Should Blazers trade their 2025 pick of outside of the top 4?

[oldfishermen]

Not sure this trade idea makes sense on any level?

Trying to find a PF that can play well on both ends of the floor.

Trade J Grant and 2025 frp to Hornets for Grant Williams.

Williams is out with a bad knee injury, and will miss a good part of next season, at least. But cost less than JG with a year shorter contract. Plus Williams is a better defender and rebounder than JG.

Rumors of Hornets willing to take on bad money for draft picks.

[BlazersBroncos]

We shouldn’t give up a lotto pick just to save Jody some cash.

If we were a FA destination, might change things. But we couldn’t even pull Hedo when our squad was up and coming. No one of note is signing here anytime soon. It’s been that way for the entire tenure of this franchise.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Top 5 look pretty set to be some order of Flagg, Bailey, Harper, Edgecombe and Johnson. If we can trade up for one of them we should look into that, although I could see the asking price being at least Deni+our pick, if not Camara as well.

Beyond that I am having trouble getting too excited about the next group of players. There are a couple PFs which could fit a need in Newell, Essengue, Murray-Boyles but I am not sure what skillset of theirs will really stand out in the NBA. They could be fine supporting players but not necessarily good enough to play over Deni or Camara. Knueppel should be a pretty good shooter and that would fit a real need for us, but he probably goes before our pick and I am not sure if he is worth spending much to move up a few spots. Demin has an intriguing skillset but gives me way too passive vibes and doesn't seem like a real scorer, poor mans Ben Simmons maybe, and we already have Sharpe with that personality so don't need more of that on the team but he's probably got the best upside out of the mid/late lottery guys. Well that's not really counting PGs or Centers. Kasparas has the size to be a jumbo PG, Fears looks like he could be a score-first type guy and Richardson seems like he might have a reliable shot but none of those guys intrigue me enough to go away from Scoot yet, worth a look but on first glance I'm not seeing a cant-miss prospect out of them. Maluach and Queen don't really bring much that I would want over Clingan, Maluach has a big body which is always a good starting point, Queen has some intriguing skills in the post that we don't really have, but neither looks like a step out defend the perimeter and floor spacing type center, which is really what we need if we were to draft another center.

[dckingsfan]

1. F Cooper Flagg - 1st step is not elite, handle is a little lose.
2. G Dylan Harper - not an elite athlete, couldn't overcome a bad situation.
3. G V.J. Edgecombe - bouts of passives and blending in. Can you totally buy the shot?
4. G Jeremiah Fears - raw and still developing. Inconsistent
5. C Khaman Malauch - rim runners are a dime a dozen. Can he really be a weapon from the perimeter?
6. G Jase Richardson - Below the rim athlete - has none of his father's athleticism.
7. G Tre Johnson - not dynamic off the dribble
8. F Ace Bailey - bad shot creator with serious tunnel vision issues.

©Dat2U

Still, all in the top 8 look like they have potential with Flagg and Harper being the standouts.

And there are a lot of players in 9-16 that could be really good.

I would say, hold onto the pick both for the potential talent but also because the player would be on a rookie contract. In this draft class, I would say purchase a SRP as well.

[JasonStern]

Top 5 look pretty set to be some order of Flagg, Bailey, Harper, Edgecombe and Johnson. If we can trade up for one of them we should look into that, although I could see the asking price being at least Deni+our pick, if not Camara as well.

The Blazers would be foolish to include Deni, after trading assets to acquire him, just to move up slightly in the draft. Same with Camara, who is also proven. If they are absolutely passionate that they found their franchise guy, sure. But otherwise, you're trading two of the top five players to take a chance on a player that might be as good as the lottery pick you are sending out, let alone including one or two young starter caliber players.

[zzaj]

The only player worth trading in order to move up into the Top 4 in the draft is Sharpe, and even then I likely wouldn’t do it to draft Bailey.

