Now what?

[BlazersBroncos]

No way Walker pulls more than 1-2 mediocre SRP.

Tweener bigs who hustle and rebound but cant consistently shoot the 3, defend the rim or switch on small guys are not in big demand these days.

[Goldbum]

No way Walker pulls more than 1-2 mediocre SRP.

Tweener bigs who hustle and rebound but cant consistently shoot the 3, defend the rim or switch on small guys are not in big demand these days.

I agree he's probably worth a couple 2nds, but hey he was a really late second himself so that's not a bad outcome. I do disagree that he can't switch to smaller guys though. I've had real basketball people tell me he's a very good defender and can keep smaller guy in front of him while still being able to guard some 4s and 5s. He's not a defensive playmaker but he's dang solid in a system. He's also got some combo forward skills and if the shot comes around could play some at the 3.

[BlazersBroncos]

No way Walker pulls more than 1-2 mediocre SRP.

Tweener bigs who hustle and rebound but cant consistently shoot the 3, defend the rim or switch on small guys are not in big demand these days.

I agree he's probably worth a couple 2nds, but hey he was a really late second himself so that's not a bad outcome. I do disagree that he can't switch to smaller guys though. I've had real basketball people tell me he's a very good defender and can keep smaller guy in front of him while still being able to guard some 4s and 5s. He's not a defensive playmaker but he's dang solid in a system. He's also got some combo forward skills and if the shot comes around could play some at the 3.

He isnt a dinosaur on switches but he doesnt stand out either IMO.

And I dont think he has a chance in hell of playing any 3. Not the lateral athlete needed from that spot. Not a shooter. Does best fighting for boards, which at the 3 takes him away from the rim.

He is a nice 3rd stringer but no team going anywhere is playing a guy with his skillset in meaningful games.

[Walton1one]

Yeah. Walker is a decent bench player, but not one a team wants to pay a bunch of money to, and he’s coming up for a contract. Which is why I suspect, they are looking to add him into a package, right now he just taking up the roster spot that POR will need in the future

[JasonStern]

We're in agreement. But again, this is a for profit team with questionable management. Putting out a real bad team to hope to hit in the draft doesn't fill seats. Attendance was at an all-time low during the either the Oden or Roy and Aldridge season.

On the "I guess" bright side, a big 3 of Simons/Grant/Ayton isn't winning many games.

JA is holding on at least until she gets the big bucks from the NBA broadcast rights. After that we'll see...but I'm sure there is certainly no rush on her end. I'm of the opinion that although she has a rep for penny pinching...I don't think she actually has operated that way with the Blazers.

It'll be nice at some point to have an owner who cares about the team.

I think a lot of the problems is she doesn't talk to the media. Her own past issues as well that have been uncovered. And how terribly unlikeable Kolde is. But she's at the games. The trust is buying land next to facilities, upgrading facilities, expanding staff, etc. So it isn't like.. she's being ultra cheap. The second round pick stuff was disappointing, I will admit.

But something people seem to forget is Paul wasn't paying the luxury tax for most of the last ten years of his ownership either. And maybe closer to 15 years. He did a time or two, but not often. Not like the 90s and early 2000s. It's just hard for me to buy that Jody is this cheap owner who also happened to sign off on an outrageously priced deal for Jerami Grant, you know?

I can't fault much of this logic. But Jody attends maybe 5-10 games a year, probably less now in rebuild mode. This team is 100% Cronin and Kolde. And what most fans hate about this estate ownership is not having a passionate owner.

Nobody has a bad word to say about Paul Allen, as he bleeded Blazer blood. But the current management is mediocre at best, which is likely an overstatement. And ownership doesn't care. And we can all blame her for her reluctance to sell Paul's sports teams, but it's not like she's a bad person. She has a ton of other charitable organizations she cares more about.

The real thing that irritates most of us was that Uncle Phil and the Dodgers(?) owner made a reasonable bid. And they are both sports enthusiasts. So, there was hope that if she sold to a passionate owner, change would happen. Instead, we lost a top 75 NBA player and came in 25th to land the #7 pick. Rebuilds happen, but you kind of want a competent captain heading the ship.

