Ayton, Grant, and Simons for anything?

[Walton1one]

I'm telling ya, the mess in MIL is something that bears watching and IMO, it would be in POR best interest to delay a breakup of that team for the next 2 years or so.

Why not help keep that ship afloat by sending them Grant for the oft-injured\declining Middleton a 31' 1st (unprotected or lightly protected) and 31' 2nd. Gives them a chance to try and remain competitive for another year or two, which they probably need to do, as they own very little of their remaining picks:

25' pick - goes to NO (if 1-4) or BRK (if 5-30)
26' pick - NO rights to swap
27' pick - to NO or ATL
28' pick - POR swap rights
29' pick - to POR
30' pick - POR swap rights
Add to that:
31' pick - to POR
and now they have one team (POR) that they could negotiate with WHEN they inevitably do tear it down.

Antetokounmpo has a player option for $62mil in 27/28 (age 33), UFA in 28/29 (age 34), so if at that time they decide to blow it up or before, they could trade GA and then redirect some of that return to POR to get their picks back. This is exactly what BRK did, which was very clever, and why HOU is collecting PHX draft capital.

Trading for Grant makes them better now and for the next few years, Middleton cannot be counted on, and the last few years his play has regressed, 33 games in 22/23, 55 games in 23/24.

This trade works straight up, IF POR needed more back in return, they could orchestrate 2nd separate trade for a young player from MIL that they (if they) like (Beauchamp\AJ Johnson) for a guy like Reath\Walker or Banton

[GEE]

We are a Ben Simmons, a Rui Hachimura and a Mark Williams away from clearly being the best young team in the league.

[BlazersBroncos]

I would trade Grant for Middleton + 31 LP + 31 SRP.

I dont think they give up a lightly protected pick given their current state of things.

We get a pick, shave 2 years of Grant's salary, & can try to rehab and flip Mids.

I would be OK w/ a Thybulle for Pat swap as well if it helps grease the wheels for MIL.

FWIW - the turmoil right now in MIL is pretty juicy for Portland. We own their picks in 28, 29 and 30 more or less (2 are swaps). The core has perdictably slowed down a ton, Dame isnt fitting in well w/ Giannis, whispers of Giannis on the way out, 1-4 start. Small markets like MIL wont rebound well from losing a guy like Giannis. They will have a rough time after he leaves, just like we are after Dame. Its shaping up to be some pretty juicy picks (This is why I always viewed even a swap from MIL as more valuable than picks from big market teams like MIA and LAL - they wont just immediatley reload w/ FA stars in MIL as they will and historically have done in MIA and LAL).

[JRoy]

I would trade Grant for Middleton + 31 LP + 31 SRP.

I dont think they give up a lightly protected pick given their current state of things.

We get a pick, shave 2 years of Grant's salary, & can try to rehab and flip Mids.

I would be OK w/ a Thybulle for Pat swap as well if it helps grease the wheels for MIL.

FWIW - the turmoil right now in MIL is pretty juicy for Portland. We own their picks in 28, 29 and 30 more or less (2 are swaps). The core has perdictably slowed down a ton, Dame isnt fitting in well w/ Giannis, whispers of Giannis on the way out, 1-4 start. Small markets like MIL wont rebound well from losing a guy like Giannis. They will have a rough time after he leaves, just like we are after Dame. Its shaping up to be some pretty juicy picks (This is why I always viewed even a swap from MIL as more valuable than picks from big market teams like MIA and LAL - they wont just immediatley reload w/ FA stars in MIL as they will and historically have done in MIA and LAL).

Not sure MIL would bite. Would be great if they did.

[Walton1one]

The other team to possibly monitor for MIL would be NO, who happens to own MIL 27' pick, 26' swap and a portion of their 25' pick (if it lands 1-4 it goes to NO, 5-30 goes to BRK)

Not sure if this is doable or not, but let's assume the situation continues to devolve and GA wants out now.

MIl is $6.5mil over 2nd apron, meaning trades have to be 1 for 1 (cannot aggregate)
NO happens to be under the 1st apron, so they can go over (to acquire GA wouldn't you?), but likely would not want to go over the 2nd (they could, but best to be avoided)

Trade #1: Connaughtan for Antonio Reeves, this gets MIL under 2nd apron (now they can aggregate), NO is now over the 1st apron, but under the 2nd by $6mil or so.

