Expansion Draft

[TheProfessor]

Hey blazers fans, Just wanted to know if in an expansion draft what 8 players are you protecting? Remember 1 player must be unprotected from the draft and player/team options can also be protected. Thanks guys. Also what would you be willing to give up to protect one of your players from not being selected.

[Walton1one]

Sharpe
Scoot
Deni
Clingan
Camara
Simons
RW3
Rupert

That leaves: Ayton, Grant, Thybulle, Reath, Banton, Walker, Murray

I think the only marginally tough decision is between Rupert\Murray,

I chose Rupert as he is much younger, can play SG/SF, Murray is pure forward and POR is pretty set there with Deni & Camara, each of whom can slide b/t SF & PF

If Murray’s shooting was more consistent then it might be a tougher call, but I would go with the youth/upside of Rupert

Of course if POR deals RW3 @ deadline, and hen you keep both

What would I be willing to pay to keep Murray? Nothing

[JRoy]

Protect
1-Deni
2-SS
3-Camara
4-Clingan
5-Scoot
6-RW3
7-Rupert
8-we have to protect 8? Banton, I guess.

Would pay nothing to protect the others, help yourself please.

[TheProfessor]

Is Ayton really that bad? Also assume the draft is in the 2025 offseason. Is he not worth anything as an expiring?

[BlazersBroncos]

Protect
1-Deni
2-SS
3-Camara
4-Clingan
5-Scoot
6-RW3
7-Rupert
8-we have to protect 8? Banton, I guess.

Would pay nothing to protect the others, help yourself please.

This but Murray at 8. He has some defensive talent even if his shot is going to eventually run him out of the league.

[JRoy]

Is Ayton really that bad? Also assume the draft is in the 2025 offseason. Is he not worth anything as an expiring?

He is a low effort, low bbiq donkey who thinks he is a star.

[Butter]

Is Ayton really that bad? Also assume the draft is in the 2025 offseason. Is he not worth anything as an expiring?

He is a low effort, low bbiq donkey who thinks he is a star.

Sheesh, body blow, body blow, KNOCK HIM OUT!

[JRoy]

Is Ayton really that bad? Also assume the draft is in the 2025 offseason. Is he not worth anything as an expiring?

He is a low effort, low bbiq donkey who thinks he is a star.

Sheesh, body blow, body blow, KNOCK HIM OUT!

I knew his reputation before he came to POR. I kept an open mind, liked his athletic profile compared to Nurk but he is just Hassan Whiteside without the humbling sojourn in Asia.

[Butter]

He is a low effort, low bbiq donkey who thinks he is a star.

Sheesh, body blow, body blow, KNOCK HIM OUT!

I knew his reputation before he came to POR. I kept an open mind, liked his athletic profile compared to Nurk but he is just Hassan Whiteside without the humbling sojourn in Asia.

I don't disagree. If he didn't have a max deal, would it change your opinion? What can you count on with Ayton? 12-14 points and 10+ rebounds every game (ish?).

He has has value, just NOT at a max contract level. Except, when his contract is expiring...

[JRoy]

Sheesh, body blow, body blow, KNOCK HIM OUT!

I knew his reputation before he came to POR. I kept an open mind, liked his athletic profile compared to Nurk but he is just Hassan Whiteside without the humbling sojourn in Asia.

I don't disagree. If he didn't have a max deal, would it change your opinion? What can you count on with Ayton? 12-14 points and 10+ rebounds every game (ish?).

He has has value, just NOT at a max contract level. Except, when his contract is expiring...

I still wouldn’t want him on my team. Especially around young guys.

That said, it would be more palatable if he were making a lot less. Easier to trade.

Get thee hence, Ayton.

[Butter]

I knew his reputation before he came to POR. I kept an open mind, liked his athletic profile compared to Nurk but he is just Hassan Whiteside without the humbling sojourn in Asia.

I don't disagree. If he didn't have a max deal, would it change your opinion? What can you count on with Ayton? 12-14 points and 10+ rebounds every game (ish?).

He has has value, just NOT at a max contract level. Except, when his contract is expiring...

I still wouldn’t want him on my team. Especially around young guys.

That said, it would be more palatable if he were making a lot less. Easier to trade.

