Nurk in full tampering mode…

[DusterBuster]

I do wonder about Collins or Siakam's availability, particularly Collins. The Hawks have been pretty mediocre and it sounds like no one is super happy in that lockerroom - Collins in particular has apparently kinda made it known he's not been happy there. I wonder if he wouldn't shake free and if the Blazers pick misses out on the Top 4, should the Blazers consider moving their lottery pick (say it's in the 5-7 range) and a TPE for him, then the Blazers move the Pelicans pick and Bledsoe for Grant (after the draft so it's legal so the Blazers "technically" used their pick but picking for DET).

Dame/Williams
Simons/Hart
Grant/Winslow
Collins/Watford
Nurkic/Eubanks

Sprinkle in a MLE vet PF/C type... Pretty interesting roster...

well, it would have to be the reverse. The 20.8M TPE for Grant and Bledsoe for Collins (TPE is sufficient for Collins). I don't think that would be enough for Collins, but maybe Atlanta just wants out of his contract. Blazers might have to add more. Probably Little. Of course, right after the draft Portland's 2028 first will be available...the ghost of the Nance trade last summer

To be fair, I wasn’t exactly sweating the details with that post lol.

Hell, I forgot to even add Little on my depth charts. I think the combo of COVID ending, WW3 starting and the Blazers sucking has me less than following the league lately.

[BlazersBroncos]

Using the 2 FRP's to get Collins and Grant would be such an easy 'yes'. Albeit I would hope to get Grant resigned sooner than later.

Dame / Simons / Grant / Collins / Nurkic is a ring caliber team IMO.

[Wizenheimer]

To be fair, I wasn’t exactly sweating the details with that post lol.

Hell, I forgot to even add Little on my depth charts. I think the combo of COVID ending, WW3 starting and the Blazers sucking has me less than following the league lately.

Covid is making a comeback, It's WW4 now (WW3 was Andre beating Hulk), and the Blazers are just strategically sucking (and more and more it looks like Russia may be strategically sucking too)

Using the 2 FRP's to get Collins and Grant would be such an easy 'yes'. Albeit I would hope to get Grant resigned sooner than later.

Dame / Simons / Grant / Collins / Nurkic is a ring caliber team IMO.

it would appear to be a contender, but it may have the time-honored problem of only one basketball at a time. Collins would be a great PF for Portland if the Blazers had an elite defensive SF (could Winslow be that?). Collins just doesn't appear to be very good on defense but maybe Billups could improve that.

maybe it would come down to what is better: spending one lottery pick for Grant vs two lottery picks for Collins? My initial thinking is if the Blazers had, for example, the 8th & 11th picks, and Atlanta accepted that return (+Bledsoe) for Collins, that would be a good deal. But if the Blazers had a top-4 pick, I'd be more inclined to roll the dice on that pick + Grant

[BlazersBroncos]

To be fair, I wasn’t exactly sweating the details with that post lol.

Hell, I forgot to even add Little on my depth charts. I think the combo of COVID ending, WW3 starting and the Blazers sucking has me less than following the league lately.

Covid is making a comeback, It's WW4 now (WW3 was Andre beating Hulk), and the Blazers are just strategically sucking (and more and more it looks like Russia may be strategically sucking too)

Using the 2 FRP's to get Collins and Grant would be such an easy 'yes'. Albeit I would hope to get Grant resigned sooner than later.

Dame / Simons / Grant / Collins / Nurkic is a ring caliber team IMO.

it would appear to be a contender, but it may have the time-honored problem of only one basketball at a time. Collins would be a great PF for Portland if the Blazers had an elite defensive SF (could Winslow be that?). Collins just doesn't appear to be very good on defense but maybe Billups could improve that.

maybe it would come down to what is better: spending one lottery pick for Grant vs two lottery picks for Collins? My initial thinking is if the Blazers had, for example, the 8th & 11th picks, and Atlanta accepted that return (+Bledsoe) for Collins, that would be a good deal. But if the Blazers had a top-4 pick, I'd be more inclined to roll the dice on that pick + Grant

Ya. The best outcome (obviously) would be jumping into the top-4, getting a blue chipper (Chet, Smith, Paolo) then using the latter pick on a vet. But thats such a clearly optimistic outcome its not really worth talking about lol.