Trade #2: Since both teams are now over the 1st apron and cannot take in more salary than they send out, in order for this trade to work a 3rd team needs to be involved. I used POR for this example, but it could be any team, most likely one that is under the luxury tax or 1st apron

MIL sends GA, D.Wright to NO and Beauchamp to POR
NO sends Ingram, Hawkins & Jones to MIL, along with MIL 27' pick back and extinguishing swap rights in 25' (minor matter, the ship has sailed on getting that pick back (BRK)), extinguishing 26' swap rights w\NO and (2) future 1st round picks, let's say NO 2025 & 2029 1st rounders (unprotected).

MIL gets their 27' pick back, swap rights on 26' nullified (and on 25', 1-4), (3) young players in Hawkins/Jones/Reeves + (2) 25 & 29 future 1sts's from NO and they still have Ingram to re-route, Dame (if they can), Middleton, Lopez, Portis...

Gotta believe NO has to be monitioring MIL\GA situation and since they own MIL picks over the next 3 years, they may be first in line should GA force his way out.

[Walton1one]

I would trade Grant for Middleton + 31 LP + 31 SRP.

I dont think they give up a lightly protected pick given their current state of things.

We get a pick, shave 2 years of Grant's salary, & can try to rehab and flip Mids.

I would be OK w/ a Thybulle for Pat swap as well if it helps grease the wheels for MIL.

FWIW - the turmoil right now in MIL is pretty juicy for Portland. We own their picks in 28, 29 and 30 more or less (2 are swaps). The core has perdictably slowed down a ton, Dame isnt fitting in well w/ Giannis, whispers of Giannis on the way out, 1-4 start. Small markets like MIL wont rebound well from losing a guy like Giannis. They will have a rough time after he leaves, just like we are after Dame. Its shaping up to be some pretty juicy picks (This is why I always viewed even a swap from MIL as more valuable than picks from big market teams like MIA and LAL - they wont just immediatley reload w/ FA stars in MIL as they will and historically have done in MIA and LAL).

Can't do Connaughton\Thybulle swap. MIL is $6.5mil over 2nd apron, meaning they cannot aggregate salaries in a deal & cannot take more back (Thybulle) than they send out.

Grant is approx $1.9 less than Middleton, not enough to get them under 2nd apron, and POR has no incentive to go over 1st apron
(right now they are $3.7 under tax, meaning they get revenue distributions, doubt they would want to go over unless it was an extremely good deal).

[GEE]

NOLA also has a player (PF) that I think Cronin may be keeping an eye on.

RUI, ZION or GA would all be awesome to see in the Red and Black.

Maybe Cronin can pull off a miracle monster trade to get ZION AND RUI. This actually works in the Trade Checker:

Portland trades: Grant / TL / Reath / 3 FFRPs
Lakers trade: RUI / Russel
Nola trades: Zion

Portland gets: RUI and Zion
Lakers get: Grant
Nola gets: TL, Reath, Russel and 3 FFRPs

Trade would need some work still I'm sure, but Nola could then flip Russel to a fourth team, or just let him expire to give them a little cap flexabilty next year. Main point being.... I don't care about drafting rookies with our FRPs over the next couple years, and would much rather use them for UPGRADES.

[zzaj]

NOLA also has a player (PF) that I think Cronin may be keeping an eye on.

RUI, ZION or GA would all be awesome to see in the Red and Black.

Maybe Cronin can pull off a miracle monster trade to get ZION AND RUI. This actually works in the Trade Checker:

Portland trades: Grant / TL / Reath / 3 FFRPs
Lakers trade: RUI / Russel
Nola trades: Zion

Portland gets: RUI and Zion
Lakers get: Grant
Nola gets: TL, Reath, Russel and 3 FFRPs

Trade would need some work still I'm sure, but Nola could then flip Russel to a fourth team, or just let him expire to give them a little cap flexabilty next year. Main point being.... I don't care about drafting rookies with our FRPs over the next couple years, and would much rather use them for UPGRADES.

I honestly don't know where to start with this. For once, I'm actually speechless.

[dckingsfan]

Can someone please do a player comparison for this year for Grant and Rui?

[dckingsfan]

I'm telling ya, the mess in MIL is something that bears watching and IMO, it would be in POR best interest to delay a breakup of that team for the next 2 years or so.

Why not help keep that ship afloat by sending them Grant for the oft-injured\declining Middleton a 31' 1st (unprotected or lightly protected) and 31' 2nd. Gives them a chance to try and remain competitive for another year or two, which they probably need to do, as they own very little of their remaining picks:

25' pick - goes to NO (if 1-4) or BRK (if 5-30)
26' pick - NO rights to swap
27' pick - to NO or ATL
28' pick - POR swap rights
29' pick - to POR
30' pick - POR swap rights
Add to that:
31' pick - to POR
and now they have one team (POR) that they could negotiate with WHEN they inevitably do tear it down.

