Woj: RoCo and Powell traded to Clippers for Bledsoe, Winslow, Johnson and 2nd

[PDXKnight]

What’s next dame for sweaty shorts?

[Nuntius]

I don't hate it as much as other posters do but I do value Keon Johnson very highly. I would have drafted him in the lottery this past draft so getting him is essentially getting a 1st round pick to me.

[PDXKnight]

I don't hate it as much as other posters do but I do value Keon Johnson very highly. I would have drafted him in the lottery this past draft so getting him is essentially getting a 1st round pick to me.

He hasn’t done anything in his rookie year but time will tell. I tend to think young players are quite often overrated

[JasonStern]

Most season ticket holders (including myself) will now stay home for they have thrown in the towel for the
2021-22 season. Makes you wonder how many will renew their season tickets

Mentioned this on the T&T board, but I think this might be the start of getting the Blazers relocated.

Step 1 - Put a pathetic show on the floor
Step 2 - Wait for the 2025 Moda Center lease to run out
Step 3 - Claim Moda Center renovations are too expensive given how low the fan turnout is/how (ignoring tax write-offs) the Blazers lose money

Especially makes sense when Dame is 34-35.

The only other (conspiracy theory) explanation is that Blazers ownership post-Paul Allen simply doesn't care. They're long-time friends with Steve Ballmer. So if the Blazers can help the Clippers out and Ballmer can help the Vulcans/Allen Institute out, might as well.

[JasonStern]

I'm guessing that nobody on this board knows anything about keon Johnson.

No. But we know about Norm Powell and Robert Covington. We also know Dame is 31. And even if Keon Johnson turns out to be as good as either Powell or Covington, we know our front office is incompetent enough to trade him away for a 2030 protected 2nd.

[PDXKnight]

Most season ticket holders (including myself) will now stay home for they have thrown in the towel for the
2021-22 season. Makes you wonder how many will renew their season tickets

Mentioned this on the T&T board, but I think this might be the start of getting the Blazers relocated.

Step 1 - Put a pathetic show on the floor
Step 2 - Wait for the 2025 Moda Center lease to run out
Step 3 - Claim Moda Center renovations are too expensive given how low the fan turnout is/how (ignoring tax write-offs) the Blazers lose money

Especially makes sense when Dame is 34-35.

The only other (conspiracy theory) explanation is that Blazers ownership post-Paul Allen simply doesn't care. They're long-time friends with Steve Ballmer. So if the Blazers can help the Clippers out and Ballmer can help the Vulcans/Allen Institute out, might as well.

I don’t think the nba allows portland to move to seattle. And seattle has like 5 teams and the blazers have a market monopoly why move them there?

[Nuntius]

He hasn’t done anything in his rookie year but time will tell.

Sure but he's also 19 years old.

I tend to think young players are quite often overrated

Absolutely. And Keon definitely has the impressive athleticism that can get players overrated. Still, all this athleticism does give him the potential to be a pretty good basketball player.

There were a number of people that felt similarly about Anfernee Simons before his breakout this year, by the way. Yeah, it's not a given that this potential can turn into actual production but it's not out of the question either. As you said, time will tell.

[JasonStern]

I don’t think the nba allows portland to move to seattle. And seattle has like 5 teams and the blazers have a market monopoly why move them there?

Any evidence of this?

Pretty sure a majority vote of the owners is all a team needs to relocate. And no competing franchises, low fan turnout due to incompetence, an aging arena, etc. would be enough to get other owners to buy off.

[JasonStern]

He hasn’t done anything in his rookie year but time will tell.

Sure but he's also 19 years old.

I tend to think young players are quite often overrated

Absolutely. And Keon definitely has the impressive athleticism that can get players overrated. Still, all this athleticism does give him the potential to be a pretty good basketball player.

There were a number of people that felt similarly about Anfernee Simons before his breakout this year, by the way. Yeah, it's not a given that this potential can turn into actual production but it's not out of the question either. As you said, time will tell.

