anthony Black
F - Franz Wagner / Tristan da Silva / Kobe Brea (46)
F - Paolo Banchero / Jonathan Isaac / Trevon Brazile (57)
C - Wendell Carter JR / Mo Wagner / Duop Reath

They are at 199M right now.

decline TO on Harris, Joseph and Houston would save 9M after accounting for roster holds. add 4M for FRP = 194M.
your trade brings them over the first apron when they are hardcapped.

I'd like to decline Moe Wagner's $11m TO and sign him to a 3 year, $8m per deal. I'd love to send out KCP and his $22m as Black is emerging as a similar player (and not a PG) and both are lesser versions of Suggs...I like KCP, his acquisition didn't make sense. I'd like to think ORL could make a little more breathing room and better look into it with Paolo's max on deck...but that's another thread

[Godaddycurse]

Cole 13.1M
Goga 8.3M
Howard 5.5M
TOTAL - 26.9M

Simons 27.6M
Reath 2.2M
TOTAL - 29.8M

Its 3M difference - is that really such a big issue for ORL? Declining the TO on Harris + Houstan + Joseph would save 13.2M. Assume they draft #16 (~4M) and the net would be -13.2M +7M more or less. They really wouldnt have to sign anyone after this as the roster seems full -

G - Anfernee Simons / Anthony Black / Nolan Traore (16)
G - Jalen Suggs / Kentavious Caldwell-Pope / Anthony Black
F - Franz Wagner / Tristan da Silva / Kobe Brea (46)
F - Paolo Banchero / Jonathan Isaac / Trevon Brazile (57)
C - Wendell Carter JR / Mo Wagner / Duop Reath

They are at 199M right now.

decline TO on Harris, Joseph and Houston would save 9M after accounting for roster holds. add 4M for FRP = 194M.
your trade brings them over the first apron when they are hardcapped.

I'd like to decline Moe Wagner's $11m TO and sign him to a 3 year, $8m per deal. I'd love to send out KCP and his $22m as Black is emerging as a similar player (and not a PG) and both are lesser versions of Suggs...I like KCP, his acquisition didn't make sense. I'd like to think ORL could make a little more breathing room and better look into it with Paolo's max on deck...but that's another thread

those all make sense. i'm just saying for flexibilities sake orlando shoudl send out more than 100% of incoming salary to not hardcap themselves

[Skybox]

They are at 199M right now.

decline TO on Harris, Joseph and Houston would save 9M after accounting for roster holds. add 4M for FRP = 194M.
your trade brings them over the first apron when they are hardcapped.

I'd like to decline Moe Wagner's $11m TO and sign him to a 3 year, $8m per deal. I'd love to send out KCP and his $22m as Black is emerging as a similar player (and not a PG) and both are lesser versions of Suggs...I like KCP, his acquisition didn't make sense. I'd like to think ORL could make a little more breathing room and better look into it with Paolo's max on deck...but that's another thread

those all make sense. i'm just saying for flexibilities sake orlando shoudl send out more than 100% of incoming salary to not hardcap themselves

Would love to...hopefully, multiple deals to make up for the GM sitting on his thumb through the trade deadline - again.

[Case2012]

Love the Orlando deal. Hate the LA one but I covet Knecht so i hold my nose and do it. Also, I don't like Essengue, I think he's 2 years away from 2 years away and Clifford is gone at 15 taken by OKC or at 16.. by Orlando.. Off topic slightly but trade down with 10 to OKC for 15 and 24 for Clifford and one of Yaxel/Wolf/WCJ. But that aside, good job.

[R-DAWG]

I think the Lakers rolling the dice on Ayton on then cheap is interesting, but I don’t think Kenecht should be in the deal, rather Portland sending value to LA to eat the extra year on Ayton’s deal.

Secondly, I think the Lakers would look to use Jaxson Hayes early bird rights to team with Kleber/Vincent to make the math work to avoid a first apron hard cap. Could see see a world where BOTH Hayes and Milton sign early bird rights deals which creates $31mm in expiring contracts, saying other sign and trade pieces as cap filler.

But this all comes down to how much of a discount Lebron will take to build out the roster around him and Luka.

[orlando_joe]

change to kcp ,goga and denver first boston 2nd for simons..would add magic 2nd if needed...magic would need to send out kcp or really will not work

[Myth]

I think the Lakers rolling the dice on Ayton on then cheap is interesting, but I don’t think Kenecht should be in the deal, rather Portland sending value to LA to eat the extra year on Ayton’s deal.

What do you mean extra year? He’s expiring.

[Case2012]

I think the Lakers rolling the dice on Ayton on then cheap is interesting, but I don’t think Kenecht should be in the deal, rather Portland sending value to LA to eat the extra year on Ayton’s deal.

Secondly, I think the Lakers would look to use Jaxson Hayes early bird rights to team with Kleber/Vincent to make the math work to avoid a first apron hard cap. Could see see a world where BOTH Hayes and Milton sign early bird rights deals which creates $31mm in expiring contracts, saying other sign and trade pieces as cap filler.

But this all comes down to how much of a discount Lebron will take to build out the roster around him and Luka.

RIGHT, pdx should probably add a few unprotected firsts to make it fair for LA.

Literally the only value coming to Portland is Knecht, TF we do it for a bunch of scrub bench players? Sorry Nico.

[Pattycakes]

I think the Lakers rolling the dice on Ayton on then cheap is interesting, but I don’t think Kenecht should be in the deal, rather Portland sending value to LA to eat the extra year on Ayton’s deal.

Secondly, I think the Lakers would look to use Jaxson Hayes early bird rights to team with Kleber/Vincent to make the math work to avoid a first apron hard cap. Could see see a world where BOTH Hayes and Milton sign early bird rights deals which creates $31mm in expiring contracts, saying other sign and trade pieces as cap filler.

But this all comes down to how much of a discount Lebron will take to build out the roster around him and Luka.

Ayton is what he is, and he’s by far better than any center currently on the Lakers by about 17 million percent. Blazers say no to this. Knecht looks a little bust, and that’s the only asset here