Antetokounmpo has a player option for $62mil in 27/28 (age 33), UFA in 28/29 (age 34), so if at that time they decide to blow it up or before, they could trade GA and then redirect some of that return to POR to get their picks back. This is exactly what BRK did, which was very clever, and why HOU is collecting PHX draft capital.

Trading for Grant makes them better now and for the next few years, Middleton cannot be counted on, and the last few years his play has regressed, 33 games in 22/23, 55 games in 23/24.

This trade works straight up, IF POR needed more back in return, they could orchestrate 2nd separate trade for a young player from MIL that they (if they) like (Beauchamp\AJ Johnson) for a guy like Reath\Walker or Banton

I like your thinking on this one... I think (I could be wrong), what MIL also needs is more depth.

So, bringing in another team might be what gets a trade idea like this over the line.

[DaVoiceMaster]

Can't stand watching Simons anymore. He's first on my trade list. Then I'd look to move Grant, simply because I want his contract to be shorter. Might as well move Thybulle since hes not playing and I'd rather see Rupert get the minutes right now. Lastl, I'd look to move Ayton.

[Butter]

Can someone please do a player comparison for this year for Grant and Rui?

https://fanspo.com/nba/compare-players/jerami-grant-203924/rui-hachimura-1629060


Grant is scoring about a little less than twice as much, but his contract is twice as expensive.

[dckingsfan]

Can someone please do a player comparison for this year for Grant and Rui?

https://fanspo.com/nba/compare-players/jerami-grant-203924/rui-hachimura-1629060

Grant is scoring about a little less than twice as much, but his contract is twice as expensive.

Yep, given this - and these stats. No way I make that trade if I am the Lakers.

Then to pile on Rui on the right and Grant on the left.

DRB% 14.9 vs. 13.4
USG% 18.0 vs. 25.0
3P% .526 vs. .389
TS% .530 vs. .523
FGA 75 vs. 95

[Butter]

Can someone please do a player comparison for this year for Grant and Rui?

https://fanspo.com/nba/compare-players/jerami-grant-203924/rui-hachimura-1629060

Grant is scoring about a little less than twice as much, but his contract is twice as expensive.

Yep, given this - and these stats. No way I make that trade if I am the Lakers.

Then to pile on Rui on the right and Grant on the left.

DRB% 14.9 vs. 13.4
USG% 18.0 vs. 25.0
3P% .526 vs. .389
TS% .530 vs. .523
FGA 75 vs. 95

I believe Grant is like most sub par stars, he shines when in the right situation.

If he tries to be the #1, he's always going to overreach.

But, if he can be the #3, popping threes from the weak side...solid.

[dckingsfan]

https://fanspo.com/nba/compare-players/jerami-grant-203924/rui-hachimura-1629060

Grant is scoring about a little less than twice as much, but his contract is twice as expensive.

Yep, given this - and these stats. No way I make that trade if I am the Lakers.

Then to pile on Rui on the right and Grant on the left.

DRB% 14.9 vs. 13.4
USG% 18.0 vs. 25.0
3P% .526 vs. .389
TS% .530 vs. .523
FGA 75 vs. 95

I believe Grant is like most sub par stars, he shines when in the right situation.

If he tries to be the #1, he's always going to overreach.

But, if he can be the #3, popping threes from the weak side...solid.

Gotcha.

But doing the Rui comparison and knowing that the Lakers would have to give up their PG. This trade is dead in the water unless Rui or Russell get hurt, IMO. From all the trade machines (which aren't the end all), the Lakers are worse with the trade.

That is why I think the trade that was proposed with Milwaukee is probably a better fit? Or maybe a trade with Denver but what they really need is depth.

And none of the Lakers, Bucks or Nuggets have a lot of trade assets to spare. And we have competition also trying to move their players (Wizards, Pistons, Hawks, Bulls, Nets, et. al.). This FO has its work cut out to get a trade done.

[dckingsfan]

Can't stand watching Simons anymore. He's first on my trade list....

Trying to figure out which team needs a PG. Any ideas? Pelicans maybe?

[Butter]

Can't stand watching Simons anymore. He's first on my trade list....

Trying to figure out which team needs a PG. Any ideas? Pelicans maybe?

IMHO, Simons isn't the best solution for a team that needs a PG, but he'd be good as a scorer off the bench.

Unfortunately, he's been inconsistent at best so far this year.