Evaluation of this trade is simple. Dame is 31. Is Keon or any asset capable of helping Dame win now? Are the assets likely to be better players than Dame - a top ten player in the league when healthy? Even if this trade somehow works out, which is very unlikely, you Bradley Beal'd Dame during his prime.

This trade is literally me as a kid trading my sister five pennies for a quarter because five is more than one and she doesn't understand money.

[The Sebastian Express]

Johnson is nearly 6'5", but with only 8'1" standing reach - which is comparable to a 6'1" player.
So basically, he's a short guy with a really long neck.

Oh wow he does have a long neck. I saw his wingspan is 6'7 and a half which isn't ideal either. It's not t-rex arms, but I would've felt more comfortable if he had a wingspan of like 6'9.

WEE-OOO, WEE-OOO, WEE-OOO!!!

Looks like we may have some issues with BODY SHAMING on this forum. Comparing human beings to prehistoric animals... how offensive!

You're really upset that you got challenged on one of your statements, aren't you?

Let it all out, it's okay.

[PDXKnight]

I don’t think the nba allows portland to move to seattle. And seattle has like 5 teams and the blazers have a market monopoly why move them there?

Any evidence of this?

Pretty sure a majority vote of the owners is all a team needs to relocate. And no competing franchises, low fan turnout due to incompetence, an aging arena, etc. would be enough to get other owners to buy off.

silver has more or less said no to moving the blazers from my understanding, instead saying there may be expansion teams eventually.

I think talk of the blazers potentially moving died about a decade ago when Portland became more of a national market. I think there’s real money in portland now and despite our recent issues and antifa antics the city is too good of a market to give up on when you’re the only franchise in said market. And yes there’s mls but that is a pretty insignificant sport by comparison to baseball football basketball or nhl. Seattle has 3 of the big 4 portland has 1, there’s no reason to go up there and compete with 3 others when portland is dominated by one pro team and the ducks.

[JasonStern]

silver has more or less said no to moving the blazers from my understanding, instead saying there may be expansion teams eventually.

I am sure that has as much weight as David Stern (no relation) promising to keep the Sonics in Seattle.

I think talk of the blazers potentially moving died about a decade ago when Portland became more of a national market. I think there’s real money in portland now and despite our recent issues and antifa antics the city is too good of a market to give up on when you’re the only franchise in said market. And yes there’s mls but that is a pretty insignificant sport by comparison to baseball football basketball or nhl. Seattle has 3 of the big 4 portland has 1, there’s no reason to go up there and compete with 3 others when portland is dominated by one pro team and the ducks.

Maybe? You're also looking at it purely from a business perspective and not a billionaire's toy perspective. And even from a business perspective, you could make a case that Seattle, Las Vegas, etc. are more lucrative. Especially if you hire Billy King as your interim GM and expect fans to pay to see the result.

[Nuntius]

He hasn’t done anything in his rookie year but time will tell.

Sure but he's also 19 years old.

I tend to think young players are quite often overrated

Absolutely. And Keon definitely has the impressive athleticism that can get players overrated. Still, all this athleticism does give him the potential to be a pretty good basketball player.

There were a number of people that felt similarly about Anfernee Simons before his breakout this year, by the way. Yeah, it's not a given that this potential can turn into actual production but it's not out of the question either. As you said, time will tell.

Evaluation of this trade is simple. Dame is 31. Is Keon or any asset capable of helping Dame win now? Are the assets likely to be better players than Dame - a top ten player in the league when healthy? Even if this trade somehow works out, which is very unlikely, you Bradley Beal'd Dame during his prime.

This trade is literally me as a kid trading my sister five pennies for a quarter because five is more than one and she doesn't understand money.

That's not a win now trade. That's a given. This trade is Portland signifying that 1) we won't pay the luxury tax for a tanking team and 2) we may be looking towards building for the future.

