Woj: Hassan Whiteside for Meyers & Mo

[Dame Lizard]

Hats off to Olshey.

He's had an absolute A+ offseason.

First drafting what the NBA community considers the steal of the draft. Followed up by essentially swapping Turner, Harkless, Leonard and Aminu for Whiteside, Bazemore and Hood.

you do realize that most of those moves are just fixing the moves he made during the 2016 offseason, right?

Yes, I'm entirely aware of that. I'm also entirely aware that I was specifically talking about this offseason.

This is because I (and many others) have given Olshey a lot of shade about that 2016 offseason in the last few years (predominantly the Turner contract, which was utterly inexcusable).

If we're going to criticize Olshey about mistakes of the past, we absolutely need to also praise him for great moves in the present.

[Showdown]

Hood was good defensively against Milsap but was bad against George while Aminu and Harkless were great against George so someone else will need to step up against guys like him , Lebron, Giannis so that's why it is important to develope Little to be good defender and replace Aminu, while it will probably take much more time to develope offensively.

[Blaze the Nugz]

Do you think Skal is going to get big minutes to start the season? Or is there another move for a big man pending?

[Dame Lizard]

I'm more interested in next summer for we'll have Bazemore and Whiteside coming off the books
and a potentially desireable expiring contract in cJ.

We're gonna extend McCollum next year.

Probably, as we know Olshey loves his drafted players.

However, Olshey has drafted Simons, who may be of a similar mould to CJ. If Simons takes a step forward this year, there is an 'out' for Olshey's drafted player tendency to align with a CJ trade for a borderline star player (at a position of need).

Maybe I'm being optimistic (as Dame's mega max + CJ's max is a depressing thought), however I wouldn't rule out an Olshey press conference along the lines of "we identified that we may not be able to keep CJ, given how good of a player he's turned out to be *pats self on back*, so we drafted Anfernee as a player who could be as good, or potentially better, as CJ *pats back again*. Now we've been able to trade CJ for an incredible player [insert name here]".

[PDXKnight]

Its gonna be a fun season!

[Masterfully]

Love this deal for a few reasons.

First, it clears out space for Bazemore to start. I loved Harkless, but he needs to come of the bench. The problem is he pouts when he doesn’t start. Wish him the best in Miami.

Second, Meyers is gone. So so bad. So cringeworthy.

And most importantly, Whiteside himself. As other have noted, when motivated he’s probably better than Nurk. It’s a contract year. He should have a chip. He’s on a competitive team. Portland has been good at re-energizing careers that are flailing. I think this could be a great move all around.

It also appears that Portland is betting big on Simons and Collins. I also can’t stop picturing what kind of defense a lineup of Baze, Collins and Whiteside could do.

[red_power]

Funny enough, but I think it's a meh trade. Over the last couple of years Whiteside has been playing like trash rather often, his lack of effort determination and focus was really annoying. Having to pay an additional $10-15M in salary and tax for that doesn't smell a great deal.

Still getting rid of Meyers after all these long years is a pure blessing and Harkless isn't a guy you would really miss, especially with Hood and Bazemore already on board.

[Sinobas]

I was about to come here to bemoan the fact that we signed Hood over Kanter, but this certainly explains that.

Nurk and Whiteside will give us 48 minutes of good rebounding and interior defense, and Whiteside can really finish inside.

And that concludes the summer of 2016 debacle =)

Seriously, if anyone told you last year that Olshey would turn Turner, Harkless and Leonard into Bazemore and Whiteside...

[The Sebastian Express]

I'm more interested in next summer for we'll have Bazemore and Whiteside coming off the books
and a potentially desireable expiring contract in cJ.

I'm more interested in this year's trade deadline.

My thoughts too. That's a big expiring and makes it possible to trade straight up for Love with some picks.

I do hope Hassan does well here. I like the trade. Though I'll miss Ninja Mo. So underrated for what he does defensively.

[Norm2953]

Let's see if Whiteside has a big year for if Nurk is ready to play by the trade deadline, Portland
has a major decision to make. Interesting problem to have...