But maybe they prove me wrong. Paul was willing to sell the team, send it wherever before the Roy/Aldridge draft. Maybe just not sucking so bad will give Jody interest..?

That said, I completely understand not paying tax money for a roster that cannot compete. Question is - if you suck for years, trade away talent, and use that to draft players - are you going to pay to retain them?

[zzaj]

JA is holding on at least until she gets the big bucks from the NBA broadcast rights. After that we'll see...but I'm sure there is certainly no rush on her end. I'm of the opinion that although she has a rep for penny pinching...I don't think she actually has operated that way with the Blazers.

It'll be nice at some point to have an owner who cares about the team.

I think a lot of the problems is she doesn't talk to the media. Her own past issues as well that have been uncovered. And how terribly unlikeable Kolde is. But she's at the games. The trust is buying land next to facilities, upgrading facilities, expanding staff, etc. So it isn't like.. she's being ultra cheap. The second round pick stuff was disappointing, I will admit.

But something people seem to forget is Paul wasn't paying the luxury tax for most of the last ten years of his ownership either. And maybe closer to 15 years. He did a time or two, but not often. Not like the 90s and early 2000s. It's just hard for me to buy that Jody is this cheap owner who also happened to sign off on an outrageously priced deal for Jerami Grant, you know?

I can't fault much of this logic. But Jody attends maybe 5-10 games a year, probably less now in rebuild mode. This team is 100% Cronin and Kolde. And what most fans hate about this estate ownership is not having a passionate owner.

Nobody has a bad word to say about Paul Allen, as he bleeded Blazer blood. But the current management is mediocre at best, which is likely an overstatement. And ownership doesn't care. And we can all blame her for her reluctance to sell Paul's sports teams, but it's not like she's a bad person. She has a ton of other charitable organizations she cares more about.

The real thing that irritates most of us was that Uncle Phil and the Dodgers(?) owner made a reasonable bid. And they are both sports enthusiasts. So, there was hope that if she sold to a passionate owner, change would happen. Instead, we lost a top 75 NBA player and came in 25th to land the #7 pick. Rebuilds happen, but you kind of want a competent captain heading the ship.

But maybe they prove me wrong. Paul was willing to sell the team, send it wherever before the Roy/Aldridge draft. Maybe just not sucking so bad will give Jody interest..?

That said, I completely understand not paying tax money for a roster that cannot compete. Question is - if you suck for years, trade away talent, and use that to draft players - are you going to pay to retain them?

I have a bad word to say about Paul Allen, he had interest in the Blazers, but if he was signing off on the GM and player deals being done in the 00s? Then he gets a ton of blame for those teams being mediocre and bad.

[Wizenheimer]

I have a bad word to say about Paul Allen, he had interest in the Blazers, but if he was signing off on the GM and player deals being done in the 00s? Then he gets a ton of blame for those teams being mediocre and bad.

my bad word on PA is simple: he hired Neil Olshey and he kept Olshey as GM for more than 6 years before he passed.

I'm not sure Portland's roster/payroll has institutionally recovered from that insane 2016 spending spree Olshey went on. 345M in contracts and only one valid starter in the group...and that was the grossly overrated CJ. By the way, in 2024 NBA dollars, that 345M would be 520M

[dunlop212]

My head is spinning from all of the recent past/present/future moves.

I have the general impression that we essentially traded Dame for Avidja. Given the ages and contracts involved, that's a trade I would make every day of the week, so I don't have a beef with Cronin as GM.

[zzaj]

Anybody else watch USA vs. South Sudan?

Holy moly…Royal Ivey is coaching his a$$ off. Super well organized and running good stuff. I’d be surprised if he doesn’t have an NBA head job sooner than later. Hell, I’d be excited to have him as Blazer HC…he’s 100% better than Chauncey based on eye test.

[Norm2953]

Assistant coach for the Rockets but has coached in the league since 2016.

One has to think the play of South Sudan will provide some HC interviews around the
league by next summer, which is when Chauncey's contract is up.

