Post Draft: 2025 Off Season Part 2- What's Next?

[BlazersBroncos]

What's next? How about a trade with the Nets?

While I believe the Nets almost have to make a trade. The odds of a trade with the Blazers are low. The 76ers and Celtics should be motivated to trade with the Nets. Both want to dump salary.

Cam Thomas signing the QO leavers the Nets below the 90% minimum salary level, with 18 players on the roster. The Nets must add salary while shedding 3 players.

Wonder if trading RW3 for cheap young prospects is worth considering?

Portland wants to win. RWIII, even with all his injury issues, is a necessity as you cant lean on Yang this early. I think PDX would rather have 40 games of RWIII than a few million in savings and some trash BRK youth.

The FO seems to just love RWIII. And by all accounts as a locker room presence and just all around human he is a huge net plus to the franchise. I think they are still enamored with his talent and will simply let him play out the year and see where the injuries take him. I wouldnt be surprised to see him resigned next offseason to a team friendly deal w/ the understanding that he will be on a game / minutes limit for the rest of his career.

[DusterBuster]

Woof, I'm so ready for NBA season to start to clean my SM timeline...

[oldfishermen]

What's next? How about a trade with the Nets that would imptove the future team.

While I believe the Nets almost have to make a trade. The odds of a trade with the Blazers are low. The 76ers and Celtics should be motivated to trade with the Nets. Both want to dump salary.

Cam Thomas signing the QO leavers the Nets below the 90% minimum salary level, with 18 players on the roster. The Nets must add salary while shedding 3 players.

Wonder if trading RW3 for cheap young prospects is worth considering?

Portland wants to win. RWIII, even with all his injury issues, is a necessity as you cant lean on Yang this early. I think PDX would rather have 40 games of RWIII than a few million in savings and some trash BRK youth.

The FO seems to just love RWIII. And by all accounts as a locker room presence and just all around human he is a huge net plus to the franchise. I think they are still enamored with his talent and will simply let him play out the year and see where the injuries take him. I wouldnt be surprised to see him resigned next offseason to a team friendly deal w/ the understanding that he will be on a game / minutes limit for the rest of his career.

Your probably spot on right. My thought was, given the strange position the Nets are now in. Is there an opportunity for a trade that improves the Blazers future roster?

I did not post a trade idea, because I did not have one. Maybe someone here knows something about the Nets youth worth targeting. I was not impressed with their recent draft picks.

[Walton1one]

Apparently their “next” move is to add another guard\wing shooter (Javonte Cooke) who cannot shoot to compete for a 2-way spot with 2 other (Cissoko, Love) non shooting wing players, b/c it has worked so well (McGowens, Moore, Minaya) previously?

https://www.si.com/nba/trailblazers/news/blazers-notes-blazers-signs-guard-major-sale-update-160m-star-receives-unfortunate-title

[dckingsfan]

Apparently their “next” move is to add another guard\wing shooter (Javonte Green) who cannot shoot to compete for a 2-way spot with 2 other (Cissoko, Love) non shooting wing players, b/c it has worked so well (McGowens, Moore, Minaya) previously?

https://www.si.com/nba/trailblazers/news/blazers-notes-blazers-signs-guard-major-sale-update-160m-star-receives-unfortunate-title

The two way signings thus far have been a travesty - in my opinion.

I get holding onto Cissoko, he is only going to be 21.

But Love and Green make no sense at all. We should have been developing a couple of PFs or another PG and young players at that. I mean, we really don't have a real PF that can play small ball C. Take a swing where it could yield results.

The Wesley signing also made no sense. Signing a high turnover/low 3 point percentage guard on this team, really?

Sorry, end of rant. Just a bit frustrated by the edges of this year's free agency for the Blazers.

[zzaj]

Apparently their “next” move is to add another guard\wing shooter (Javonte Green) who cannot shoot to compete for a 2-way spot with 2 other (Cissoko, Love) non shooting wing players, b/c it has worked so well (McGowens, Moore, Minaya) previously?

https://www.si.com/nba/trailblazers/news/blazers-notes-blazers-signs-guard-major-sale-update-160m-star-receives-unfortunate-title

The two way signings thus far have been a travesty - in my opinion.

