Mission Impossible: A well received Portland Trailblazers trade

[ReggiesKnicks]

Chicago Out: Patrick Williams, 2026 POR 1st
Chicago In: Robert Williams III, Matisse Thybulle

Philly Out: Paul George
Philly In: Jerami Grant, Patrick Williams

Portland Out: Jerami Grant, Robert Williams III, Matisse Thybulle
Portland In: Zach LaVine

Sactown Out: Zach LaVine
Sactown In: Paul George, 2026 POR 1st

Chicago gets two intriguing expiring defensive specialists
Philly breaks down Paul George into depth but more salary long-term
Portland trades 1 real rotation player in Grant for a shorter contract in LaVine and gets more breathing room below the tax in 2025/2026
Sactown gets a better fit and banks on Paul George's outlier year being exactly that, an outlier

This trade requires Chicago to send additional value, Portland to send marginal value and Sacramento to receive all that value. Unsure what those asset(s) or values are.

[Godaddycurse]

I think Chicago owes value to Sacramento. Portland also owes a bit of value imo

[ReggiesKnicks]

I think Chicago owes value to Sacramento. Portland also owes a bit of value imo

Glad you agree with me.

This trade requires Chicago to send additional value, Portland to send marginal value and Sacramento to receive all that value. Unsure what those asset(s) or values are.

[Godaddycurse]

I think Chicago owes value to Sacramento. Portland also owes a bit of value imo

Glad you agree with me.

This trade requires Chicago to send additional value, Portland to send marginal value and Sacramento to receive all that value. Unsure what those asset(s) or values are.

woops missed that part some how. my bad. its hard since i dont think Chicago should pay to dump williams in the first place

[Myth]

Can’t say I’m in love with it for Portland. Yeah, we save money on the tail end, but we also spend a year spending more money too. That in a vacuum is fine because we overall save money and get off it sooner, but the bigger problem is adding a 3rd big minute guard, which takes minutes away from Sharpe, while getting rid of tons of bench defense. I don’t like Grant’s salary at all, but I don’t actually mind him as the first forward off the bench. I think I pass, and Portland definitely shouldn’t add additional value as other comments suggest. Portland should continue to look for ways to get off Grant, but this isn’t it. The only way I would even consider this is if a Simons trade is already lined up.

[ChettheJet]

Bulls say No and heck no to adding anything to help out the other guys

Patrick has had injuries since his 2nd year and missed most of the season along with Lonzo Ball. But they aren't the the same injury every year and he plays 3/4 of the games. Robert III missed huge chunks of seasons and is 4 years older, not a good move.

Yes PORT does well getting that pick back

The Bulls don't need to get back another guard. Giddey, (White, Huerter, Dosunmu, Carter, THT) all expiring, Ball, Terry, could bring back Tre Jones for less than Thybulle. Do the math

[JRoy]

Chicago Out: Patrick Williams, 2026 POR 1st
Chicago In: Robert Williams III, Matisse Thybulle

Philly Out: Paul George
Philly In: Jerami Grant, Patrick Williams

Portland Out: Jerami Grant, Robert Williams III, Matisse Thybulle
Portland In: Zach LaVine

Sactown Out: Zach LaVine
Sactown In: Paul George, 2026 POR 1st

Chicago gets two intriguing expiring defensive specialists
Philly breaks down Paul George into depth but more salary long-term
Portland trades 1 real rotation player in Grant for a shorter contract in LaVine and gets more breathing room below the tax in 2025/2026
Sactown gets a better fit and banks on Paul George's outlier year being exactly that, an outlier

This trade requires Chicago to send additional value, Portland to send marginal value and Sacramento to receive all that value. Unsure what those asset(s) or values are.

Zero interest in LaVine to POR.

[LightTheBeam]

I hope the Kings do something exactly like this. It's a way for Perry to give Vivek the illusion we are still competing while collecting assets for the tank. When the roster fails, we can move Sabonis for more picks and truly rebuild. And if some how George does bounce back, then good for us.