If we do jump though, its nice that the top 3 are all PF if Grant is the target w/ the latter pick.

[Wizenheimer]

Ya. The best outcome (obviously) would be jumping into the top-4, getting a blue chipper (Chet, Smith, Paolo) then using the latter pick on a vet. But thats such a clearly optimistic outcome its not really worth talking about lol.

If we do jump though, its nice that the top 3 are all PF if Grant is the target w/ the latter pick.

another option I have mentioned before: say the Blazers don't jump into the top-4 but have a 7-8th pick. If one of the SF's like Mathurin or AJ Griffin or Keegan Murry is available, it might be a good path

Dame
Ant
Mathurin/Griffin/Murray
Grant
Nurkic

that might be a strong unit, especially with Hart & Winslow on the bench

[BlazersBroncos]

Ya. The best outcome (obviously) would be jumping into the top-4, getting a blue chipper (Chet, Smith, Paolo) then using the latter pick on a vet. But thats such a clearly optimistic outcome its not really worth talking about lol.

If we do jump though, its nice that the top 3 are all PF if Grant is the target w/ the latter pick.

another option I have mentioned before: say the Blazers don't jump into the top-4 but have a 7-8th pick. If one of the SF's like Mathurin or AJ Griffin or Keegan Murry is available, it might be a good path

Dame
Ant
Mathurin/Griffin/Murray
Grant
Nurkic

that might be a strong unit, especially with Hart & Winslow on the bench

Ya, that is my top option 2 if we dont strike gold. Nice consolation prize (I would say that to me at least Murray is a PF, in that scenario I think Grant guards the SF, which he can do - Murray is the best rebounder too so he might work well next to Grant and his putrid rebounding)

[wjun15]

Ya. The best outcome (obviously) would be jumping into the top-4, getting a blue chipper (Chet, Smith, Paolo) then using the latter pick on a vet. But thats such a clearly optimistic outcome its not really worth talking about lol.

If we do jump though, its nice that the top 3 are all PF if Grant is the target w/ the latter pick.

another option I have mentioned before: say the Blazers don't jump into the top-4 but have a 7-8th pick. If one of the SF's like Mathurin or AJ Griffin or Keegan Murry is available, it might be a good path

Dame
Ant
Mathurin/Griffin/Murray
Grant
Nurkic

that might be a strong unit, especially with Hart & Winslow on the bench

Missing Little. I'd start Little at SF. Hes probably in for a mini-breakout next year

[Wizenheimer]

Spoiler:

Ya. The best outcome (obviously) would be jumping into the top-4, getting a blue chipper (Chet, Smith, Paolo) then using the latter pick on a vet. But thats such a clearly optimistic outcome its not really worth talking about lol.

If we do jump though, its nice that the top 3 are all PF if Grant is the target w/ the latter pick.

another option I have mentioned before: say the Blazers don't jump into the top-4 but have a 7-8th pick. If one of the SF's like Mathurin or AJ Griffin or Keegan Murry is available, it might be a good path

Dame
Ant
Mathurin/Griffin/Murray
Grant
Nurkic

that might be a strong unit, especially with Hart & Winslow on the bench

Missing Little. I'd start Little at SF. Hes probably in for a mini-breakout next year

I'm not forgetting about Little. I don't trust him, at all, to stay healthy. He's always dinged up or seriously injured. He's undependable and I don't want an undependable starter. Can't have a starter who seems destined to miss 30 games a year

[aad]

Anyone thinks a deal for Grant is gonna really happen

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Anyone thinks a deal for Grant is gonna really happen

If we get the Pelicans pick yeah...