Get thee hence, Ayton.

Lol, amen

[DaVoiceMaster]

In no particular order:

1. Scoot
2. Sharpe
3. Camara
4. Avdija
5. Clingan
6. Murray
7. Williams III
8. Banton - i had Simons originally.

[PDXKnight]

Deni
Sharpe
Toumani
Donovan
Scoot
Rob

Who cares after this?

[Walton1one]

IMO. You keep Simons for trade value

Ayton is on there b/c he has little/no trade value and if a team takes him POR has that space anyway?

Grant’s contract has 4? more years at $34 mil, a team taking him in an expansion draft would be doing POR a favor

[Wizenheimer]

He is a low effort, low bbiq donkey who thinks he is a star.

Sheesh, body blow, body blow, KNOCK HIM OUT!

I knew his reputation before he came to POR. I kept an open mind, liked his athletic profile compared to Nurk but he is just Hassan Whiteside without the humbling sojourn in Asia.

at least Whiteside was a rim protector who blocked shots and got to the FT line; things a 7'C are supposed to do. Ayton doesn't. Whiteside was a better rebounder too

wouldn't want either on the Blazers though

[DaVoiceMaster]

I'm really starting to like Murray. I don't think he'll ever be anything special, but he could become a really nice role player off the bench.

[Wizenheimer]

Sheesh, body blow, body blow, KNOCK HIM OUT!

I knew his reputation before he came to POR. I kept an open mind, liked his athletic profile compared to Nurk but he is just Hassan Whiteside without the humbling sojourn in Asia.

I don't disagree. If he didn't have a max deal, would it change your opinion? What can you count on with Ayton? 12-14 points and 10+ rebounds every game (ish?).

He has has value, just NOT at a max contract level. Except, when his contract is expiring...

you mean what value would he have in an alternate universe where he was paid like....Nurkic? hopefully less?

honestly, I think that's a red herring because, in this universe, he's an empty-calorie big man making 35M/year. He's not a rim-protector or shot-blocker; he's not good at passing the ball, especially from the high post; he's a mediocre paint defender and he doesn't have the mobility to defend on switches out on the perimeter; he's a drop-coverage C in an era when C's need to be more if they aren't elite on offense...and Ayton isn't.

in other words, in the skills that add positive value for a C in the modern era, Ayton doesn't check any boxes. But for some stupid reason, Cronin coveted him for 2 years and finally had the chance to add him as the centerpiece of the Dame trade. Which makes me worry that Cronin will re-sign him in 18 months, and it wouldn't be for less than 30M/year

[zzaj]

Deni
Sharpe
Camara
Clingan
Scoot
Timelord

Other considerations:
Reath - I still think he could fetch a second.
Simons - He probably could also fetch something, ANYTHING of value.
Rupert - Strikes me as one of those sneaky players where in year 4 suddenly the light goes on and he turns out to be a very good player. Reports are that he and Camara are the hardest workers on the team.

But I’m certainly not crying myself to sleep if any of that last trio are made available.

[PDXKnight]

Deni
Sharpe
Camara
Clingan
Scoot
Timelord

Other considerations:
Reath - I still think he could fetch a second.
Simons - He probably could also fetch something, ANYTHING of value.
Rupert - Strikes me as one of those sneaky players where in year 4 suddenly the light goes on and he turns out to be a very good player. Reports are that he and Camara are the hardest workers on the team.

But I’m certainly not crying myself to sleep if any of that last trio are made available.

I forgot about Rupert. May be worth protecting.

I think i leave ant and ayton unprotected along with jerami. There is a minimum salary threshold and if youre below it you pay the money one way or the other so i think the expansion teaks would be antsy to get some semblance of usable salary on the books rather than pay other teams money for literally nothing.. With that said honestly I wouldn't be shocked if 2 expansion teams picked up all of those guys between themselves as they're plenty better than most teams bottom 7. But I think eliminating their cap holds is of more value to the blazers so personally I'd dangle it in front of those 2 teams and see how it goes either way

I especially think ayton and simons would be of value to an expansion teams as short term it allows them to shore up enough salary to hit the minimum threshold in the interim without any major long term repercussions.