CJ Traded to the Pels!

[PDXKnight]

Clearing cap space so we can land a player of Norm’s caliber next summer if we’re EXTREMELY lucky seems like a dumb move…

Doesn’t necessarily have to be used on a signing. With that guard walker we picked up maybe we can make a package with the firsts and cap space to sway a team looking to blow it up

Its ironic everyone wants cj gone now everyone is annoyed when we actually get a decent package

I think the CJ trade is pretty good tbh, but that still doesn’t excuse the Powell move.

100 percent, this makes the powell trade look insanely bad now, even worse than before

[JasonStern]

Huh.

Downgrade on talent, but Satoransky is expiring and we got out of CJ's contract, so yay?

I like Josh Hart and Alexander-Walker. Neither are game changes, but at least they are interesting. And the Blazers have now traded a bunch of 6'3" guys for 6'5" guys, so yay?

Never really liked Snell. Didn't hate him. But he never should have been playing as many minutes as he did. Product of the roster. But I'm not watching any more games this season, so whatever.

At this point, a Dame trade has to happen, right? Trading all of the win-now pieces for middle-to-low tier younger guys isn't how you help Dame compete for a 'chip. Probably best if they do trade him so I can be a fan of a second team.

But these moves suck because I really liked Powell. Nance was likeable. Covington was likeable. I would hope that nobody disliked CJ - he just was a bad fit next to Dame.

If they trade Nurkić, that also sucks because he was likeable. Sure, there are health concerns, but I also don't think he's going to get a large contract in free agency.

Maybe the new guys will grow on me? Obviously the Blazers aren't going to lose every game from here on out, but they could. They really could.

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[DusterBuster]

Simmons hated the trade for NOL, so I guess win for Portland?

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[mojomarc]

Simmons hated the trade for NOL, so I guess win for Portland?

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[red_power]

This one actually looks like a solid trade. At least in comparison with what Blazers got for Norm and Roco.

[The Sebastian Express]

I feel annoyed about adding Nance and not getting an additional first back for him, but it is what it is.

I wish CJ the best with the Pelicans - next year! Not this year. This year we need that pick.

[red_power]

Maybe the new guys will grow on me? Obviously the Blazers aren't going to lose every game from here on out, but they could. They really could.

At least Cronin opened enough room for Simmons to make a garbage-stats-fueled run for the MIP title this season.

[red_power]

This times 100. I really like the cj deal but the powell trade looks even dumber now

Looks like a pure salary dump and roster cleaning move now. I mean Little-Hart-NAW-Norm would have been a bit crowded bunch of similar players, plus Blazers are going to win around 3 to 4 games less this season which obviously is a great thing.

To sum it up that trade has some sense. Still a bad trade in terms of extracted value, but it looks reasonable nevertheless.

[BlazersBroncos]

I am very on board for this move. The way I see it:

McCollum for NAW, cap savings, TPE, a likely pick in the 8-14 range, 2 SRP
Nance for Hart

Both moves are great value IMO. We need a guy like Hart more than Nance and we are now setup for what is most likely the most interesting summer in recent Blazers history.

If we could have gotten BBJ or a FRP from LAC, I would be very pleased with this series of moves. But that one was a stinker.

We also are getting too many young guards (Keon + NAW are pure guards). But I think overall we are in for some interesting times. We are in a position to make a play for a needle mover and if that doesnt work, we trade Dame this summer and are in a great financial position for taking on money for assets.

The LAC move hurt, but the direction is clear. We swing big and hit a HR, and if that doesnt work we move Dame and go full rebuild. Its all or nothing, and that is what this team has needed for years now.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

I was a fan of NAW coming into the league but he has looked really really bad with the Pelicans. Dunno if he will turn it around but I am not expecting or valuing him very much.

[Wizenheimer]

the trade is certainly better than that shtshow trade on Friday

neither trade had enough draft capital coming back. And I think that Pelicans pick may not convey this year. If Nance gets healthy and CJ doesn't go full MeJ, the Pels could make the playoffs

Hart is a decent player, and if the Blazers are serious about rebuilding around Dame (and he's ok with it), Hart would be a better back court fit with Dame than CJ ever was.

Simons has crashed back to earth after his hot streak. His shooting efficiency has cratered and his play-making has been terrible. Some of that coincided with CJ returning to the lineup. Maybe he can find his mojo again but I'm ok with him finishing the season as an average player. That would keep his contract offers lower. Portland doesn't need to pay Ant big money and repeat the awkward Dame/CJ fit with an awkward Dame/Ant fit; and they'd almost be compelled to if Ant was making 20-30M/year

the rest of the season will be a full scale audition among all the Blazer role players and scrubs. Just how good are Watford, Brown, McLemore; Winslow; Keon Johnson, and NAW?

[PDXKnight]

the trade is certainly better than that shtshow trade on Friday

neither trade had enough draft capital coming back. And I think that Pelicans pick may not convey this year. If Nance gets healthy and CJ doesn't go full MeJ, the Pels could make the playoffs

Hart is a decent player, and if the Blazers are serious about rebuilding around Dame (and he's ok with it), Hart would be a better back court fit with Dame than CJ ever was.