The reasoning: Flagg, Harper, Edgecombe, and Tre have all shown the same skills that Sharpe has shown, but with different ceilings and cheaper for longer. But this reasoning is the same reason no team would make that trade. If Sharpe had made strides offensively or defensively, I’d feel differently.

EDIT: Obviously if it was for Flagg, nobody should be off the table.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Top 5 look pretty set to be some order of Flagg, Bailey, Harper, Edgecombe and Johnson. If we can trade up for one of them we should look into that, although I could see the asking price being at least Deni+our pick, if not Camara as well.

The Blazers would be foolish to include Deni, after trading assets to acquire him, just to move up slightly in the draft. Same with Camara, who is also proven. If they are absolutely passionate that they found their franchise guy, sure. But otherwise, you're trading two of the top five players to take a chance on a player that might be as good as the lottery pick you are sending out, let alone including one or two young starter caliber players.

Agreed, I think it would be too steep a price to pay, I just wouldn't be surprised if that is where the asking cost is starting at, maybe even higher, like whoever gets #1 probably won't trade it for any of our players. There is a premium on moving to the top of a top-heavy draft that is generally prohibitively expensive, teams would rather keep the pick if they aren't getting an absurdly great offer.

It's worth a look but we should only do it if we think the guy is worth paying a steep cost like that and I'm not sure any of the non-flagg options are. My comment above was basically just ruling out the top 5 prospects from my analysis since we are unlikely to trade up.

[DaVoiceMaster]

We shouldn’t give up a lotto pick just to save Jody some cash.

If we were a FA destination, might change things. But we couldn’t even pull Hedo when our squad was up and coming. No one of note is signing here anytime soon. It’s been that way for the entire tenure of this franchise.

Hahaha, I forgot about that guy.

[JasonStern]

But this reasoning is the same reason no team would make that trade. If Sharpe had made strides offensively or defensively, I’d feel differently.

I disagree. The main problem with Sharpe isn't taking steps forward offensively or defensively. It's consistency. His last 6 games, ppg/rpg/apg:
NYK: 21/9/2
@GSW: 9/7/8
DET: 12/4/1
@OKC: 19/3/2
@BOS: 25/6/2
TOR: 17/4/1
Those are solid numbers for a 21 year old on a rookie contract. And if you take his better games, he'd be in all-star consideration. And while he's not Ayton level bad on consistency, you really don't know what Sharpe you are getting on any given night. And I say that as Sharpe's biggest stan on RealGM.

Now, if you're going to just blindly say that he hasn't improved, I have to come to his defense. Nearly every advanced metric shows otherwise. PER, VORP, WS, etc. TS is level, but his usage is also up and teams are focusing more on him.

It's worth a look but we should only do it if we think the guy is worth paying a steep cost like that and I'm not sure any of the non-flagg options are. My comment above was basically just ruling out the top 5 prospects from my analysis since we are unlikely to trade up.

I agree. I just get nervous when teams get impatient and blow up cores before letting players play out a bit. Obviously, if you can tell the player is never going to pan out, cut your losses. Olshey has three 2nd round picks for whatever draft bust you are peddling. But you look at something like the Durant/Harden/Westbrook/Ibaka Thunder, and how they mismanaged the cap, supporting cast, player egos, etc. On paper, that team - if held together, should have been Heatles good. Again, Scoot and Sharpe are just 21. And under team control for their next contract. These don't seem like the type of pieces that the Blazers should be moving, especially when Simons/Ayton/Timelord/Thybulle all expire after next season, fixing the cap space problem.

[zzaj]

But this reasoning is the same reason no team would make that trade. If Sharpe had made strides offensively or defensively, I’d feel differently.

I disagree. The main problem with Sharpe isn't taking steps forward offensively or defensively. It's consistency. His last 6 games, ppg/rpg/apg:
NYK: 21/9/2
@GSW: 9/7/8
DET: 12/4/1
@OKC: 19/3/2
@BOS: 25/6/2
TOR: 17/4/1
Those are solid numbers for a 21 year old on a rookie contract. And if you take his better games, he'd be in all-star consideration. And while he's not Ayton level bad on consistency, you really don't know what Sharpe you are getting on any given night. And I say that as Sharpe's biggest stan on RealGM.

