Center Upgrades

[DaVoiceMaster]

The easy answer may be Nurkic for Ayton, although I am not a fan. However, let's have a little fun. C'mon Wiz, just roll with it.

If the Blazers trade Lillard to Miami, I might try something like this:

S&T Grant to Detroit for Duren & a large TPE.

Lillard to Miami for #18 pick, Herro, Oladipo, Jovic, and future picks & swaps.

Herro to Orlando for #11 pick and Harris.

Nurkic and Harris to Phoenix for Ayton.

Two 2nd Round picks and a TPE to Boston for Pritchard.

The Blazers could wind up with the #3, #11 (Orlando), #18 (Miami), and #23 in this years draft.


#3 Miller (Scoot)
#11 Black (Dick)
#18 Leonard
#23 Lively

Simons / Black (Scoot) / Pritchard
Sharpe / Johnson
Miller (Dick) / Little / Knox
Leonard / Watford / Jovic / Walker
Ayton / Duran / Lively

Alright, my fun is over (and it wasnt even all that fun). How many wins does this roster end up with? Over/Under 20 wins?

[Butter]

The three main topics recently have been about trading Dame, the #3, and trading ANT. But a 4th consistent topic is upgrading the center spot.

It seems like the consensus is that it's time to upgrade Nurk, but most topics include him as a throw in.

Two questions:

1) what is the attributea of the Blazers ideal center (assuming the Blazers keep Dame)

2) who is your ideal Center target (within reason)?

I know Nurk is the current lightning rod here on the roster, but I think this effort is a bit misplaced.

The bigger issue last season was the lack of big man depth.

Trading Nurk for Turner or Ayton would have less of an effect than just getting some good quality depth (ie sign Plumlee or Wood using the MLE).

Also, the #1 priority should be to improve the wings. Grant is nice, but he doesn't rebound or is really that impactful. Even adding a player like John Collins would do wonders for this team (although I would hope for a bigger fish than JC).

I can get behind improving the center depth, and agree that improving the wings is key.

[dunlop212]

It seems to be assumed that Nurk got badly damaged in his last injury and has no upside. Is it possible that, having missed most of last year, he has recovered a bit? Peak Nurk, with a capable backup, gives this team rebounding and rim protection, and he plays well with Lillard. I enjoyed the Nurk and Turk era, short as it was; those two guys often combined for 30 points and 20 boards a night, and Portland was competing for HC advantage in the west.

[GEE]

Interesting thought that I too have had. The what if Nurkic could fully commit to a nutritionist, etc, and return next season in top form, remembering how he was becomming so dominant (like 25/15) up until that leg went. So far though, he just hasn't returned to having that exciting upside, and I think Cronin may be quite tired of waiting.

On the other hand... Something no one has yet to mention that I've seen is, How much value does Nurkic have? Think about it for a sec... I'd say it has risen substantially with Jokic and the Nuggets winning it all. Not a lot, but he might now at least be worth his contract (neutral without pick comp) to another team that's in the current hunt for a chip, whereas I thought he would have been a -1 FRP value if included in my hypothetical trade to Brooklyn, but that was before Jokic and the Nuggets won it all. Nurkic might actually have a tiny bit of value to someone.

[jhern87]

Imo Turner and Porzingis >>> Ayton. I just don’t like that he doesn’t appear to try hard and Phoenix has had to bench him in the playoffs. Contracts being considered, if both guys are healthy, I think id rather just stick with Nurk.

[BlazersBroncos]

I much prefer Turner and KP to Ayton as well. It would leave us w/ 2 guys due for a payday in 2024 but if we could turn Nurkic, Little, Keon, #23 into KP and then flip Simons for DDR, I think we come out a contender.

[Sinobas]

I hope we get, Jakob Poeltl. The team desparatly needs rebounding, and he's one of the top in the league. I'm hearing his projected to get 20 mil per year though. Not sure if we could do a sign and trade of Simons and 23 for him.

[Butter]

Ok, now that we're past the draft and on to FA / trade season, who are the best targets (post-draft) to upgrade PF / C talent?

[DaVoiceMaster]

Ok, now that we're past the draft and on to FA / trade season, who are the best targets (post-draft) to upgrade PF / C talent?

That question probably has two different directions. Is it a center to build around Lillard or is it a rebuild center.