I read on social media some talk of Sharpe's play at the scrimmages for team Canada and needless
to say it was not positive. This is going to be a critical year for Sharpe and if he does not have a'
breakout season, there is a real chance Portland drafts his replacement in the guard rich 2025
draft for he's got to move beyond being an occasional highlight reel player with an inconsistent
motor for he'll be extension eligible next summer

[GEE]

Assistant coach for the Rockets but has coached in the league since 2016.

One has to think the play of South Sudan will provide some HC interviews around the
league by next summer, which is when Chauncey's contract is up.

I read on social media some talk of Sharpe's play at the scrimmages for team Canada and needless
to say it was not positive. This is going to be a critical year for Sharpe and if he does not have a'
breakout season, there is a real chance Portland drafts his replacement in the guard rich 2025
draft for he's got to move beyond being an occasional highlight reel player with an inconsistent
motor for he'll be extension eligible next summer

A couple good points there Norm, that should be key factors to our Blazers success, or failure this seeason:

- CHAUNCEY... I personally think many have been pretty harsh and could temper their opinions of his coaching abilities a bit, considering we all know we have been tanking for two years now, so I have been willing to mostly give him a pass up to this point, especially in the W/L column, but on the other hand... This season... I might be his biggest critic, because I believe like so few... this team, as currently constructed, could and should match up nicely against just about anyone in league with the talent we have.

- SHARPE... You're right about him I think. Time to shine kid. I think many see him as a Drexler 2.0 (sorta), and if he, along with all the other players that Cronin has put together, can gel and become a cohesive unit (like I believe they can), we could win alot of games next year. BUT... It will depend largely on how much improvement we see from not just Sharpe, but every one of our guys.

- GRANT... Perhaps Cronin hasn't done a deal with the Lakers because he simply doesn't want to. I think it's entirely possible that Cronin may not like Rui nearly as much as I do, and feels Grant could lead to a more successful rate of winning over the next few years. I certainly could see it, but we'd need to play really fast and aggressive (which I like) and we'd have to have both TL and Reath ballin' at a high level. Go Ten-Deep, and simply wear other teams out. Full-Court Presses... All that! 100 miles an hour.

- CENTERS... Ayton and Cling-On mostly, with a little TL too.

My point mostly is... I love ALL of our current Blazers, and believe they will shock and awe!

RIP CITY!!!

[HoopsFanAZ]

I like the Blazers as good dudes. As players, it's a work in progress. Timelines. Reshaping the salary structure of the team.
Simons / Sharpe / Avdija / Grant / Ayton is NOT horrible. It's just not. It's not what I want starting at PG, PF, C.
Scoot / Rupert / Camara / Murray / Walker / Reath / Time Lord / Clingan ... has some promise off the bench and with 2 eventual quality starters in Scoot and Clingan.

No guarantees, but dang -- Scoot, Sharpe, Avdija, Clingan -- there's hope there!
BIG IF: If Cronin can trade 2 players -- Grant and Simons -- the tank is fueled and ready to rumble. The longest contract is gone and the back court is pretty set. 2 year contracts remain for anything of size. The rebuild is getting there ... it's close but not yet.

[soobias]

my problem with this line up is there's no leader on the team or good vet exp to show them how to wim + i really wish they could get rid of those big contracts.

[Norm2953]

my problem with this line up is there's no leader on the team or good vet exp to show them how to wim + i really wish they could get rid of those big contracts.

No contract lasts forever and unless they do something stupid like give Ayton $40+ million/season to
remain a Blazer, those guys are gone by the summer of 2026.

I do think the time to trade Ayton/Simons is next summer, especially if Sharpe has had a breakout season.
I worry less about Scoot for he really wants to be worthy of being the #3 pick in the 2023 draft.

I'd concentrate on moving Grant for its clear teams will accept guys like Ayton and Simons with 1-2 years
left on their deals but Grant is a more difficult move

[zzaj]

Assistant coach for the Rockets but has coached in the league since 2016.

One has to think the play of South Sudan will provide some HC interviews around the
league by next summer, which is when Chauncey's contract is up.

I read on social media some talk of Sharpe's play at the scrimmages for team Canada and needless
to say it was not positive. This is going to be a critical year for Sharpe and if he does not have a'
breakout season, there is a real chance Portland drafts his replacement in the guard rich 2025
draft for he's got to move beyond being an occasional highlight reel player with an inconsistent
motor for he'll be extension eligible next summer

Oh he’s on the Rockets? I guess I need to follow the assistants more, lol…

Saw he was critical of the officiating in their knock-out game.