Now, if you're going to just blindly say that he hasn't improved, I have to come to his defense. Nearly every advanced metric shows otherwise. PER, VORP, WS, etc. TS is level, but his usage is also up and teams are focusing more on him.

It's worth a look but we should only do it if we think the guy is worth paying a steep cost like that and I'm not sure any of the non-flagg options are. My comment above was basically just ruling out the top 5 prospects from my analysis since we are unlikely to trade up.

I agree. I just get nervous when teams get impatient and blow up cores before letting players play out a bit. Obviously, if you can tell the player is never going to pan out, cut your losses. Olshey has three 2nd round picks for whatever draft bust you are peddling. But you look at something like the Durant/Harden/Westbrook/Ibaka Thunder, and how they mismanaged the cap, supporting cast, player egos, etc. On paper, that team - if held together, should have been Heatles good. Again, Scoot and Sharpe are just 21. And under team control for their next contract. These don't seem like the type of pieces that the Blazers should be moving, especially when Simons/Ayton/Timelord/Thybulle all expire after next season, fixing the cap space problem.

I’m not going to get into a statistical argument over Sharpe, although PER, VORP and WS aren’t really great ways to view his individual progress.

He seems to be doing a better job hitting the glass, and it feels like his finishing at the rim might be better—haven’t really checked that.

His shot selection has spiraled though. And it’s not really a case of “ball didn’t go in”…you can see the lack of consistency in the base, tempo and overall form of his shot. If that’s “aggressive” Sharpe, I guess I’ll take it…but there are players like Edgecombe in this draft who also likely offer better defense, with a lower offensive ceiling.

I said it elsewhere, but players develop at different rates and at different times—Sharpe certainly has time to put it together. And he’s missed A LOT of time due to injury in his short career so far…

I think it’s a pretty safe bet that he’ll never be a good defender, since he didn’t show that skill prior to the NBA and hasn’t much improved on that side of the ball. Whether or not his BBIQ goes up considerably is tough to say too—he seems to process pretty slowly, and only really goes at 1 speed. And if that’s going to be the case he’s going to have to be ELITE on the offensive end in order to be a franchise cornerstone for any team moving forward.

[Sinobas]

I've advocated packaging Sharpe with our pick and see what we could get. I think Sharpe is a "fool's gold" type of player. He's capable of looking amazing a times, but he's such an up and down player, and because he doesn't really contribute on the defensive end, when he's off offensively he's a liability, like CJ McCollum.

I think he has a lot of trade value though, because teams will see him as a potential star. I"m saying let's trade "might be goods" for someone we know is good and isn't too old. He may in fact turn into a star, but that's the gamble. But I think Deni could play SG if we land another forward.

With the draft, you're at the mercy of who falls into your lap, but via trade, we could target a player that we know would fit in well with the current roster. The versatility of Deni makes that a much easier because he can play so many positions. But I don't think we want want to, for example, add another poor shooter to to our starting lineup.

[dckingsfan]

But this reasoning is the same reason no team would make that trade. If Sharpe had made strides offensively or defensively, I’d feel differently.

I disagree. The main problem with Sharpe isn't taking steps forward offensively or defensively. It's consistency. His last 6 games, ppg/rpg/apg:
NYK: 21/9/2
@GSW: 9/7/8
DET: 12/4/1
@OKC: 19/3/2
@BOS: 25/6/2
TOR: 17/4/1
Those are solid numbers for a 21 year old on a rookie contract. And if you take his better games, he'd be in all-star consideration. And while he's not Ayton level bad on consistency, you really don't know what Sharpe you are getting on any given night. And I say that as Sharpe's biggest stan on RealGM.