Simons has crashed back to earth after his hot streak. His shooting efficiency has cratered and his play-making has been terrible. Some of that coincided with CJ returning to the lineup. Maybe he can find his mojo again but I'm ok with him finishing the season as an average player. That would keep his contract offers lower. Portland doesn't need to pay Ant big money and repeat the awkward Dame/CJ fit with an awkward Dame/Ant fit; and they'd almost be compelled to if Ant was making 20-30M/year

the rest of the season will be a full scale audition among all the Blazer role players and scrubs. Just how good are Watford, Brown, McLemore; Winslow; Keon Johnson, and NAW?

I can see a blowup potential of this trade for NO. Yes on paper that team is good now but there are a lot of iso heavy guys on that roster and not enough ball to go around. And there’s gonna be an adjustment period as well.

I do like hart and i think when you factor in his ability to play some semblance of defense it’s a net win even after we lose 7 ppg. And the guy is versatile playing pf lately so that’s an added bonus. Clearly a bit of a downgrade from cj on his own but as you said a greater fit with dame especially if he can get those 3’s falling at a better clip

[DusterBuster]

Yeah, I'm not going to pretend I can project what's going to happen with that Pelicans pick, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Blazers get it and I wouldn't be surprised if the Pelicans make the playin and it rolls into next year.

I'm curious what happens with it if it doesn't convey this year... all I've heard is it rolls into next year, but don't know what protections it has on it next year.

[PDXKnight]

This times 100. I really like the cj deal but the powell trade looks even dumber now

Looks like a pure salary dump and roster cleaning move now. I mean Little-Hart-NAW-Norm would have been a bit crowded bunch of similar players, plus Blazers are going to win around 3 to 4 games less this season which obviously is a great thing.

To sum it up that trade has some sense. Still a bad trade in terms of extracted value, but it looks reasonable nevertheless.

I just can’t believe we didn’t get a first out of norm at least. I’d rather have moved hart to sf for the season and wait till the off season to find a deal than rush into trading powell just to do it. Heck even line up third teams in this cj deal to off load some guards There’s Just no sense in that norm move no matter how i look at it

[Moonbeam]

Wow, did not expect this! Despite all of the chatter around a CJ trade, it is surreal to see that the actually is gone. I will miss CJ’s talent and character. Sure, his game has flaws and he was not the best fit with Dame, but what a great professional and a fun player to watch when he was cooking. I’m also sad to see Nance Jr traded. He has always been among my favorite players in the league — a guy who can impact the game in lots of subtle ways and another high-character player. I’ve never really warmed to Snell, so that part doesn’t hurt so much.

I think the return here is reasonable. Not amazing, but reasonable. Portland better hope that the pick comes their way this year, though. Having two lottery picks is crucial to provide the opportunity to either package them for a star or provide the potential for a full blow-up.

It will be very interesting to see who ends up on the team opening night in 2022-23 among this new batch of players from the two (or more to come?) trades.

[The Sebastian Express]

Yeah I wish CJ nothing but the best. Great guy, always a professional, hardworker. Fantastic talent, some of the best handles and craftiness with the ball you'll see in the league. Just wasn't meant to be for a lot of reasons.

I wish him the best with New Orleans.. next year, after we get a lotto pick this year (please!).

[Pattycakes]

This was a good recovery from handing away Norman on a silver platter. Unless dude has hidden medical issues, tf Portland lol. Getting Hart, a lotto pick and NAW is low key big though.

[PDXKnight]

Yeah I wish CJ nothing but the best. Great guy, always a professional, hardworker. Fantastic talent, some of the best handles and craftiness with the ball you'll see in the league. Just wasn't meant to be for a lot of reasons.

I wish him the best with New Orleans.. next year, after we get a lotto pick this year (please!).

Agreed. I always wish he worked on his defense more but maybe that was part coaching, part limitations (height/size) and other factors.

Either way there were great memories with cj and he was nothing but professional here. I wish him the best in future endeavors and would love to see him succeed while also getting us a good pick

[JasonStern]

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I feel annoyed about adding Nance and not getting an additional first back for him, but it is what it is.

I don't think a CJ+Nance package has that kind of value given CJ's contract.

But if you view it as the 1st round pick for Nance, then it's just a wash from last off-season's trade.

Then if you view CJ for Hart, Alexander-Walker, two 2nds, and cap space, that's not a bad return for CJ if the goal is to get out of his contract.

The problem isn't this trade. The problem is the Powell/Covington trade. Blazers did all of these moves to free up cap space and get assets they can use to, most likely best case, get a player as good as Powell. And if the goal is to rebuild, you effectively traded Gary Trent Jr. for Keon Johnson.

[zzaj]

My only real issue with this move is that it didn't happen 3-4 years ago.

The whole thing is predicated on Lillard being IN 100%, which makes me a bit nervous...but I'll just have to trust.

I like Hart, and NAW is a player that I have followed very closely and have been super impressed by. His pace of play is very, very good. In the correct context I think he could be a great backup PG.

The CJ era is over...wow.

I have to admit to feeling a little tinge of optimism moving forward. I never bought into the Lillard/CJ pairing because of the history of un-success of that type of combo. Now the Blazers have a bit of a clean slate.