[ReggiesKnicks]

Can’t say I’m in love with it for Portland. Yeah, we save money on the tail end, but we also spend a year spending more money too. That in a vacuum is fine because we overall save money and get off it sooner, but the bigger problem is adding a 3rd big minute guard, which takes minutes away from Sharpe, while getting rid of tons of bench defense. I don’t like Grant’s salary at all, but I don’t actually mind him as the first forward off the bench. I think I pass, and Portland definitely shouldn’t add additional value as other comments suggest. Portland should continue to look for ways to get off Grant, but this isn’t it. The only way I would even consider this is if a Simons trade is already lined up.

You also save money this year, 9,336,053 to be exact if LaVine waives his trade kicker.

LaVine and Sharpe can both play some minutes at the 3. There is no problem with minutes.

RWIII and Thybulle weren't providing much if any bench defense in 2025 and the expectation should be neither are going to be valuable rotation pieces in 2026. Just because players wear a Portland Trailblazers jersey doesn't mean they provide valuable bench minutes.

You should have no problem finding a Simons trade

[ReggiesKnicks]

Chicago Out: Patrick Williams, 2026 POR 1st
Chicago In: Robert Williams III, Matisse Thybulle

Philly Out: Paul George
Philly In: Jerami Grant, Patrick Williams

Portland Out: Jerami Grant, Robert Williams III, Matisse Thybulle
Portland In: Zach LaVine

Sactown Out: Zach LaVine
Sactown In: Paul George, 2026 POR 1st

Chicago gets two intriguing expiring defensive specialists
Philly breaks down Paul George into depth but more salary long-term
Portland trades 1 real rotation player in Grant for a shorter contract in LaVine and gets more breathing room below the tax in 2025/2026
Sactown gets a better fit and banks on Paul George's outlier year being exactly that, an outlier

This trade requires Chicago to send additional value, Portland to send marginal value and Sacramento to receive all that value. Unsure what those asset(s) or values are.

Zero interest in LaVine to POR.

Think of it like this.

1) Equivalent or better player to Jerami Grant
2) 9.4 Milllion Salary Savings in 2025-2026, 14.6 7 Million additional Salary in 2026-2027, 36.4 Million Salary Savings in 2027-2028
3) An overall sum of 31.2 Million saved over 3 seasons

[Myth]

Can’t say I’m in love with it for Portland. Yeah, we save money on the tail end, but we also spend a year spending more money too. That in a vacuum is fine because we overall save money and get off it sooner, but the bigger problem is adding a 3rd big minute guard, which takes minutes away from Sharpe, while getting rid of tons of bench defense. I don’t like Grant’s salary at all, but I don’t actually mind him as the first forward off the bench. I think I pass, and Portland definitely shouldn’t add additional value as other comments suggest. Portland should continue to look for ways to get off Grant, but this isn’t it. The only way I would even consider this is if a Simons trade is already lined up.

You also save money this year, 9,336,053 to be exact if LaVine waives his trade kicker.

LaVine and Sharpe can both play some minutes at the 3. There is no problem with minutes.

RWIII and Thybulle weren't providing much if any bench defense in 2025 and the expectation should be neither are going to be valuable rotation pieces in 2026. Just because players wear a Portland Trailblazers jersey doesn't mean they provide valuable bench minutes.

You should have no problem finding a Simons trade

It seems Portland haven’t been able to find a trade they like for Simons for a while. Having a glut of SGs won’t give them any additional leverage in finding one, so I’d want it lined up simultaneously. Blazers also really don’t need poor defensive SGs masquerading as SFs again. That is the absolute opposite direction of the lengthy defense oriented team the Blazers have been seemingly building towards. I just really don’t like this fit. And no, I don’t think Thybulle or RWIII are legit value, but I definitely prefer the bench defense of Grant and occasional minutes from Thy and Rob than losing them and adding Zach with the option of simply playing them out of position because they technically can. As for next season’s salary, I did miscalculate, but why does Zach waive his trade kicker to on a team with so many at his position? How much is his trade kicker if he doesn’t waive it?

[ReggiesKnicks]

Can’t say I’m in love with it for Portland. Yeah, we save money on the tail end, but we also spend a year spending more money too. That in a vacuum is fine because we overall save money and get off it sooner, but the bigger problem is adding a 3rd big minute guard, which takes minutes away from Sharpe, while getting rid of tons of bench defense. I don’t like Grant’s salary at all, but I don’t actually mind him as the first forward off the bench. I think I pass, and Portland definitely shouldn’t add additional value as other comments suggest. Portland should continue to look for ways to get off Grant, but this isn’t it. The only way I would even consider this is if a Simons trade is already lined up.