Now, if you're going to just blindly say that he hasn't improved, I have to come to his defense. Nearly every advanced metric shows otherwise. PER, VORP, WS, etc. TS is level, but his usage is also up and teams are focusing more on him.

It's worth a look but we should only do it if we think the guy is worth paying a steep cost like that and I'm not sure any of the non-flagg options are. My comment above was basically just ruling out the top 5 prospects from my analysis since we are unlikely to trade up.

I agree. I just get nervous when teams get impatient and blow up cores before letting players play out a bit. Obviously, if you can tell the player is never going to pan out, cut your losses. Olshey has three 2nd round picks for whatever draft bust you are peddling. But you look at something like the Durant/Harden/Westbrook/Ibaka Thunder, and how they mismanaged the cap, supporting cast, player egos, etc. On paper, that team - if held together, should have been Heatles good. Again, Scoot and Sharpe are just 21. And under team control for their next contract. These don't seem like the type of pieces that the Blazers should be moving, especially when Simons/Ayton/Timelord/Thybulle all expire after next season, fixing the cap space problem.

I’m not going to get into a statistical argument over Sharpe, although PER, VORP and WS aren’t really great ways to view his individual progress.

He seems to be doing a better job hitting the glass, and it feels like his finishing at the rim might be better—haven’t really checked that.

His shot selection has spiraled though. And it’s not really a case of “ball didn’t go in”…you can see the lack of consistency in the base, tempo and overall form of his shot. If that’s “aggressive” Sharpe, I guess I’ll take it…but there are players like Edgecombe in this draft who also likely offer better defense, with a lower offensive ceiling.

I said it elsewhere, but players develop at different rates and at different times—Sharpe certainly has time to put it together. And he’s missed A LOT of time due to injury in his short career so far…

I think it’s a pretty safe bet that he’ll never be a good defender, since he didn’t show that skill prior to the NBA and hasn’t much improved on that side of the ball. Whether or not his BBIQ goes up considerably is tough to say too—he seems to process pretty slowly, and only really goes at 1 speed. And if that’s going to be the case he’s going to have to be ELITE on the offensive end in order to be a franchise cornerstone for any team moving forward.

Code: Select all

Age   MP     TS%    3P%     DRB%   AST%   TOV%   USG%   STL%   BLK%   DRtg   WS/48   BPM    VORP
19   1779   0.568   0.360   11.3    7.9   10.7   19.0   1.0    1.2    121    0.032   -3.3   -0.6
20   1059   0.524   0.333   13.3   13.8   12.9   22.4   1.3    1.0    119    0.022   -2.8   -0.2
21   1832   0.549   0.314   11.7   13.7   11.2   24.6   1.2    0.7    118    0.050   -1.9    0.0

So, he is young. But his offensive production (like Simons) doesn't keep up with him as a defensive liability. Will he get there?

The above aren't perfect metrics but it gives you a glance to see if there is material improvement in one area that you can hang your hat on. So far, nothing yet. If he could have stuck with that .360 3pt shooting percentage or increased that a bit...

Code: Select all

0-3     3-10    10-16   16-3P   3P
0.285   0.114   0.049   0.111   0.437
0.235   0.168   0.099   0.083   0.415
0.225   0.131   0.112   0.105   0.426
0.247   0.134   0.088   0.102   0.427

The shot chart is "fascinating". I guy who is hitting .314 from three is taking 0.427 of his shots from 3? That is just a big ouch and that is on the coaching staff (IMO). It does two things, he isn't shooting where he needs to be and he isn't creating more with his drives.

It may be the best thing for him is to move to a coach that says, "no more of this".

[zzaj]

The player comparison I'm still holding out for in Sharpe is Demar DeRozan. If you look at both players at age 21 they are pretty similar...DeRozan being the better defender, and Sharpe being the better offensive player with a better 3pt shot.

The key to Sharpe developing into DDR is his consistency and really mining his ability in the mid-range. If he does that and learns what types of shots from 3 are good shots, for him...he'll be just fine. Not the TMac that everyone was hoping for, but a good player nonetheless...

