2025 Off-Season Strategy - What will Cronin do?

[Wizenheimer]

I don't get the "don't make moves if you're up for sale" idea. Make GOOD moves. That will only improve the value of the team. Not that I support paying Kuminga the max.

I think most people are thinking about the new contracts Simons and Ayton will get next summer....and hoping to hell it won't be Portland giving them

[Norm2953]

I don't get the "don't make moves if you're up for sale" idea. Make GOOD moves. That will only improve the value of the team. Not that I support paying Kuminga the max.

It's a very common business move to clean up the bottom line prior to a sale for a team like Portland is not a contender.

New ownership for the Celtics is very likely to force cutting salaries under the second apron for their bottom
line even for a championship caliber team is not sustainable. I severely doubt Cronin will be allowed to make any
really large big money moves which in Portland's case is likely for the better in the case of future extensions for
Ayton and Simons.

[DusterBuster]

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Portland should be in a good leverage spot here if the Bucks want those picks back, but the hard part is the Pelicans dilute that leverage with holding some of their more current upcoming picks. Pelicans could undercut the Bucks here if the Blazers asking price is too high, they might also have faith in themselves to rebuild the roster before those picks owed to the Blazers are due, whereas the immediate next 2-3 years might be choppy and when they would want control again of their own picks.

Also just depends where Giannis is going. My money is on the Rockets, but OKC could be high on here too. Even if they're able to win, guys like Holmgren and Williams have been pretty up and down, pairing SGA with a true HOF guy like Giannis is a big upgrade for them and they have the assets to do it.

[zzaj]

I don't get the "don't make moves if you're up for sale" idea. Make GOOD moves. That will only improve the value of the team. Not that I support paying Kuminga the max.

I think most people are thinking about the new contracts Simons and Ayton will get next summer....and hoping to hell it won't be Portland giving them

I've now heard Mike Richmond, Raphael Barlow and my buddy who runs stats for the Blazers all say the same thing: that the "feeling" around the Blazers FO is that they are going to extend Simons this summer and it's not going to be for an amount that any of us are going to like.

[DusterBuster]

I don't get the "don't make moves if you're up for sale" idea. Make GOOD moves. That will only improve the value of the team. Not that I support paying Kuminga the max.

I think most people are thinking about the new contracts Simons and Ayton will get next summer....and hoping to hell it won't be Portland giving them

I've now heard Mike Richmond, Raphael Barlow and my buddy who runs stats for the Blazers all say the same thing: that the "feeling" around the Blazers FO is that they are going to extend Simons this summer and it's not going to be for an amount that any of us are going to like.

35+ mil per year incoming...

I will never understand why they keep treating Ant like an All Star caliber player...

[Village Idiot]

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Portland should be in a good leverage spot here if the Bucks want those picks back, but the hard part is the Pelicans dilute that leverage with holding some of their more current upcoming picks. Pelicans could undercut the Bucks here if the Blazers asking price is too high, they might also have faith in themselves to rebuild the roster before those picks owed to the Blazers are due, whereas the immediate next 2-3 years might be choppy and when they would want control again of their own picks.

Also just depends where Giannis is going. My money is on the Rockets, but OKC could be high on here too. Even if they're able to win, guys like Holmgren and Williams have been pretty up and down, pairing SGA with a true HOF guy like Giannis is a big upgrade for them and they have the assets to do it.

I can see us facilitating a Giannis to OKC deal with Jaylen Williams or Holmgren coming here and Sharpe and the Bucks picks going to Milwaukee from us.

[BlazersBroncos]

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Portland should be in a good leverage spot here if the Bucks want those picks back, but the hard part is the Pelicans dilute that leverage with holding some of their more current upcoming picks. Pelicans could undercut the Bucks here if the Blazers asking price is too high, they might also have faith in themselves to rebuild the roster before those picks owed to the Blazers are due, whereas the immediate next 2-3 years might be choppy and when they would want control again of their own picks.