You also save money this year, 9,336,053 to be exact if LaVine waives his trade kicker.

LaVine and Sharpe can both play some minutes at the 3. There is no problem with minutes.

RWIII and Thybulle weren't providing much if any bench defense in 2025 and the expectation should be neither are going to be valuable rotation pieces in 2026. Just because players wear a Portland Trailblazers jersey doesn't mean they provide valuable bench minutes.

You should have no problem finding a Simons trade

It seems Portland haven’t been able to find a trade they like for Simons for a while. Having a glut of SGs won’t give them any additional leverage in finding one, so I’d want it lined up simultaneously. Blazers also really don’t need poor defensive SGs masquerading as SFs again. That is the absolute opposite direction of the lengthy defense oriented team the Blazers have been seemingly building towards. I just really don’t like this fit. And no, I don’t think Thybulle or RWIII are legit value, but I definitely prefer the bench defense of Grant and occasional minutes from Thy and Rob than losing them and adding Zach with the option of simply playing them out of position because they technically can. As for next season’s salary, I did miscalculate, but why does Zach waive his trade kicker to on a team with so many at his position? How much is his trade kicker if he doesn’t waive it?

LaVine's kicker is 15% but also he just accepted a raise 4 months ago with the trade kicker. I don't think he would need to do it again.

[Myth]

You also save money this year, 9,336,053 to be exact if LaVine waives his trade kicker.

LaVine and Sharpe can both play some minutes at the 3. There is no problem with minutes.

RWIII and Thybulle weren't providing much if any bench defense in 2025 and the expectation should be neither are going to be valuable rotation pieces in 2026. Just because players wear a Portland Trailblazers jersey doesn't mean they provide valuable bench minutes.

You should have no problem finding a Simons trade

It seems Portland haven’t been able to find a trade they like for Simons for a while. Having a glut of SGs won’t give them any additional leverage in finding one, so I’d want it lined up simultaneously. Blazers also really don’t need poor defensive SGs masquerading as SFs again. That is the absolute opposite direction of the lengthy defense oriented team the Blazers have been seemingly building towards. I just really don’t like this fit. And no, I don’t think Thybulle or RWIII are legit value, but I definitely prefer the bench defense of Grant and occasional minutes from Thy and Rob than losing them and adding Zach with the option of simply playing them out of position because they technically can. As for next season’s salary, I did miscalculate, but why does Zach waive his trade kicker to on a team with so many at his position? How much is his trade kicker if he doesn’t waive it?

LaVine's kicker is 15% but also he just accepted a raise 4 months ago with the trade kicker. I don't think he would need to do it again.

He doesn’t need to do it again if he is going somewhere he actually wants to go, but why would that be Portland? He would know Portland is not bringing him in to be part of their future and wants somebody at his position to be instead?

[LightTheBeam]

A nice follow up for Portland would be SImmons to Orlando for Isaac and Cole Anthony. Isaac covers that gap as a defensive forward off the bench. Cole is a fine 4th guard.

[JRoy]

Can’t say I’m in love with it for Portland. Yeah, we save money on the tail end, but we also spend a year spending more money too. That in a vacuum is fine because we overall save money and get off it sooner, but the bigger problem is adding a 3rd big minute guard, which takes minutes away from Sharpe, while getting rid of tons of bench defense. I don’t like Grant’s salary at all, but I don’t actually mind him as the first forward off the bench. I think I pass, and Portland definitely shouldn’t add additional value as other comments suggest. Portland should continue to look for ways to get off Grant, but this isn’t it. The only way I would even consider this is if a Simons trade is already lined up.

You also save money this year, 9,336,053 to be exact if LaVine waives his trade kicker.

LaVine and Sharpe can both play some minutes at the 3. There is no problem with minutes.

RWIII and Thybulle weren't providing much if any bench defense in 2025 and the expectation should be neither are going to be valuable rotation pieces in 2026. Just because players wear a Portland Trailblazers jersey doesn't mean they provide valuable bench minutes.