I get holding onto Cissoko, he is only going to be 21.

But Love and Green make no sense at all. We should have been developing a couple of PFs or another PG and young players at that. I mean, we really don't have a real PF that can play small ball C. Take a swing where it could yield results.

The Wesley signing also made no sense. Signing a high turnover/low 3 point percentage guard on this team, really?

Sorry, end of rant. Just a bit frustrated by the edges of this year's free agency for the Blazers.

Certainly no apologies needed...I don't think that the Blazers view 2-ways as anything other than warm body practice fodder. And that's a shame, because if they are serious about winning, more than likely they will have some pretty gaping holes at both PG and C for stretches of the season. And yeah, shooting...the Blazers are likely to be among the worst in halfcourt offense this season. Having a couple of career 40% shooters at the fringe of the roster couldn't hurt, right?

[Walton1one]

Both good points, 100% agree.

IMO it is just symptomatic of an organization that is not serious about winning, never really has been since (and even prior) Dame left, and him returning is not going to change that. New ownership, hopefully will, but I cannot see them retaining this front office, they are the poster children for mediocrity and the most infuriating part of it is they sit there with smiles on their faces like they know something the rest of the NBA does not, and the reality (you know, their actual record\performance) clearly shows that they don't.

Selling 2nd round picks b\c they "have" guys like Banton\Walker\Reath on the roster. Badly misusing their 2-way contracts on players who clearly don't fit or are not NBA level players and are old enough to have shown that by now?. I get giving Cissoko a 2nd look, even though SA & WAS giving up on him already should cause some level of concern? Or taking a flyer on McGowens LY, whom MEM (a good organization at developing 2-way players) let go, but where is he now BTW, heck where is Banton? Walker is barely hanging on a 2-way and that will likely be Rupert\Murray & Reath next year after POR says thanks but no thanks. A 2-way for Caleb Love? A smaller, even less efficient chucker than Banton or McGowens? Another 26yr old 6'6 non shooter in Cooke? Seriously?

I get cycling guys in\out on 2-ways, but here is an idea, how about using some 2nd round picks for developing those spots instead of selling them for cash (or generally not caring about them in the first place) or wasting those 2-ways on never will be NBA players who are 25/26 years old in Minaya, Moore and now Cooke?

Poor FG%/3ptFG% over the last 2-years, you think they might want to address that? Of course not...

24/25 - FG 45% 26th - 3ptFG% - 26th
23/24 - FG 43.9% 29th - 3ptFG% - 30th

[dckingsfan]

Yep. I guess you take the good with the bad. Overall, I view this as a franchise stuck in the lower middle of the pack without a clear direction to get out. Is this the worst franchise - nope. Top 1/3rd - nope.

Good
- Getting Camara
- Drafting Clingan
- Getting Deni
- Coaching to our strength (defense)

Bad
- contracts for Grant and Ayton
- overall drafting and acquiring FRPs and SRPs
- poor use of bring in better youngsters
- too long to jettison players that can't help (Murray)

TBD
- Signing the geriatric club (Jrue & Dame)
- Hansen draft

[Walton1one]

Read on Twitter

Worth a 2nd round pick and certainly a better prospect than Cooke, Cissoko or Love, probably Rupert, Wesley & Murray too

[BigPuma]

I wonder if houston would have any interest in Jrue since they seem to be going for it this year, and Van Vleet is out for the season? Can anyone come up with a fun trade with them?

[DusterBuster]

I wonder if houston would have any interest in Jrue since they seem to be going for it this year, and Van Vleet is out for the season? Can anyone come up with a fun trade with them?

Hard to make salaries match and VanVleet can't be moved for a little after a month.

Jrue would be a perfect fit for them, but just don't see how to make it work tbh. Also not sure about their long-term books either with KD maybe needing to be resigned, Thompson and then the max deal I think Sengun got. Jrue's contract may be prohibitive.

[Wizenheimer]

I wonder if houston would have any interest in Jrue since they seem to be going for it this year, and Van Vleet is out for the season? Can anyone come up with a fun trade with them?

Hard to make salaries match and VanVleet can't be moved for a little after a month.