[Jsun947]

Not an upgrade but possible available options for depth via FA assuming Dame stays.

Christian Wood
Dwight Powell
Thomas Bryant
Meyers Leonard
Mo Bamba (If waived by 6/29)

In the event of dumping Simons to a team with cap space maybe Capela? Vucevic in a S&T?

Not a lot out there that’s realistic

[Butter]

Not an upgrade but possible available options for depth via FA assuming Dame stays.

Christian Wood
Dwight Powell
Thomas Bryant
Meyers Leonard
Mo Bamba (If waived by 6/29)

In the event of dumping Simons to a team with cap space maybe Capela? Vucevic in a S&T?

Not a lot out there that’s realistic

Agreed, but they don't have to find the next Jokic, just improve their center depth.

[Brandon-Clyde]

Wood for the MLE is the best option at this point. Have him play both pf and center. If Bamba becomes available I would sign both if possible.

[Tim Lehrbach]

Powell, as a rim-runner for Scoot, fits. Unfortunately there's not a lot of defense out there for the taking.

[Brandon-Clyde]

Powell, as a rim-runner for Scoot, fits. Unfortunately there's not a lot of defense out there for the taking.

At this point in time my goal for the center position is get production out of it. If we can get someone who can provide some scoring and rebounding I will take it since currently we get pretty much nothing out of it for half of the games.

[GEE]

I'm getting the feeliing we might give Nurkic one more year, much like the Pels may be doing with Zion, to see if the big fella can get back to near pre-injury form. I personally would be OK with this, and would be even more encouraged to see a full year of Nurkic, without Dame.

So... while I don't see a move for a Center for the Future, I see a very good opportunity to upgrade PF:

RUI HACHIMURA!!!

[Blazinaway]

want to see how Schmidt's guy Badji, if healthy, performs in summer league

[Goldbum]

What about a couple buy-low guys?
Jaylen Smith from IND
Or
Isiah Stewart from DET
I think both are very gettable.

Guys like Nas, Keon and Walker plus seconds should be enough for one of them, but depending on the cost I'd be okay with BOTH.

Maybe Bamba could be had for a little depth and some seconds too...

I low key really want Smith or Stewart though.

[Jsun947]

Stewart is someone that I think would be a reasonable target but I don't believe he'd be available for a couple 2nd round picks either.

[GEE]

What about a couple buy-low guys?
Jaylen Smith from IND
Or
Isiah Stewart from DET
I think both are very gettable.

Guys like Nas, Keon and Walker plus seconds should be enough for one of them, but depending on the cost I'd be okay with BOTH.

Maybe Bamba could be had for a little depth and some seconds too...

I low key really want Smith or Stewart though.

While I like your targets here much more than the usual old and overly expensive models (No offense and not by you neccesarily), I think you may find that low-balling will not be possible for either of those two players.

I just don't see a reasonable target for Center, unless it's part of a Dame trade, and we ain't getting Bam. So I think the smart thing to do is to shift focus to getting a possible, young PF for the Future. My personal favorite #1 target would be RUI.

I very much think he could be a perfect fit for this young team going forward, and it would taste extra sweet to steal him from the Lakers. He's also built like a bison, highly intelligent and could potentially play some C cause I know for a fact, there aren't many players currently in the NBA that are gonna push HIM out of the paint. Full MLE? Could that be enough to land him via S&T? Nurkic to the Lakers with some additional short-term help from us. Could be appealling to the Lakers considering how Jokic just rolled 'em.

Just spit-ballin' really, but I think another smart thing to do is: While making trades this off-season, Cronin should be setting us up for next years draft. Try to get into the upper lottery of next year's draft, with the moves he makes this summer. Get our Center for the Future that way.

[a_sensei]

With Dame (that's my only thinking until he tells us otherwise) I think best case scenario is trading Simons package for a starting 3 and figuring out a way to get a rim runner/ rim protector that can split time with Nurk. Daniel Gafford would be perfect. I'd love one of the Knicks guys but I don't see that happening. Other guys to split time Stewart, Bamba, Z. Collins? All have flaws but are could be an upgrade to what they've had.

Or Simons package (including Nurk, Nurk as a backup for the Blazers seems like a really bad idea) for a starting 5 (Capela, WCJ, Ayton, Turner) and then piece together a SF by committee and a backup big.