[dckingsfan]

The player comparison I'm still holding out for in Sharpe is Demar DeRozan. If you look at both players at age 21 they are pretty similar...DeRozan being the better defender, and Sharpe being the better offensive player with a better 3pt shot.

The key to Sharpe developing into DDR is his consistency and really mining his ability in the mid-range. If he does that and learns what types of shots from 3 are good shots, for him...he'll be just fine. Not the TMac that everyone was hoping for, but a good player nonetheless...

I think this is a good comparison but damning at the same time. DeRozan has never won (and I don't think will) ever win anything. Why, he eats up cap space over what he brings to the table. Now, if you could sign him to a long-term reasonable and declining contract and if he develops how you hope - well then.

[BlazersBroncos]

Now, if you could sign him to a long-term reasonable and declining contract and if he develops how you hope - well then.

Sharpe isnt going to sign a declining deal as his first contract off his rookie scale.

He will cost at least 25M AV.

[dckingsfan]

Now, if you could sign him to a long-term reasonable and declining contract and if he develops how you hope - well then.

Sharpe isnt going to sign a declining deal as his first contract off his rookie scale.

He will cost at least 25M AV.

Avdija did. If he says no, let him go to RFA. He won't get 25M on the open market - then just match.

[JasonStern]

I’m not going to get into a statistical argument over Sharpe, although PER, VORP and WS aren’t really great ways to view his individual progress.

He seems to be doing a better job hitting the glass, and it feels like his finishing at the rim might be better—haven’t really checked that.

His shot selection has spiraled though. And it’s not really a case of “ball didn’t go in”…you can see the lack of consistency in the base, tempo and overall form of his shot. If that’s “aggressive” Sharpe, I guess I’ll take it…but there are players like Edgecombe in this draft who also likely offer better defense, with a lower offensive ceiling.

I said it elsewhere, but players develop at different rates and at different times—Sharpe certainly has time to put it together. And he’s missed A LOT of time due to injury in his short career so far…

I think it’s a pretty safe bet that he’ll never be a good defender, since he didn’t show that skill prior to the NBA and hasn’t much improved on that side of the ball. Whether or not his BBIQ goes up considerably is tough to say too—he seems to process pretty slowly, and only really goes at 1 speed. And if that’s going to be the case he’s going to have to be ELITE on the offensive end in order to be a franchise cornerstone for any team moving forward.

The metrics are obviously tools. If there was one perfect metric, the others wouldn't exist. Likewise, his first season had his individual stats boosted by playing with an amazing season by Dame.

I don't think he is as injured as you make it seem. He played 80 games his rookie season, and has played 60 this season. His sophomore season, he was injured. But, players that rely on athleticism typically are more injury prone. That just makes sense based on the style of game that they play.

Fun fact - Vince Carter entered the league at 22. A year older than Sharpe. And his stats? 18.3/5.7/3.0. Sharpe this year? 17.5/4.1/2.6. Is Sharpe the next VC? Probably not. Is he showing enough progress that it seems premature to want to flip him? Absolutely. And the player comp I had as his floor was Darius Miles. Miles at 21? 9.2/5.4/2.6.

NERD MODE!

Obligatory "since it's free" CoPilot question:

* How many NBA players 21 or younger are averaging 17 points a game?
* Currently, there are several NBA players aged 21 or younger averaging at least 17 points per game. Some notable names include Anthony Edwards, Jalen Green, Victor Wembanyama, and Cade Cunningham. These young stars are making a significant impact early in their careers with their scoring abilities.

* How does Shaedon Sharpe compare against other 21 year old NBA players?
* Shaedon Sharpe, at 21 years old, is making a strong impression in the NBA. Currently, he averages 17.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game, with a field goal percentage of 45.0%2. These stats place him among the top-performing young players in the league. When compared to other 21-year-olds like Victor Wembanyama (averaging 21.5 points and 12.2 rebounds) or Jalen Green (known for his scoring prowess), Sharpe holds his own as a versatile and efficient scorer. His ability to contribute across multiple facets of the game makes him a valuable asset for the Portland Trail Blazers.