[Wizenheimer]

Anyone thinks a deal for Grant is gonna really happen

If we get the Pelicans pick yeah...

it's really looking like that...tea leaves and all

if it does happen I'm really hoping the trade is for Bledsoe and not the TPE. That 21M TPE could become real valuable leverage heading into the trade deadline. Portland has TPE's of 6.5M and 3.3M as well

[Norm2953]

They can't that stupid to trade the sixth pick in the draft for Grant if the Pelicans pick does not convey...

[dunlop212]

What would it take to trade into the top 3? What if PDX had #4 and one of the top three teams wanted Ivey? Maybe make a move like Dallas did for Doncic?

[DusterBuster]

What would it take to trade into the top 3? What if PDX had #4 and one of the top three teams wanted Ivey? Maybe make a move like Dallas did for Doncic?

Probably would require both picks - assuming the Blazers get the Pelicans pick.

[DusterBuster]

They can't that stupid to trade the sixth pick in the draft for Grant if the Pelicans pick does not convey...

We'll see... It wouldn't surprise me if they did unfortunately.

In the absolute worst case scenario - Blazer lose out of Pelicans pick AND they move DOWN in the draft because of other teams jumping, then I think the likelihood of them moving that pick for Grant moves into a pretty likely scenario.

Well, worst worst case would be Lakers and Pelicans getting into the Top 4 via lottery luck. Then Blazers move down 2 spots, don't get the Pelicans pick and New Orleans gets 2 of the Top 4 picks... *shudder*

[BlazersBroncos]

They can't that stupid to trade the sixth pick in the draft for Grant if the Pelicans pick does not convey...

We'll see... It wouldn't surprise me if they did unfortunately.

In the absolute worst case scenario - Blazer lose out of Pelicans pick AND they move DOWN in the draft because of other teams jumping, then I think the likelihood of them moving that pick for Grant moves into a pretty likely scenario.

Well, worst worst case would be Lakers and Pelicans getting into the Top 4 via lottery luck. Then Blazers move down 2 spots, don't get the Pelicans pick and New Orleans gets 2 of the Top 4 picks... *shudder*

Man, that #6 should bring back someone like Pascal, not Grant (Especially not 'about to get the bag' Grant lol)

Also, I am pretty anti conspiracy but I have a hard time seeing the NBA allowing NO to get 2 Top-4 picks.

[Norm2953]

I'd be fully content to see Portland after the lottery, staying at six.

It'll be interesting to comes to the practice facility for its 5 years when the draft was an important part
of Portland's future. I can't see the NBA rewarding Portland blatantly tanking for draft position for one
can easily see another team blatantly tanking for the most ping pong balls in the 2023 draft in the hopes
of drafting Victor.

[aad]

Looking like the 11th pick

[Myth]

If Pelicans make the playoffs, we instead get a pick from the Bucks. Detroit can have that for Grant, but not a lottery.

[wjun15]

They can't that stupid to trade the sixth pick in the draft for Grant if the Pelicans pick does not convey...

We'll see... It wouldn't surprise me if they did unfortunately.

In the absolute worst case scenario - Blazer lose out of Pelicans pick AND they move DOWN in the draft because of other teams jumping, then I think the likelihood of them moving that pick for Grant moves into a pretty likely scenario.

Well, worst worst case would be Lakers and Pelicans getting into the Top 4 via lottery luck. Then Blazers move down 2 spots, don't get the Pelicans pick and New Orleans gets 2 of the Top 4 picks... *shudder*

Man, that #6 should bring back someone like Pascal, not Grant (Especially not 'about to get the bag' Grant lol)

Also, I am pretty anti conspiracy but I have a hard time seeing the NBA allowing NO to get 2 Top-4 picks.

Id trade a Top 3 pick for Siakam if we somehow get top 3.

Him and Dame would be scary. He plays a position we desperately need, can score and defend, is young.