2025 Off-Season Strategy - What will Cronin do?

[Norm2953]

Magic will roll with Suggs, Bane, Wagner, Banchero at the 1-4.

The only other team I think Simon’s would have value on right now is Brooklyn. I’d bet it’s 20-1 Simons gets traded now

They could roll with that team but that's a lot of salary tied up in 4 players after Paolo gets paid

[BlazersBroncos]

As a PG, Simons > Suggs > Black

Simons = Isaac + 25 (after the pick is made)

Yeah, I think that might still be in play. Some people think Orlando is out of the market for a PG now, but Bane is a SG and Suggs seems like more of a tweener. Simons is a legit PG.

They could do a 3 man rotation at guard. Issac only plays 15 minutes for them anyway.

Simon’s is absolutely not a ‘legit PG’.

His career AR is 19 and was 23 last year. Suggs is 19 and 21 last year.

No team is going anywhere but closer to ping pong balls leaning in Simon’s as a starting PG.

He is a 6th man who can handle and pass a bit but is mostly a shooter and is too putrid in defense + too small for a SG to be a starter in a good team.

[HoopsFanAZ]

As a PG, Simons > Suggs > Black

Simons = Isaac + 25 (after the pick is made)

Yeah, I think that might still be in play. Some people think Orlando is out of the market for a PG now, but Bane is a SG and Suggs seems like more of a tweener. Simons is a legit PG.

They could do a 3 man rotation at guard. Issac only plays 15 minutes for them anyway.

Simon’s is absolutely not a ‘legit PG’.

His career AR is 19 and was 23 last year. Suggs is 19 and 21 last year.

No team is going anywhere but closer to ping pong balls leaning in Simon’s as a starting PG.

He is a 6th man who can handle and pass a bit but is mostly a shooter and is too putrid in defense + too small for a SG to be a starter in a good team.

I’m not a fan of score first PGs. Not of ISO-ball nor pound the rock. Dame was great for PnR, get a bucket. But I neither want a PG to lead in scoring nor have others standing around on the perimeter. Ant is a lesser version of Dame.

I would maintain Ant is a better “PG” than what Orlando has … and it ain’t happening anyway. Ant optimally goes where they have some size and D at PG — which is such a limitation.

NeO … the gift who keeps giving.

[BlazersBroncos]

ORL being out of the Ant 'sweepstakes' is pretty sobering. Not sure who else would really want him.

Maybe BRK takes him for a year to reach the salary floor. Simons into cap for 27 and if we are lucky maybe we can squeeze 36 from them as well?

[DusterBuster]

ORL being out of the Ant 'sweepstakes' is pretty sobering. Not sure who else would really want him.

Maybe BRK takes him for a year to reach the salary floor. Simons into cap for 27 and if we are lucky maybe we can squeeze 36 from them as well?

I'll throw out a few possible undiscussed teams...

Phoenix: Post KD trade, they'll be wanting more scoring punches next to Booker They have no one else other than Booker and Beal. Beal is 100% cooked, so Simons would be a nice secondary threat with Booker and be more of a real PG next to Booker.
Denver: Ant would provide a much needed offensive boost to the inconsistent Murray.
Minnesota: If they miss out on KD, they still need a secondary reliable guard scorer next to Edwards. The Ants is a fun duo name too.
Dallas: They've already been linked to Simons and need a stopgap PG with the Irving injury.
Milwaukee: Same with the Dame injury.
Brooklyn: Really just there because they do need a PG, but also totally unclear what direction the Nets are going in.

[BlazersBroncos]

ORL being out of the Ant 'sweepstakes' is pretty sobering. Not sure who else would really want him.

Maybe BRK takes him for a year to reach the salary floor. Simons into cap for 27 and if we are lucky maybe we can squeeze 36 from them as well?

I'll throw out a few possible undiscussed teams...

Phoenix: Post KD trade, they'll be wanting more scoring punches next to Booker They have no one else other than Booker and Beal. Beal is 100% cooked, so Simons would be a nice secondary threat with Booker and be more of a real PG next to Booker.
Denver: Ant would provide a much needed offensive boost to the inconsistent Murray.
Minnesota: If they miss out on KD, they still need a secondary reliable guard scorer next to Edwards. The Ants is a fun duo name too.
Dallas: They've already been linked to Simons and need a stopgap PG with the Irving injury.
Milwaukee: Same with the Dame injury.
Brooklyn: Really just there because they do need a PG, but also totally unclear what direction the Nets are going in.