And yet, none of these other players are on the trade market. Or have fan bases complaining that they need to be moved on a daily basis.

As far as not being consistent, that is literally what I said his biggest flaw is. You're just repeating me.

As for defense, it's an offense driven league these days. I feel for players like RHJ that should have had ten year careers. But, the league has bought into points equal ratings. So, players are incentivized to be the best scorer they can be versus the best defender they can be. Let's not pretend like Dame was some lock-down defender.

[zzaj]

I’m not going to get into a statistical argument over Sharpe, although PER, VORP and WS aren’t really great ways to view his individual progress.

He seems to be doing a better job hitting the glass, and it feels like his finishing at the rim might be better—haven’t really checked that.

His shot selection has spiraled though. And it’s not really a case of “ball didn’t go in”…you can see the lack of consistency in the base, tempo and overall form of his shot. If that’s “aggressive” Sharpe, I guess I’ll take it…but there are players like Edgecombe in this draft who also likely offer better defense, with a lower offensive ceiling.

I said it elsewhere, but players develop at different rates and at different times—Sharpe certainly has time to put it together. And he’s missed A LOT of time due to injury in his short career so far…

I think it’s a pretty safe bet that he’ll never be a good defender, since he didn’t show that skill prior to the NBA and hasn’t much improved on that side of the ball. Whether or not his BBIQ goes up considerably is tough to say too—he seems to process pretty slowly, and only really goes at 1 speed. And if that’s going to be the case he’s going to have to be ELITE on the offensive end in order to be a franchise cornerstone for any team moving forward.

The metrics are obviously tools. If there was one perfect metric, the others wouldn't exist. Likewise, his first season had his individual stats boosted by playing with an amazing season by Dame.

I don't think he is as injured as you make it seem. He played 80 games his rookie season, and has played 60 this season. His sophomore season, he was injured. But, players that rely on athleticism typically are more injury prone. That just makes sense based on the style of game that they play.

Fun fact - Vince Carter entered the league at 22. A year older than Sharpe. And his stats? 18.3/5.7/3.0. Sharpe this year? 17.5/4.1/2.6. Is Sharpe the next VC? Probably not. Is he showing enough progress that it seems premature to want to flip him? Absolutely. And the player comp I had as his floor was Darius Miles. Miles at 21? 9.2/5.4/2.6.

NERD MODE!

Obligatory "since it's free" CoPilot question:

* How many NBA players 21 or younger are averaging 17 points a game?
* Currently, there are several NBA players aged 21 or younger averaging at least 17 points per game. Some notable names include Anthony Edwards, Jalen Green, Victor Wembanyama, and Cade Cunningham. These young stars are making a significant impact early in their careers with their scoring abilities.

* How does Shaedon Sharpe compare against other 21 year old NBA players?
* Shaedon Sharpe, at 21 years old, is making a strong impression in the NBA. Currently, he averages 17.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game, with a field goal percentage of 45.0%2. These stats place him among the top-performing young players in the league. When compared to other 21-year-olds like Victor Wembanyama (averaging 21.5 points and 12.2 rebounds) or Jalen Green (known for his scoring prowess), Sharpe holds his own as a versatile and efficient scorer. His ability to contribute across multiple facets of the game makes him a valuable asset for the Portland Trail Blazers.

And yet, none of these other players are on the trade market. Or have fan bases complaining that they need to be moved on a daily basis.

As far as not being consistent, that is literally what I said his biggest flaw is. You're just repeating me.

As for defense, it's an offense driven league these days. I feel for players like RHJ that should have had ten year careers. But, the league has bought into points equal ratings. So, players are incentivized to be the best scorer they can be versus the best defender they can be. Let's not pretend like Dame was some lock-down defender.

I love a good NERD MODE!