Also just depends where Giannis is going. My money is on the Rockets, but OKC could be high on here too. Even if they're able to win, guys like Holmgren and Williams have been pretty up and down, pairing SGA with a true HOF guy like Giannis is a big upgrade for them and they have the assets to do it.

I can see us facilitating a Giannis to OKC deal with Jaylen Williams or Holmgren coming here and Sharpe and the Bucks picks going to Milwaukee from us.

That would be killer and I had not thought of that option. Sharpe + MIL draft assets for Chet would be unreal. I think he has alot more to his game that could be unlocked with higher usage here. And Chet is the absolute ideal fit next to DC. I would still aim to trade Simons for filler and a FRP and even buyout Ayton if we cant move off him - this is SICK IMO -

G - Scoot Henderson / Egor Demin (11) / Dalano Banton
G - Toumani Camara / Matisse Thybulle / Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
F - Deni Avdija / Jerami Grant / Kentavious Caldewll-Pope / Rayan Rupert
F - Chet Holmgren / Jerami Grant / Yaxel Lendenberg (16)
C - Donovan Clingan / Chet Holmgren / Duop Reath

IR RWIII

Doesnt get better than that - and wont happen lol.

[PDXKnight]

I think most people are thinking about the new contracts Simons and Ayton will get next summer....and hoping to hell it won't be Portland giving them

I've now heard Mike Richmond, Raphael Barlow and my buddy who runs stats for the Blazers all say the same thing: that the "feeling" around the Blazers FO is that they are going to extend Simons this summer and it's not going to be for an amount that any of us are going to like.

35+ mil per year incoming...

I will never understand why they keep treating Ant like an All Star caliber player...

I hope they sell the team before that happens

I guess it depends, if using Scoot in a giannis trade nets us a nice piece moving forward maybe extending Ant makes more sense as much as I still dislike the idea

[Walton1one]

I've now heard Mike Richmond, Raphael Barlow and my buddy who runs stats for the Blazers all say the same thing: that the "feeling" around the Blazers FO is that they are going to extend Simons this summer and it's not going to be for an amount that any of us are going to like.

35+ mil per year incoming...

I will never understand why they keep treating Ant like an All Star caliber player...

I hope they sell the team before that happens

I guess it depends, if using Scoot in a giannis trade nets us a nice piece moving forward maybe extending Ant makes more sense as much as I still dislike the idea

Cronin is certainly dumb enough to do that, he can't pay everyone though, unless new ownership likes his direction and are fine with paying luxury tax in a few years and possibly going over the 1st apron.

[The Sebastian Express]

Dumbest timeline ever if we extend Simons. I hate everything so much right now.

[DusterBuster]

Dumbest timeline ever if we extend Simons. I hate everything so much right now.

Joe Cronin: But you can let home grown talent walk for nothing! And he’ll have MORE value with an extended contract!!!

Me: *drinks bleach*

[DusterBuster]

I've now heard Mike Richmond, Raphael Barlow and my buddy who runs stats for the Blazers all say the same thing: that the "feeling" around the Blazers FO is that they are going to extend Simons this summer and it's not going to be for an amount that any of us are going to like.

35+ mil per year incoming...

I will never understand why they keep treating Ant like an All Star caliber player...

I hope they sell the team before that happens

I guess it depends, if using Scoot in a giannis trade nets us a nice piece moving forward maybe extending Ant makes more sense as much as I still dislike the idea

Before I make my next thought, let it be known I HATE this path and it’s absolutely 1000000% not what I want to see happen…

That out of the way, if Cronin is dead set on extending Simons for some reason, then Scoot should be traded this summer. I think it’s **** hard R regarded with all the context and history, but… you can relegate Scoot to riding the bench for 3 more years. Give him a chance in the league if the team has already soured on him that much.

[Tim Lehrbach]

I wonder if there's any way to sneak the #2 pick out of a Giannis to San Antonio deal. Scoot, Bucks picks 'n swaps, #11 out... Harper in?

Alternatively, what if the Spurs covet Deni? Deni + 11 for 2?