You should have no problem finding a Simons trade

Lavines contract becomes an obstacle to resigning young guys.

POR passes.

[cucad8]

Chicago Out: Patrick Williams, 2026 POR 1st
Chicago In: Robert Williams III, Matisse Thybulle

Philly Out: Paul George
Philly In: Jerami Grant, Patrick Williams

Portland Out: Jerami Grant, Robert Williams III, Matisse Thybulle
Portland In: Zach LaVine

Sactown Out: Zach LaVine
Sactown In: Paul George, 2026 POR 1st

Chicago gets two intriguing expiring defensive specialists
Philly breaks down Paul George into depth but more salary long-term
Portland trades 1 real rotation player in Grant for a shorter contract in LaVine and gets more breathing room below the tax in 2025/2026
Sactown gets a better fit and banks on Paul George's outlier year being exactly that, an outlier

This trade requires Chicago to send additional value, Portland to send marginal value and Sacramento to receive all that value. Unsure what those asset(s) or values are.

Zero interest in LaVine to POR.

Think of it like this.

1) Equivalent or better player to Jerami Grant
2) 9.4 Milllion Salary Savings in 2025-2026, 14.6 7 Million additional Salary in 2026-2027, 36.4 Million Salary Savings in 2027-2028
3) An overall sum of 31.2 Million saved over 3 seasons

Portland has Ayton and Simons both expiring after this season, giving them some cap space potential in '26 offseason. Adding an additional ~15 million in salary to that offseason hurts us more than removing Grant's final year, when we already could have worked out extensions on Sharpe and Camara.
Also as much as I think I'm the only Lavine believe left on RealGM, I'm not interested in bringing in another high usage G, unless it was a guy who can grow with our core to justify stealing the minutes from Sharpe.

[ReggiesKnicks]

Can’t say I’m in love with it for Portland. Yeah, we save money on the tail end, but we also spend a year spending more money too. That in a vacuum is fine because we overall save money and get off it sooner, but the bigger problem is adding a 3rd big minute guard, which takes minutes away from Sharpe, while getting rid of tons of bench defense. I don’t like Grant’s salary at all, but I don’t actually mind him as the first forward off the bench. I think I pass, and Portland definitely shouldn’t add additional value as other comments suggest. Portland should continue to look for ways to get off Grant, but this isn’t it. The only way I would even consider this is if a Simons trade is already lined up.

You also save money this year, 9,336,053 to be exact if LaVine waives his trade kicker.

LaVine and Sharpe can both play some minutes at the 3. There is no problem with minutes.

RWIII and Thybulle weren't providing much if any bench defense in 2025 and the expectation should be neither are going to be valuable rotation pieces in 2026. Just because players wear a Portland Trailblazers jersey doesn't mean they provide valuable bench minutes.

You should have no problem finding a Simons trade

Lavines contract becomes an obstacle to resigning young guys.

POR passes.

Which ones?

Shaedon Sharpe is the only player who needs an extension, but he can be signed to an extension up to 25% of the cap regardless of Zach LaVine being on the roster or not.

Scoot Henderson, Donovon Clingan, Toumani Camara and Deni Avdija are all due new contract after Zach Lavine expires.

By my numbers, Portland would have 7 players + Sharpe under contract in 2026-2027. I am going to assume Sharpe signs for around Desmond Bane, being optimistic here, deal starting at 35 Million in 2026-2027.

That's 8 players for Portland at just under 125 Million.

LaVine 47,499,660
Sharpe 35,000,000
Avdija 13,125,000
Scoot 13,585,523
Clingan 7,519,920
Murray 5,315,004
Camara 2,406,205
Pick #11 5,000,900

Meanwhile, the salary figures for the 2026-2027 are listed below
Cap:170,112,000
Lux: 206,686,000

Portland would be sitting 35 Million below the Cap and 81 Million below the Tax. Yet you think they would have trouble retaining their players?

Portland could resign Ayton to a reasonable deal, retain a Simons return of 30-35 Million and still have plenty of cap flexibility.

Please, and I say this nicely, don't talk out of your ass.