Those other players are not on the trade market because they are all significantly better than Sharpe.

And before we get too deep into strawman--I'm not complaining that Sharpe needs to be traded. For my part I'm suggesting that he should be available if a young #1 or #2 option becomes available. I consider Flagg and Harper #1 or #2 options. Believe me...I wan't nothing more than Sharpe to magically turn a Tmac corner. I'll settle for DeRozan.

Also, I certainly have never said Lillard was some lock-down defender. I think Lillard is the greatest Blazer of all time...but he can't defend, and is a poor PG in an uptempo offense.

And you're probably correct about me repeating you. I think many of us Blazer posters are a lot closer in view of the team than we probably let on via posting.

[JasonStern]

And before we get too deep into strawman--I'm not complaining that Sharpe needs to be traded. For my part I'm suggesting that he should be available if a young #1 or #2 option becomes available. I consider Flagg and Harper #1 or #2 options. Believe me...I wan't nothing more than Sharpe to magically turn a Tmac corner. I'll settle for DeRozan.

I like the DeRozan analogy. And if that's what we got out of the #7 pick that season, that was a solid draft choice.

But, we all know, DeRozan is not the #1 on a championship team. And obtaining such a player is not easy.

I really like the Deni/Sharpe/Simons/Camara/Clingan core. But it's not a championship core. It could definitely be a part of a championship core. Simons and Ayton on reasonable contracts as well. Like them more as 24 minute players off the bench, which is MLE worthy. Starters can't play the whole game, and Simons can play combo guard and Ayton PF/C. Really solid 6th and 7th men.

But, the realistic short/mid term goals need to be:

1) Cap space flexibility after next season. This means moving Grant. Extensions for the younger players and potentially Simons/Ayton are unknowns until we know where we stand cap space wise. And definitely explore off-season and trade deadline trades for Simons/Ayton/Thybulle/Timelord, but don't expect some insane return. Who knows? There might be some drama on other teams, and having max cap space available could persuade a "needle mover" to sign with Portland. Long shot, but better than zero chance. And it makes retaining the young core feasible.

2) Draft the best player available. If it's someone competing with Deni/Sharpe/Simons/Camara/Clingan, great. If any of the players don't want competition (*cough* Ayton *cough*), you're unlikely to win anything. Hope that they can play together, salvage value, or just move on while retaining the better player.

3) Don't do anything stupid. Being a Blazers fan, this is the hard one. GMs make stupid moves constantly because they feel pressured into making a move. Use this to move Grant to that GM - not to sign modern day Evan Turner to 2x the MLE. Or, throw $8M at Festus Ezili to not play for us. Or, trade an eight year protected 1st for a backup big man.

In before the "WE GOT BRADLEY BEAL!" press conference. Joke. I hope.

[JasonStern]

If he could have stuck with that .360 3pt shooting percentage or increased that a bit...

Code: Select all

0-3     3-10    10-16   16-3P   3P
0.285   0.114   0.049   0.111   0.437
0.235   0.168   0.099   0.083   0.415
0.225   0.131   0.112   0.105   0.426
0.247   0.134   0.088   0.102   0.427

The shot chart is "fascinating". I guy who is hitting .314 from three is taking 0.427 of his shots from 3? That is just a big ouch and that is on the coaching staff (IMO). It does two things, he isn't shooting where he needs to be and he isn't creating more with his drives.

It may be the best thing for him is to move to a coach that says, "no more of this".

The stats are misleading because his rookie season, he played with Dame. No offense to Simons/Scoot, but they don't command the defensive presence.

As for 3 point efficiency, this is something I have been complaining about all season. Billups just lets players chuck and says that it's the modern game. Sometimes they go in, sometimes they don't. Fair enough. But, when certain players just don't have that shooting touch on any night, get them involved elsewhere. Too lazy to look, but I swear we had one game where we went like 11-52? on 3 point shots. At what point does that not make you realize your game plan isn't working - try anything else.