Jrue would be a perfect fit for them, but just don't see how to make it work tbh. Also not sure about their long-term books either with KD maybe needing to be resigned, Thompson and then the max deal I think Sengun got. Jrue's contract may be prohibitive.

Houston is hard-capped at the 1st apron. Making salaries work for a Jrue trade is a major challenge made even more difficult because of the hard cap

[oldfishermen]

The Blazers have way too many uncertainties at both guard positions to trade Jrue. My guess, earliest time to shop Jrue is next off season. By then, the Blazers should have a good idea of Dames health and level of play. Plus, until Sharpe and/or Scoot develop into min average level starters on a contending team. Jrue is our best guard this season.

Unless the Blazers receive an offer too good to refuse. The Blazers need Jrue this season.

Long shot wish. Thybulle develops an aggressive offensive game. He is an elite defender and was our best shooter last season. His value to the Blazers as a SG is underrated.

[Walton1one]

They have a PG who was a #3 pick going into his 3rd year and a SG who was a #7 pick going into his 4th year & discussions for a potentially new contract.

You would think they might want to solidify what their thoughts are on both players since they are not really going anywhere, that is the certainty they should be looking for.

But instead it is "time for winning", so expect a lot of Jrue & Grant and another year of Sharpe and Scoot coming off the bench. All for at best a meaningless playin berth that has zero long term upside to it.

[zzaj]

I wonder if Houston could work something with Boston for Simons? Houston's defenders could hide Simons lack of D, and Simons' shooting could help them. Although, that team does need some facilitation...

[Village Idiot]

Portland trades Jrue
Portland receives Eason and Kuzma

Houston trades Eason, Adams and DFS
Houston receives Jrue

Milwaukee trades Kuzma
Milwaukee receives Adams and DFS

[DusterBuster]

I wonder if houston would have any interest in Jrue since they seem to be going for it this year, and Van Vleet is out for the season? Can anyone come up with a fun trade with them?

Hard to make salaries match and VanVleet can't be moved for a little after a month.

Jrue would be a perfect fit for them, but just don't see how to make it work tbh. Also not sure about their long-term books either with KD maybe needing to be resigned, Thompson and then the max deal I think Sengun got. Jrue's contract may be prohibitive.

Houston is hard-capped at the 1st apron. Making salaries work for a Jrue trade is a major challenge made even more difficult because of the hard cap

I figured something like this was likely the case, but lacked the desire to actually dive into the numbers.

[oldfishermen]

Portland trades Jrue
Portland receives Eason and Kuzma

Houston trades Eason, Adams and DFS
Houston receives Jrue

Milwaukee trades Kuzma
Milwaukee receives Adams and DFS

I like Eason a lot, for many reasons, and would trade Jrue for him. But.

I doubt Houston trades Eason, Adams, and DFS for only Jrue.

Need picks going to Houston from the Blazers and probably the Bucks.

[dckingsfan]

Portland trades Jrue
Portland receives Eason and Kuzma

Houston trades Eason, Adams and DFS
Houston receives Jrue

Milwaukee trades Kuzma
Milwaukee receives Adams and DFS

Does this work in the trade machine(s). This trade couldn't happen until mid-December, right?

I assume we turn right around and waive Kuzma (I would hope anyway).

[BlazersBroncos]

I love Eason but I wouldnt do that. Kuzma is paid for 2 more years and would have no role here. Eason is due a 25M+ extension after this season. In fact - while I am a Eason fan I dont see the fit unless you move Camara - I doubt you want to pay the cost of Eason's extension to be the 3rd forward. And a lineup of Camara / Eason / Deni isnt juiced enough on offense - only would really work on a team like DEN with scorers at PG and C. Bookending those 3 with a low usage type C in Clingan and a middling youth like Scoot gives you a starting lineup that probably averages under 80ppg.

For 26/27 we would have Eason (25M), Kuzma (20M) and Grant (34M) making a combined near 80M - and that doesnt take into account the extensions for the 2 fowards that are much better than any of them in Camara and Deni. So your 3rd, 4th and 5th forwards will combine for 80M or so. Thats not reasonable cap managment. It also leaves PDX with no ballhandling guard behind Scoot. Scoot goes down and your signing a Cory Joseph off the street to play 30mpg.

Also - HOU would never do that IMO.