Lillard: I don't want to be a part of a rebuild.

[Norm2953]

I'm really looking for our first look at the next generation team for Portland for that S&S backcourt
of Scoot and Sharpe will be fast, athletic and playing well above the rim.

Simons might be a good fit with these guys for he would get a lot of open looks and be freed from
having to play PG.

Team would still need to add some length to their roster but if Dame ends up getting traded, hopefully
they can get serviceable bodies up front

[zzaj]

Am I the only one on here that thinks the Blazers are starting to get a bit underrated?

I tend to not be that much of a Blazer homer, but I gotta say...for much of the season the Blazers were at or just a couple games out of the POs. Losing and Winning tend to have their own inertia, and if you add in a heavy dose of piss-poor head coaching and a blatant tank...

I think a healthy season of:
Lillard
Simons
Sharpe (if he continues where he left off)
Thybulle
Grant
Nurkic (health is a HUGE factor here)
#3

can still be a playoff team. I don't think it's out of the question with even a single upgrade of Simons or Nurkic, it could bring a series win. Health is everything, and once in the POs anything can happen.

My point being, this "The Blazers have zero chance of becoming a contender next season" is IMHO complete speculation and honestly, hogwash. Winning is a fickle thing. Nobody knows when or why teams catch lightning in a bottle...

[raferfenix]

Hey Blazers fan, curious how you’d value Middleton or Holiday as win now pieces to flank Dame?

Bobby Portis could be in play too let’s say. Any of these guys could be sent elsewhere in a multi-team trade as well of course.

[HINrichPolice]

How do Blazers fans feel about a trade centered around Zach LaVine for #3?

Meh. He's not really at a position of need and I don't trust his health. Nice player and I know he'd love to play in Portland since he's from the area, but not sure what he solves for the Blazers.

After getting off to a slow start the first couple of months, he found his old form and stayed healthy throughout the rest of the season. He also was part of the (5th?) highest rated defense from the all-star break onward.

As a #1 option, I think he makes for an average team. But as a legit #2 option while playing alongside a great PG?

He'd be deadly.

He gets in trouble when he handles the ball too much or has to make too many decisions. But when he's just given the green light to catch and shoot or to attack the rim, he thrives. His talent level, imo, is going to be hard to match on the trade market.

The Bulls might consider retooling around our younger pieces and starting over with Vucevic a FA and DeMar likely starting a decline. Zach is in his prime right now and would take a lot of pressure off of Damian.

[DusterBuster]

How do Blazers fans feel about a trade centered around Zach LaVine for #3?

Meh. He's not really at a position of need and I don't trust his health. Nice player and I know he'd love to play in Portland since he's from the area, but not sure what he solves for the Blazers.

After getting off to a slow start the first couple of months, he found his old form and stayed healthy throughout the rest of the season. He also was part of the (5th?) highest rated defense from the all-star break onward.

As a #1 option, I think he makes for an average team. But as a legit #2 option while playing alongside a great PG?

He'd be deadly.

He gets in trouble when he handles the ball too much or has to make too many decisions. But when he's just given the green light to catch and shoot or to attack the rim, he thrives. His talent level, imo, is going to be hard to match on the trade market.

The Bulls might consider retooling around our younger pieces and starting over with Vucevic a FA and DeMar likely starting a decline. Zach is in his prime right now and would take a lot of pressure off of Damian.

I actually do agree that LaVine is pretty underrated. I'm just not sure he and Lillard are enough to get it done. I wouldn't want to play LaVine out of position at SF (maybe he can play it, you would know better than me) and I don't like the idea of having Sharpe ride the bench behind him. I think Sharpe has talent to be as good as LaVine sooner than people think, but maybe Shae can play SF?

I genuinely don't hate the idea of the pick for LaVine, it's just kinda a weird fit for the roster outside of Dame. The other issue is the Blazers need to send out a player along with the pick to get LaVine which makes it less appealing.

[JasonStern]

Hey Blazers fan, curious how you’d value Middleton or Holiday as win now pieces to flank Dame?

Bobby Portis could be in play too let’s say. Any of these guys could be sent elsewhere in a multi-team trade as well of course.

Not worth #3 at this point in their careers. But if either could be obtained with lesser assets, I'd be interested.

[JRoy]

Hey Blazers fan, curious how you’d value Middleton or Holiday as win now pieces to flank Dame?

Bobby Portis could be in play too let’s say. Any of these guys could be sent elsewhere in a multi-team trade as well of course.

Not worth #3 at this point in their careers. But if either could be obtained with lesser assets, I'd be interested.

Yes.

Those guys pull Simons+, not #3.

[DusterBuster]

While I think the chance of LeBron retiring is slim, in the off chance he does and the Lakers decide to do a rebuild…

AD for Simons, Nurkic, #3, 2024 swap and 2025 FRP (top 6 protected)

Assuming the Blazers are able to get their pick debt paid off with Chicago.

[Norm2953]

While I think the chance of LeBron retiring is slim, in the off chance he does and the Lakers decide to do a rebuild…

AD for Simons, Nurkic, #3, 2024 swap and 2025 FRP (top 6 protected)

Assuming the Blazers are able to get their pick debt paid off with Chicago.

It would be nuts to help the Lakers reload by giving them a top 3 pick, Nurk, Ant and other picks.

If they have to rebuild, let them earn their own top 3 pick.

[The Sebastian Express]

I would give them three. And maybe a 2024 swap. I don't think anything beyond that is good with his injury history + contract (I think he expires in summer 2025?)

[GEE]

NBA has game 4 tonight with the likliness that the Celtics season may be over in just a few more hours. Unless I'm mistaken, that means all NBA teams except the Nuggets and Heat are able to trade, at any time.