[JRoy]

NOLA also has a player (PF) that I think Cronin may be keeping an eye on.

RUI, ZION or GA would all be awesome to see in the Red and Black.

Maybe Cronin can pull off a miracle monster trade to get ZION AND RUI. This actually works in the Trade Checker:

Portland trades: Grant / TL / Reath / 3 FFRPs
Lakers trade: RUI / Russel
Nola trades: Zion

Portland gets: RUI and Zion
Lakers get: Grant
Nola gets: TL, Reath, Russel and 3 FFRPs

Trade would need some work still I'm sure, but Nola could then flip Russel to a fourth team, or just let him expire to give them a little cap flexabilty next year. Main point being.... I don't care about drafting rookies with our FRPs over the next couple years, and would much rather use them for UPGRADES.

Bringing Zion here would set back the rebuild.

Trolling?

[GEE]

NOLA also has a player (PF) that I think Cronin may be keeping an eye on.

RUI, ZION or GA would all be awesome to see in the Red and Black.

Maybe Cronin can pull off a miracle monster trade to get ZION AND RUI. This actually works in the Trade Checker:

Portland trades: Grant / TL / Reath / 3 FFRPs
Lakers trade: RUI / Russel
Nola trades: Zion

Portland gets: RUI and Zion
Lakers get: Grant
Nola gets: TL, Reath, Russel and 3 FFRPs

Trade would need some work still I'm sure, but Nola could then flip Russel to a fourth team, or just let him expire to give them a little cap flexabilty next year. Main point being.... I don't care about drafting rookies with our FRPs over the next couple years, and would much rather use them for UPGRADES.

Bringing Zion here would set back the rebuild.

Trolling?

How would this post be trolling? I even stated "Main point being" in the last sentence, so posters would be able to clearly get it... but you still seemed to miss it. And why does most everyone on here seem to think Cronin is looking to dump really good players for crap and picks?

No more Tanking, or "Rebuilding".... We are clearly trying to win as many games as we can, but are also perfectly positioned to make a big splash trade, if a "UPGRADE" can be had. This was clearly stated by me in the post I made before this one you quoted.

Is reading and comprehending the english language so difficult? Is listening these days some special skill?

And for the record..... I was talking about Rui as the PF that could potentially be the perfect fit on this young Blazer squad more than a year ago, and most on here poo-poo'd the idea, and now ya'll are just coming around to it. Not trolling, just giving some origional ideas for the sake of discussion... but reaffirming eachothers BS seems to be the new trend around here, while bashing those who don't march in line, without an origional thought in their brains.

[JRoy]

NOLA also has a player (PF) that I think Cronin may be keeping an eye on.

RUI, ZION or GA would all be awesome to see in the Red and Black.

Maybe Cronin can pull off a miracle monster trade to get ZION AND RUI. This actually works in the Trade Checker:

Portland trades: Grant / TL / Reath / 3 FFRPs
Lakers trade: RUI / Russel
Nola trades: Zion

Portland gets: RUI and Zion
Lakers get: Grant
Nola gets: TL, Reath, Russel and 3 FFRPs

Trade would need some work still I'm sure, but Nola could then flip Russel to a fourth team, or just let him expire to give them a little cap flexabilty next year. Main point being.... I don't care about drafting rookies with our FRPs over the next couple years, and would much rather use them for UPGRADES.

Bringing Zion here would set back the rebuild.

Trolling?

How would this post be trolling? I even stated "Main point being" in the last sentence, so posters would be able to clearly get it... but you still seemed to miss it. And why does most everyone on here seem to think Cronin is looking to dump really good players for crap and picks?

No more Tanking, or "Rebuilding".... We are clearly trying to win as many games as we can, but are also perfectly positioned to make a big splash trade, if a "UPGRADE" can be had. This was clearly stated by me in the post I made before this one you quoted.

Is reading and comprehending the english language so difficult? Is listening these days some special skill?

And for the record..... I was talking about Rui as the PF that could potentially be the perfect fit on this young Blazer squad more than a year ago, and most on here poo-poo'd the idea, and now ya'll are just coming around to it. Not trolling, just giving some origional ideas for the sake of discussion... but reaffirming eachothers BS seems to be the new trend around here, while bashing those who don't march in line, without an origional thought in their brains.

Just because an idea is original does not mean that idea has any merit.

Maybe there’s a reason no one else has suggested it.

Could it be because this franchise might be snakebit at the idea of picking up the most expensive part time employee in history.

Who also plays no defense, does not rebound and has off court issues