[JRoy]

You also save money this year, 9,336,053 to be exact if LaVine waives his trade kicker.

LaVine and Sharpe can both play some minutes at the 3. There is no problem with minutes.

RWIII and Thybulle weren't providing much if any bench defense in 2025 and the expectation should be neither are going to be valuable rotation pieces in 2026. Just because players wear a Portland Trailblazers jersey doesn't mean they provide valuable bench minutes.

You should have no problem finding a Simons trade

Lavines contract becomes an obstacle to resigning young guys.

POR passes.

Which ones?

Shaedon Sharpe is the only player who needs an extension, but he can be signed to an extension up to 25% of the cap regardless of Zach LaVine being on the roster or not.

Scoot Henderson, Donovon Clingan, Toumani Camara and Deni Avdija are all due new contract after Zach Lavine expires.

By my numbers, Portland would have 7 players + Sharpe under contract in 2026-2027. I am going to assume Sharpe signs for around Desmond Bane, being optimistic here, deal starting at 35 Million in 2026-2027.

That's 8 players for Portland at just under 125 Million.

LaVine 47,499,660
Sharpe 35,000,000
Avdija 13,125,000
Scoot 13,585,523
Clingan 7,519,920
Murray 5,315,004
Camara 2,406,205
Pick #11 5,000,900

Meanwhile, the salary figures for the 2026-2027 are listed below
Cap:170,112,000
Lux: 206,686,000

Portland would be sitting 35 Million below the Cap and 81 Million below the Tax. Yet you think they would have trouble retaining their players?

Portland could resign Ayton to a reasonable deal, retain a Simons return of 30-35 Million and still have plenty of cap flexibility.

Please, and I say this nicely, don't talk out of your ass.

What would you consider a reasonable deal for Ayton? He thinks he’s a max or near max player.

Also how excited is SS going to be about sharing the dg spot with a highly paid Lavine?

[ReggiesKnicks]

Lavines contract becomes an obstacle to resigning young guys.

POR passes.

Which ones?

Shaedon Sharpe is the only player who needs an extension, but he can be signed to an extension up to 25% of the cap regardless of Zach LaVine being on the roster or not.

Scoot Henderson, Donovon Clingan, Toumani Camara and Deni Avdija are all due new contract after Zach Lavine expires.

By my numbers, Portland would have 7 players + Sharpe under contract in 2026-2027. I am going to assume Sharpe signs for around Desmond Bane, being optimistic here, deal starting at 35 Million in 2026-2027.

That's 8 players for Portland at just under 125 Million.

LaVine 47,499,660
Sharpe 35,000,000
Avdija 13,125,000
Scoot 13,585,523
Clingan 7,519,920
Murray 5,315,004
Camara 2,406,205
Pick #11 5,000,900

Meanwhile, the salary figures for the 2026-2027 are listed below
Cap:170,112,000
Lux: 206,686,000

Portland would be sitting 35 Million below the Cap and 81 Million below the Tax. Yet you think they would have trouble retaining their players?

Portland could resign Ayton to a reasonable deal, retain a Simons return of 30-35 Million and still have plenty of cap flexibility.

Please, and I say this nicely, don't talk out of your ass.

What would you consider a reasonable deal for Ayton? He thinks he’s a max or near max player.

Do you? What you you be happy with as a Portland fan?

Also how excited is SS going to be about sharing the dg spot with a highly paid Lavine?

Maybe it means more on-ball reps for Sharpe, which he should be ecstatic about.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

There are worse options for moving Grant but LaVine doesn't hold much value to Portland and this trade would be better with a team that actually wants him, assuming someone even does. He also isn't waiving his trade kicker if he can get extra money but that is paid by Sac IIRC so probably a minor issue.

In general though if I'm moving Grant I would prefer to break him into smaller contracts rather than aggregate up to a larger contract. Kuzma+Connaughton was proposed in another thread and is closer to the kind of trade I would explore, even at the cost of second rounders or other minor value. Not a hard no but definitely would prioritize other deals first since this clogs up our rotation for a player we have no intention of keeping or building around.

We (the fans, no idea about our front office) really want to move Simons and clear the rotation out for Scoot+Sharpe to get starter minutes, not add another highly paid guard who needs touches ahead of them.