PHX is tricky since they cant aggregate and even then is using a FRP to improve from Grayson to Simons really worth it when Simons and NTC Beal are so redundant?
DEN is tricky as well w/ contract matching. I have liked the idea of MPJ + 2031 FRP for Grant + Simons for a while now but we would have to take Nnaji to make it work.
MIN is tricky (trend) w/ salary matching. They would have to match using Conley and DDV and at that point I doubt they would be interested. Not many picks to work with either (And no way they add a pick to Conley + DDV).
DAL is a wildcard - who knows what Nico is going to do. I personally think PJ has more value than Simons. Maybe Klay + Martin + future pick - think taking on the crappy Martin contract makes squeezing a pick from them more likely.
MIL is another hard to match team. Kuzma makes our forward glut untenable IMO. I also doubt they will cash their only remaining asset (2031 FRP) to add Simons.
BRK again might give one of their late FRP if they cant find better options elsewhere to hit the salary floor.

[Case2012]

Memphis is the loudest suitor, and the Grizzlies are swimming in picks after these moves. A fair opening package feels like three first-rounders plus Brandon Clarke’s $12 M salary—enough draft capital for Portland to call it a win without needing to eat long-term money.

If Avdija comes out of the gate putting up something like 23-7-5 on 60-plus TS% and rock-solid wing defense, you can realistically ask for a fourth first at the February deadline. Two-way 6-10 wings on descending $15 M deals are unicorns; contenders will overpay when they smell a ring.

Imagine the Thunder flame out. Sam Presti could dangle Nikola Tópić and three of OKC’s future extras for an instant-impact forward who fits their defense-first identity. That would complete a neat asset chain:

Brogdon + #14 + Future 1st ->Deni

Deni ->three firsts + Tópić

Turning a sixth-man rental and a mid-first into a lottery guard prospect plus three more firsts would be textbook long-game roster building.

Bottom line

Today: three firsts + a matching contract is gettable.

By the deadline (if Deni keeps scoring): four firsts isn’t crazy.

Strategic angle: cashing him out could super-charge Portland’s pick stash for the true No. 1 option they still need.

It’s the difference between playing checkers—holding a good starter on a bargain deal—and playing chess by parlaying that starter into the ammo you’ll need when a real star finally shakes loose.

Not opposed to keeping him but seeing the price Bane went for, it would be a shrewd move to set us up for a high pick with our own pick, but also another mid first next year.

[Village Idiot]

We've been pining for a two-way wing for decades and now that we finally have one, you want to trade him?

The west is going to be so competitive again this season that can give 100% and still be a lottery team.

[DusterBuster]

Post Bane trade, Marang was on his afternoon show today and it was asked if the Blazers are ready to do a similar type of move like Orlando did. Predictably he said no, he also said he doesn't have the sense that they have a player really targeted like they did last year with Deni where they're motivated to get something done to get that player.

He did however say that this summer priorities might be to craft a team around Deni. Sounds like the team is prepping to make Deni the featured marquee player in Portland next season, and so the thinking for the FO this summer is what can they do to bring in talent that complements Deni's (and to a lesser extend Tou's) game.

Not that I was giving much talk to the trade Deni while his value is high talk, but I think it's probably safe to say that's not even remotely a consideration for the Blazers FO this summer. They seem working with the MO to build around him, not cash out.

[Tim Lehrbach]

We've been pining for a two-way wing for decades and now that we finally have one, you want to trade him?

The west is going to be so competitive again this season that can give 100% and still be a lottery team.

I think you probably have this right:
1. Portland will not trade Deni.
2. Portland will repeat this season, next season.

Joy.

[Tim Lehrbach]

He did however say that this summer priorities might be to craft a team around Deni. Sounds like the team is prepping to make Deni the featured marquee player in Portland next season, and so the thinking for the FO this summer is what can they do to bring in talent that complements Deni's (and to a lesser extend Tou's) game.

