Does Portland have the assets to trade for……

[Blazers20]

Blazers should cash in on both Scoot and Clingan if they can use both to upgrade because I don’t see both becoming more than just role players especially Clingan. Scoot can still improve but if you can trade Scoot (along with Grant) to upgrade to a LaMelo I think you roll the dice and make that trade.

[zzaj]

Blazers should cash in on both Scoot and Clingan if they can use both to upgrade because I don’t see both becoming more than just role players especially Clingan. Scoot can still improve but if you can trade Scoot (along with Grant) to upgrade to a LaMelo I think you roll the dice and make that trade.

Personally, I don't want the Blazers to commit 25% of their salary cap to a player who has had significant injuries in each of the past 3 seasons and has never shown he can lead a team to winning, despite putting up eye-popping stats. LaMelo is a bad defender, especially given his size and IMO is the poster child for "doesn't get it" type play in the NBA.

It's one thing to gamble on a good young player. It's another thing entirely to gamble on a player that already has shown his cards, somewhat--and his hand isn't looking good.

[Walton1one]

Yeah, LaMelo Ball, is just not a serious enough guy that you want to risk investing in IMO. He approaches NBA games rather unseriously IMO, like he is participating in an offseason run not an NBA game. Also, he has battled injuries that last few years, playing 36-22-47 games over the last 3 years, not good for a guy who is only 23

Ask yourself why a player like him would be available, considering CHA just got new ownership (Aug 23') and a new GM (24). If they are willing to move on from him, I would be very apprehensive...

[BlazersBroncos]

I echo the same regarding LaMelo. Guy simply doesnt play winning basketball. Also having a guy shoot over 11 3's per game at a 34% clip is not something I would call enjoyable basketball.

Something shocking about Ball is despite 30%+ usage the past 3 seasons he has not managed to post a WS48 over 0.074. Thats shocking and a huge sign a guy simply isnt playing a style of ball that translates in the W column. He also has a career OnCourt per 100 possessions of -3.3 and manages only a On/Off per 100 possessions of 1.3.

Fools gold.

[Pattycakes]

Blazers should cash in on both Scoot and Clingan if they can use both to upgrade because I don’t see both becoming more than just role players especially Clingan. Scoot can still improve but if you can trade Scoot (along with Grant) to upgrade to a LaMelo I think you roll the dice and make that trade.

Um no. That’s another level of management we haven’t seen since David Kahn

[Case2012]

LaMelo is really good but also a clown that seemingly plays for himself. He's gonna leave whatever team trades for him for an LA/MIA/NY team first chance he gets, he screams me first, put me in the spotlight. I just don't want that energy in my locker room.

[Blazers20]

Could you make the argument that LaMelo has never been on a good team with good players that play for each other? Could Portland build that type of culture starting with Deni and possibly Sharpe? Could LaMelo, Deni and Sharpe build something special like what OKC has done?

[oldfishermen]

Could you make the argument that LaMelo has never been on a good team with good players that play for each other? Could Portland build that type of culture starting with Deni and possibly Sharpe? Could LaMelo, Deni and Sharpe build something special like what OKC has done?

This is hard to swallow, but, I believe you bring up valid questions.

The Hornets have a ton of problems. LaMelo's warts are probably the least of them.

Between Ja, Zion, and Ball. Ball is the only one I would "consider" trading for. He would upgrade our pg position, and is on a long contract, so we would control his future.

Bottom line, it would depend on our outgoing assets. Ball would be worth the gamble, but only at a bargain price.

[tester551]

Could you make the argument that LaMelo has never been on a good team with good players that play for each other? Could Portland build that type of culture starting with Deni and possibly Sharpe? Could LaMelo, Deni and Sharpe build something special like what OKC has done?

This is hard to swallow, but, I believe you bring up valid questions.

The Hornets have a ton of problems. LaMelo's warts are probably the least of them.

Between Ja, Zion, and Ball. Ball is the only one I would "consider" trading for. He would upgrade our pg position, and is on a long contract, so we would control his future.

Bottom line, it would depend on our outgoing assets. Ball would be worth the gamble, but only at a bargain price.

Between Ja, Zion, and Ball. Zion is the only one I would "consider" trading for. He would upgrade our peak potential.

Bottom line, it would depend on our outgoing assets. Zion would be worth the gamble, but only at a bargain price.

[monopoman]

If they are willing to unload Zion for next to nothing we might take a long shot on him. Ja is just not a reality and would cost us one of the young guys we don't want to get rid of at the very least.

[Sinobas]

Not without trading Deni. But we do have the ingredients to put together a good trade package.

Expirings, a lotto pick, and young players with high potential: Scoot/Sharpe/Camara/Clingan.

If I were Joe, I'd be exploring what I could get for a package that includes either Sharpe or Scoot.

[Pattycakes]

I swear to God, the basketball universe is finally smiling on us and here are you guys brainstorming how to screw all of that progress up overnight. It’s exhausting and man, we need to do so much better.

Not just NO to Zion, def not parting with a single major asset for him.

Guys. Think now

[JRoy]

I swear to God, the basketball universe is finally smiling on us and here are you guys brainstorming how to screw all of that progress up overnight. It’s exhausting and man, we need to do so much better.

Not just NO to Zion, def not parting with a single major asset for him.

Guys. Think now

Post of the day.

[GEE]

Although the target players being mentioned may be questionable, I strongly think the idea of consolidating Grant (#1) with whatever other player/s and possibly our pick this year, for a major upgrade in talent, preferably at the PF position, is what Cronin should, likely tried to do at the deadline, and will likely again try to snag a top 10 player that may want to leave their current team. Sabonis was mentioned in another thread (for instance). Zion is another. How about the Greek Freak, or Davis, or Embiid.........

I think this is in line with what Cronin may be aiming for. I'm hoping for another Deni-like strike, but a bigger, PF/C vs SF/PF.

... and ZION at the right price would be simply awesome!!!