I know, I'm not getting Dylan Harper on the Blazers. I'll return to my regularly scheduled pouting now.

[Sinobas]

I don't get the "don't make moves if you're up for sale" idea. Make GOOD moves. That will only improve the value of the team. Not that I support paying Kuminga the max.

I think most people are thinking about the new contracts Simons and Ayton will get next summer....and hoping to hell it won't be Portland giving them

I've now heard Mike Richmond, Raphael Barlow and my buddy who runs stats for the Blazers all say the same thing: that the "feeling" around the Blazers FO is that they are going to extend Simons this summer and it's not going to be for an amount that any of us are going to like.

Please don't tell me your the guy who projected the Deni trade.

If the Blazers resign Simons, I think I'll be done with basketball.

[Norm2953]

Harper is going to the center piece in the new look Bucks but I wonder if the return for
Portland if they are involved in the SA/Milwaukee trade would be the some of the assets
coming with the #2 pick for Giannis.

[Sinobas]

Someone posted this terrible trade idea. Ayton, Thybulle, and 3 first round picks for Markkanen.

I do however, think Markkanen is an interesting idea, if we offload Grants contract, and give up maybe 1 pick (not 3).

Lauri is on a max contract that extends through 28-29, and hasn't been anywhere close to a max player the past 2 years. But He's better than Jerami Grant, and I think could perhaps return to his all star form on a better team.

I don't know how eager the Jazz are to get Lauri off their books. But Grant's contract is 12 mil cheaper per year and expires a year sooner.

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[DusterBuster]

Someone posted this terrible trade idea. Ayton, Thybulle, and 3 first round picks for Markkanen.

I do however, think Markkanen is an interesting idea, if we offload Grants contract, and give up maybe 1 pick (not 3).

Lauri is on a max contract that extends through 28-29, and hasn't been anywhere close to a max player the past 2 years. But He's better than Jerami Grant, and I think could perhaps return to his all star form on a better team.

I don't know how eager the Jazz are to get Lauri off their books. But Grant's contract is 12 mil cheaper per year and expires a year sooner.

Read on Twitter

How old is Lauri again? I do like him as a player and I’m more comfortable cashing out those picks than holding them. 2029 and 2031 are a long ways out, bucks can be good by them, so use the picks while they still have that theoretic value.

[Sinobas]

Someone posted this terrible trade idea. Ayton, Thybulle, and 3 first round picks for Markkanen.

I do however, think Markkanen is an interesting idea, if we offload Grants contract, and give up maybe 1 pick (not 3).

Lauri is on a max contract that extends through 28-29, and hasn't been anywhere close to a max player the past 2 years. But He's better than Jerami Grant, and I think could perhaps return to his all star form on a better team.

I don't know how eager the Jazz are to get Lauri off their books. But Grant's contract is 12 mil cheaper per year and expires a year sooner.

Read on Twitter

How old is Lauri again? I do like him as a player and I’m more comfortable cashing out those picks than holding them. 2029 and 2031 are a long ways out, bucks can be good by them, so use the picks while they still have that theoretic value.

He's turning 28 next week. I'd like to get him as long as Grant is the one exiting.

[Norm2953]

Lauri turns 28 next week.

Thybulle has a PO and its possible he could opt out for its a bad FA market and he could get a full
MLE offer elsewhere.

I'm doubtful with the team about to be sold, there will be any real moves that will add that much long term
money to the bottom line. Payroll will be kept more or less where it is today unless the team gets sold quickly.

[JRoy]

I think most people are thinking about the new contracts Simons and Ayton will get next summer....and hoping to hell it won't be Portland giving them

I've now heard Mike Richmond, Raphael Barlow and my buddy who runs stats for the Blazers all say the same thing: that the "feeling" around the Blazers FO is that they are going to extend Simons this summer and it's not going to be for an amount that any of us are going to like.

Please don't tell me your the guy who projected the Deni trade.

If the Blazers resign Simons, I think I'll be done with basketball.

Goldbum