Should we call Boston, or wait for them to call us? Cronin could just call to offer congrats for a hard fought season, or something like that. Point being... If Boston has interest in Dame, won't be long now to find out.

Let the Dame Bidding War BEGIN!

[BlazersBroncos]

I hate the lakers and AD is inconsistent and fragile but man a healthy AD type player is 100% exactly what this team needs.

Probably would give 3 for him. In part bc his offensive inconsistency can be alleviated on a team w/ Dame, Sharpe and Grant scoring 20+ each night.

(Ya, I said Sharpe - he will get 20ppg if given a starters role)

Wouldn’t go higher than Nurkic, Little and 3. Would want to keep Ant to trade for other rotation pieces.

[Blazers98]

Houston seems to have an appetite to take on win now talent.
They have the money for two max contracts and it is being reported they have an interest in Harden.
Now, I'm not saying a Harden/Dame backcourt will make you a championship contender with their defense, but would Houston think it could get them to where they want to go? Or, maybe harden does not go to Houston. But Dame could.
If so, I think they have the assets to possibly make a Dame trade work.
What would we want in return?

[HINrichPolice]

Meh. He's not really at a position of need and I don't trust his health. Nice player and I know he'd love to play in Portland since he's from the area, but not sure what he solves for the Blazers.

After getting off to a slow start the first couple of months, he found his old form and stayed healthy throughout the rest of the season. He also was part of the (5th?) highest rated defense from the all-star break onward.

As a #1 option, I think he makes for an average team. But as a legit #2 option while playing alongside a great PG?

He'd be deadly.

He gets in trouble when he handles the ball too much or has to make too many decisions. But when he's just given the green light to catch and shoot or to attack the rim, he thrives. His talent level, imo, is going to be hard to match on the trade market.

The Bulls might consider retooling around our younger pieces and starting over with Vucevic a FA and DeMar likely starting a decline. Zach is in his prime right now and would take a lot of pressure off of Damian.

I actually do agree that LaVine is pretty underrated. I'm just not sure he and Lillard are enough to get it done. I wouldn't want to play LaVine out of position at SF (maybe he can play it, you would know better than me) and I don't like the idea of having Sharpe ride the bench behind him. I think Sharpe has talent to be as good as LaVine sooner than people think, but maybe Shae can play SF?

I genuinely don't hate the idea of the pick for LaVine, it's just kinda a weird fit for the roster outside of Dame. The other issue is the Blazers need to send out a player along with the pick to get LaVine which makes it less appealing.

Salaries are a tough match without a 3rd team, certainly.

Zach plays SF in spot minutes, but he doesn't have the rebounding for it although he's actually a capable man-to-man defender 1-3.

I thought Sharpe had the size to play SF. Do Blazers fans look at him as strictly a SG?

[m0ng0]

Well here we are...sh*t or get off the pot.

[DusterBuster]

After getting off to a slow start the first couple of months, he found his old form and stayed healthy throughout the rest of the season. He also was part of the (5th?) highest rated defense from the all-star break onward.

As a #1 option, I think he makes for an average team. But as a legit #2 option while playing alongside a great PG?

He'd be deadly.

He gets in trouble when he handles the ball too much or has to make too many decisions. But when he's just given the green light to catch and shoot or to attack the rim, he thrives. His talent level, imo, is going to be hard to match on the trade market.

The Bulls might consider retooling around our younger pieces and starting over with Vucevic a FA and DeMar likely starting a decline. Zach is in his prime right now and would take a lot of pressure off of Damian.

I actually do agree that LaVine is pretty underrated. I'm just not sure he and Lillard are enough to get it done. I wouldn't want to play LaVine out of position at SF (maybe he can play it, you would know better than me) and I don't like the idea of having Sharpe ride the bench behind him. I think Sharpe has talent to be as good as LaVine sooner than people think, but maybe Shae can play SF?

I genuinely don't hate the idea of the pick for LaVine, it's just kinda a weird fit for the roster outside of Dame. The other issue is the Blazers need to send out a player along with the pick to get LaVine which makes it less appealing.

Salaries are a tough match without a 3rd team, certainly.

Zach plays SF in spot minutes, but he doesn't have the rebounding for it although he's actually a capable man-to-man defender 1-3.

I thought Sharpe had the size to play SF. Do Blazers fans look at him as strictly a SG?

Sharpe had the height but not the size imo. Needs to fill out and get stronger to be a SF I think, he’s so young he definitely could tho.

[NCHeels2008]

I wonder how both sides would grade a Simons for DeRozan swap

[m0ng0]

I wonder how both sides would grade a Simons for DeRozan swap

I wouldn't do it. DDR is an aging hired gun, he wouldn't put us over the top. Simons has not even peaked yet. Fair trade but if you care about the future you don't make that trade.

[NCHeels2008]

I wonder how both sides would grade a Simons for DeRozan swap

I wouldn't do it. DDR is an aging hired gun, he wouldn't put us over the top. Simons has not even peaked yet. Fair trade but if you care about the future you don't make that trade.

I suggested it assuming you're dealing 3 and/or Sharpe in another deal to win now. Stupid trade by itself.

[m0ng0]

I wonder how both sides would grade a Simons for DeRozan swap

I wouldn't do it. DDR is an aging hired gun, he wouldn't put us over the top. Simons has not even peaked yet. Fair trade but if you care about the future you don't make that trade.

I suggested it assuming you're dealing 3 and/or Sharpe in another deal to win now. Stupid trade by itself.

That's even worse hahahaha, but me personally am not willing to gamble the future for a bad win now scenario.