[Sinobas]

I wonder how much Meyers playoff performance vs GS helped his trade value?

[red_power]

I wonder how much Meyers playoff performance vs GS helped his trade value?

I bet Miami's desire to shed some salary and split Whiteside's deal into smaller ones was an only reason to pull this trade.

[Sinobas]

Let's see if Whiteside has a big year for if Nurk is ready to play by the trade deadline, Portland
has a major decision to make. Interesting problem to have...

They might bring him back slowly....or Whiteside might get injured as he seems prone to do. But it would be hard to see the Blazers picking Whiteside over Nurk long term, given Nurk is on a very modest salary with years left and is younger.

[DusterBuster]

I'm more interested in next summer for we'll have Bazemore and Whiteside coming off the books
and a potentially desireable expiring contract in cJ.

I'm more interested in this year's trade deadline.

My thoughts too. That's a big expiring and makes it possible to trade straight up for Love with some picks.

I do hope Hassan does well here. I like the trade. Though I'll miss Ninja Mo. So underrated for what he does defensively.

Agreed on Moe, but man his limited offense was frustrating at times. Like Aminu, I loved what he brought but he could be a pretty big liability when teams could just ignore him defensively.

[red_power]

Charles Barkley is on The Herd right now and said he likes the trade for Miami. He said he likes the kid from St. John's, but didnt know Mo's name. He then said he thinks Leonard can be a star. What??? Barkley picking the Blazers last season means absolutely nothing now. (sigh)

It seems like Charles Barkley believes in Meyers Leonard even more than Neil Olshey did

[DusterBuster]

I'm pretty sure at one point I suggested this exact trade on RealGM to Miami fans who roundly panned it.

[BigLurch92]

Is Portland looking at decent cap space next summer? (Not that it will get us tip-tier FAs)

[DusterBuster]

Is Portland looking at decent cap space next summer? (Not that it will get us tip-tier FAs)

That's a good question, I have no idea what Portland's cap looks like next summer assuming they just keep all their EC's and let them expire.

*Paging Wiz, Cap Help Aisle 7*

[Fitz303]

Is Portland looking at decent cap space next summer? (Not that it will get us tip-tier FAs)

That's a good question, I have no idea what Portland's cap looks like next summer assuming they just keep all their EC's and let them expire.

*Paging Wiz, Cap Help Aisle 7*

I just posted about that in the offseason thread.. Yeah, they should have a good chunk of change to throw around

Right now the Blazers are going to be looking at substantial salary cap space next year. I know I know, Portland and cap space doesn't work. However, if nothing else, its a great tool for trades (i.e. the AD trade). If Hood and Hezonja both opt out next season, as I would imagine they will, the Blazer will be looking at having a roster of:

Dame
CJ
Nurk
Collins
Simons
Trent Jr
Little
2020 1st rd pick

....and about 21 Million in cap space. Collins, Little, and the 1st rd pick should be able to absorb a max contract type player (assuming one comes available). If nobody becomes available in a blockbuster deal, re-sign Hood, and build up some 2nd unit depth. All in all, things are finally looking up now that 2016 is in the rear view mirror

[GreenRiddler]

I'm more interested in next summer for we'll have Bazemore and Whiteside coming off the books
and a potentially desireable expiring contract in cJ.

We're gonna extend McCollum next year.

Probably, as we know Olshey loves his drafted players.

However, Olshey has drafted Simons, who may be of a similar mould to CJ. If Simons takes a step forward this year, there is an 'out' for Olshey's drafted player tendency to align with a CJ trade for a borderline star player (at a position of need).

Maybe I'm being optimistic (as Dame's mega max + CJ's max is a depressing thought), however I wouldn't rule out an Olshey press conference along the lines of "we identified that we may not be able to keep CJ, given how good of a player he's turned out to be *pats self on back*, so we drafted Anfernee as a player who could be as good, or potentially better, as CJ *pats back again*. Now we've been able to trade CJ for an incredible player [insert name here]".

Why is it depressing? Is it depressing that the warriors locked up Curry and Klay?