[Dame Lizard]

Johnson is nearly 6'5", but with only 8'1" standing reach - which is comparable to a 6'1" player.
So basically, he's a short guy with a really long neck.

There is a good chance that his vertical isn't actually 48 inches, and his standing reach is a bit higher than 8'1".

[JasonStern]

That's not a win now trade. That's a given. This trade is Portland signifying that 1) we won't pay the luxury tax for a tanking team and 2) we may be looking towards building for the future.

I find it hard to believe that no team in the league would give up a 1st round pick for both Powell and Covington. Our interim GM got fleeced. It sucks, but college football season is only... 7 months away. Damn it.

[Wizenheimer]

He's actually listed as a small forward some places. A 6'4 small forward. I am dying here.

6 months ago he was measured as 6'3.5. Worse is his wingspan is only 6'7.25. Bayless T-Rex arms 2.0 only with much less visible talent

[DusterBuster]

That's not a win now trade. That's a given. This trade is Portland signifying that 1) we won't pay the luxury tax for a tanking team and 2) we may be looking towards building for the future.

I find it hard to believe that no team in the league would give up a 1st round pick for both Powell and Covington. Our interim GM got fleeced. It sucks, but college football season is only... 7 months away. Damn it.

Same. The only explanation I can see is maybe they really wanted cap space this summer and this was the only deal they could do it? Maybe any team with a 1st were giving up guys with extra years on the books... maybe? Grasping at straws here for an explanation.

Like... why not just do a smaller deal of Powell only to the Clippers for Bledsoe and move RoCo in a second deal? If you want to just give a player away like they did here, you'll always be able to do that up to the last second of the deadline. Worst case is you hold on to try and get additional assets for RoCo and if you don't - then just dump him. But dumping these guys so early before the deadline... it's just kinda mindboggling without knowing what the plan is behind the scenes ... assuming there even is one?

[JasonStern]

Step 1 - Put a pathetic show on the floor
Step 2 - Wait for the 2025 Moda Center lease to run out
Step 3 - Claim Moda Center renovations are too expensive given how low the fan turnout is/how (ignoring tax write-offs) the Blazers lose money

If we're in conspiracy theory mode:
Step 4 - Based on low fan turnout, ask to relocate to Seattle.

That was implied by line #1:

Mentioned this on the T&T board, but I think this might be the start of getting the Blazers relocated.

Otherwise, I have no idea what is going on. I don't even think Cronin being incompetent is a realistic theory. You could convince me what Portland got back was a win for an expiring Covington, but Powell on a decent contract in his prime? Where do you even go from here? You lost two starters without taking back any assets. So you aren't winning now. You aren't winning in the future. Best case now, we blow the team up. But do you even trust Cronin to get a protected 1st for Dame? It has to be either some long-term play to get the team moved or collusion with Ballmer.

People **** on Paul Allen. I am guilty of saying he meddled a bit too much. But at least the guy cared. Right now, I honestly have fears the Blazers are going to find themselves in some Sacramento Kings purgatory. Respect to the fans more optimistic than me.

[Nuntius]

That's not a win now trade. That's a given. This trade is Portland signifying that 1) we won't pay the luxury tax for a tanking team and 2) we may be looking towards building for the future.

I find it hard to believe that no team in the league would give up a 1st round pick for both Powell and Covington. Our interim GM got fleeced. It sucks, but college football season is only... 7 months away. Damn it.

For what is worth, I absolutely count Keon Johnson as a first round pick. He was just picked in this past draft. Had he stayed another year in school, he'd probably be a lottery pick in this summer's draft.

[Jsun947]

Keon Johnson should not be playing meaningful rotation minutes on a competitive NBA team unless something went very, very wrong. If he's a project and you think he has an 80% shot at being the quality of the player Norman Powell is now, and you are either blowing up the team or have a ton of legit NBA guard depth then ok, I get it, but I think that is highly highly unlikely given what he's shown thus far.