What is this based on? I believe, like everybody else, that they will not look to trade Deni, but I have heard nothing to suggest they are treating him like their franchise player or focal point.

[DusterBuster]

He did however say that this summer priorities might be to craft a team around Deni. Sounds like the team is prepping to make Deni the featured marquee player in Portland next season, and so the thinking for the FO this summer is what can they do to bring in talent that complements Deni's (and to a lesser extend Tou's) game.

What is this based on? I believe, like everybody else, that they will not look to trade Deni, but I have heard nothing to suggest they are treating him like their franchise player or focal point.

It's based on his interpretation of what he's heard from those in and around the team he has contact with.

Just take that for what it's worth. Like him or hate him, he is an employee of the team and has genuine connections with NBA players, staff and management persons.

[Tim Lehrbach]

He did however say that this summer priorities might be to craft a team around Deni. Sounds like the team is prepping to make Deni the featured marquee player in Portland next season, and so the thinking for the FO this summer is what can they do to bring in talent that complements Deni's (and to a lesser extend Tou's) game.

What is this based on? I believe, like everybody else, that they will not look to trade Deni, but I have heard nothing to suggest they are treating him like their franchise player or focal point.

It's based on his interpretation of what he's heard from those in and around the team he has contact with.

Just take that for what it's worth. Like him or hate him, he is an employee of the team and has genuine connections with NBA players, staff and management persons.

Honestly I'm pretty removed from Portland media, so I don't know a thing about Marang and have never heard or read him. I'm just surprised that there isn't more chatter about Deni being a franchise cornerstone if that's the team's attitude. Also, wasn't he coming off the bench not long ago?

[DusterBuster]

What is this based on? I believe, like everybody else, that they will not look to trade Deni, but I have heard nothing to suggest they are treating him like their franchise player or focal point.

It's based on his interpretation of what he's heard from those in and around the team he has contact with.

Just take that for what it's worth. Like him or hate him, he is an employee of the team and has genuine connections with NBA players, staff and management persons.

Honestly I'm pretty removed from Portland media, so I don't know a thing about Marang and have never heard or read him. I'm just surprised that there isn't more chatter about Deni being a franchise cornerstone if that's the team's attitude. Also, wasn't he coming off the bench not long ago?

He's been doing TV broadcasting for Portland for almost 7-9 years for some low-rent Root and NBC Sports post-game talk show. So he's been close with the team for a long time. He's still doing the post-game on KGW I believe, he also is now the mid-day cohost on 1080 The Fan and a Blazer youtube podcast (Jacked Ramseys).

His takes can be a bit insufferable as he's got that "I'm smarter than everyone else" attitude at times with a lot of his takes, but he's unquestionably got sources.

[JRoy]

We've been pining for a two-way wing for decades and now that we finally have one, you want to trade him?

The west is going to be so competitive again this season that can give 100% and still be a lottery team.

I think you probably have this right:
1. Portland will not trade Deni.
2. Portland will repeat this season, next season.

Joy.

Without the win streak.

[dckingsfan]

Honestly I'm pretty removed from Portland media, so I don't know a thing about Marang and have never heard or read him. I'm just surprised that there isn't more chatter about Deni being a franchise cornerstone if that's the team's attitude. Also, wasn't he coming off the bench not long ago?

I think it is more based upon the end of last year and his usages shot way up...

So, it was more of a doing thing than a talking thing, if you will.

But... I am not sure that Billups sees him as a #1 option guy on offense. Given who we have, that might bite us later.

[Blazinaway]

ORL being out of the Ant 'sweepstakes' is pretty sobering. Not sure who else would really want him.

Maybe BRK takes him for a year to reach the salary floor. Simons into cap for 27 and if we are lucky maybe we can squeeze 36 from them as well?

straight into capspace? we'd be lucky to get 36

[BlazersBroncos]

ORL being out of the Ant 'sweepstakes' is pretty sobering. Not sure who else would really want him.

Maybe BRK takes him for a year to reach the salary floor. Simons into cap for 27 and if we are lucky maybe we can squeeze 36 from them as well?

straight into capspace? we'd be lucky to get 36

Ya assume that is the case.

Simons for Vincent, Maxi and Dalton works. Would open LAL up to using Reaves in a trade for a big. But I am hesitant to think they would take that route.