[Walton1one]

If they wait to trade Simons by next year they will be getting back pennies on the dollar.

He is not going to re-sign here, not unless they pay him an obscene amount of money, which would be idiotic, and even then only maybe he chooses to stay.

His value in trade only decreases from here, if Cronin wants to be stubborn like his predecessor, then he risks getting nothing for him (like LA) or very little in some sort of desperation trade.

Don’t overthink this, trade him now. Preferably before the season, absolutely at the trade deadline

[HoopsFanAZ]

If they wait to trade Simons by next year they will be getting back pennies on the dollar.
He is not going to re-sign here, not unless they pay him an obscene amount of money, which would be idiotic, and even then only maybe he chooses to stay.
His value in trade only decreases from here, if Cronin wants to be stubborn like his predecessor, then he risks getting nothing for him (like LA) or very little in some sort of desperation trade.
Don’t overthink this, trade him now. Preferably before the season, absolutely at the trade deadline

Spot on.

The choice they made was NOT Dame. Rebuild. Scoot vs. Simons. The Blazers have not shown that they have that DUDE, on-court leader … and leadership by committee isn’t leadership. IMHO, it’s Scoot. Next summer is the realistic not-later-than trade date for Ant … or if Cronin trades a devalued Scoot at some point … okay. The February deadline is better for trading Simons than next summer. Before the season is better than that.

Simons has improvement left in his game … some … and is the known, safer choice. That’s not what Cronin chose. So I believe they are trying to trade Ant. They are trying to look patient — like they have not yet decided. They have said they are not looking to get worse nor is it about stashing picks … which, coincidentally, is the likely hold up with trading Grant. (Getting value = picks plus lesser players.)

[Butter]

If they wait to trade Simons by next year they will be getting back pennies on the dollar.
He is not going to re-sign here, not unless they pay him an obscene amount of money, which would be idiotic, and even then only maybe he chooses to stay.
His value in trade only decreases from here, if Cronin wants to be stubborn like his predecessor, then he risks getting nothing for him (like LA) or very little in some sort of desperation trade.
Don’t overthink this, trade him now. Preferably before the season, absolutely at the trade deadline

Spot on.

The choice they made was NOT Dame. Rebuild. Scoot vs. Simons. The Blazers have not shown that they have that DUDE, on-court leader … and leadership by committee isn’t leadership. IMHO, it’s Scoot. Next summer is the realistic not-later-than trade date for Ant … or if Cronin trades a devalued Scoot at some point … okay. The February deadline is better for trading Simons than next summer. Before the season is better than that.

Simons has improvement left in his game … some … and is the known, safer choice. That’s not what Cronin chose. So I believe they are trying to trade Ant. They are trying to look patient — like they have not yet decided. They have said they are not looking to get worse nor is it about stashing picks … which, coincidentally, is the likely hold up with trading Grant. (Getting value = picks plus lesser players.)

Ant should 100% be the priority for the first trade for many reasons.

1. Contract length: As highlighted above, Ants short contract could be an issue next offseason. Teams could have concerns that he'll want a larger extension at the recent market values. The more time shaved off Grant's contract, the better.

2. Scoot / Shaedon development: Ant is a better player...on a team trying to tank. Ant deserves to be a starter, but one of the major questions for the Blazers is to determine if Scoot/Shaedon are stars. To do that, they have to play.

3. Capture the Flagg tank campaign: moving Ant supports the tank

4. Depth chart: the Blazers have many options at G, but little depth at PF (see #2). If they have to hold onto one of the expensive vets, Grant creates less issues for their starting depth chart.

My preferred scenario is to trade Grant and Ant at the same time. Of that doesn't occur, Ant now and Grant before the deadline.

[BlazersBroncos]

Who wants Simon’s though? I have a hard time finding a team that would be interested.

[Butter]

Who wants Simon’s though? I have a hard time finding a team that would be interested.

I'd love to pull a FRP from the Spurs