Any Rumors

[Norm2953]

Has anyone heard any rumors involving Portland? It's been awfully quiet for there no talk of Portland
at any of the workouts and no talk of Portland being particularly active in either free agency or in
draft talk. Are they just going to pick the BPA at 16 and hope the Jaylen Hoard's of the world develop?

[DeBlazerRiddem]

The only player I seem to remember us being linked to in any meaningful way is Scrubb.

I also saw us linked to Pokusevski but I think that was more "he is in their range" rather than "Portland showed interest".

[Norm2953]

The Atlantic is saying Portland may take RJ Hampton at 16. That might a decent pick but I wonder where he would play with Dame/CJ along with Simons and GTJ. Are we going to play 4 guards with Nurk?

[DaVoiceMaster]

Portland never seems to be interested in any trades. I miss the days of Trader Bob.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

The Atlantic is saying Portland may take RJ Hampton at 16. That might a decent pick but I wonder where he would play with Dame/CJ along with Simons and GTJ. Are we going to play 4 guards with Nurk?

I keep seeing Dante Exum 2.0 in him. I know its not fair because injuries limited Exum's career, but still I irrationally fear he will never reach his potential.

[Khazim]

The Atlantic is saying Portland may take RJ Hampton at 16. That might a decent pick but I wonder where he would play with Dame/CJ along with Simons and GTJ. Are we going to play 4 guards with Nurk?

I keep seeing Dante Exum 2.0 in him. I know its not fair because injuries limited Exum's career, but still I irrationally fear he will never reach his potential.

I'm in the same boat. Too many parallels, and it's not like Exum was looking all that great before his injury either.

[BlazersBroncos]

I see alot of Jordan Clarkson in RJ Hampton. I dont think he is a true creating PG (Which we need) or a good enough shooter to play SG full time. Just not that big of a fan. If your convinced he is BPA, sure take him despite having zero starting caliber forwards on the team.

[Norm2953]

The Atlantic article did say there were some wild stories involving Portland but it would seem nuts to take
Scrubb at 16 which is why they think the choice will be RJ Hampton. Real chance Portland's pick will be the
first curve ball in the draft.

[Village Idiot]

FYI its called The Athletic, not Atlantic. John Hollinger was pretty openly speculating regarding Portland in that article.

16. Portland – R.J. Hampton, SG, New Zealand Breakers
I’ve heard some wild stuff here — I mean like, wild stuff — but I’m not sure how much of it to believe. So I’ll go with the known on Neil Olshey’s track record: if he’s not getting a high-skill guy in the lottery, he prefers to work with raw clay. Toolsy, teenage, high-school All-Americans, preferably, with shooting optional. Nassir Little a year ago, Anfernee Simons before that, Eric Bledsoe with the Clippers … he has a type.

Of the available players, I would say Hampton is the one who best fits the mold. Hampton isn’t ready, but the Blazers believe strongly in their player development program and don’t mind waiting on results. Of the players remaining on the board, he arguably has the greatest upside.

I can understand the other argument, that Portland should be in more of a win-now mode and try to add another wing shooter. It would be especially tempting if one of Aaron Nesmith or Saddiq Bey is on the board, but they’re gone in this mock.

Back to crazy town for a minute: One name I’ve heard here is prep-to-pro Jay Scrubb, who is on the same path Simons took. But surely the Blazers would be targeting him at 46, not at 16 …. right?

[d-train]

Portland never seems to be interested in any trades. I miss the days of Trader Bob.

If you subtract the Whitsitt trades for overpaid players that couldn't be done under today's CBA, you don't have much left. Building an NBA team the way Whitsitt did isn't even possible today.

The team Bucky Buckwalter built in the mid 80's was built the way a team has to be built now. Most of the team was built before Paul Allen bought the Blazers.

[JasonStern]

Read on Twitter

Follow up trades:
Ariza+16 for Beverley
Trent for Kim Kardashian
Simons for Paris Hilton

VH1 pays the luxury tax

[Norm2953]

Westbrook looks like a fit for the Knicks but who knows what is going on with Portland.

Likely there are some contingency trades that could get done if player XX falls into the late
lottery or perhaps the Rockets suddenly have a fire sale.

[d-train]

Read on Twitter

Blazers would say hell no to that trade. Westbrook is very good, maybe better than CJ, but not a good fit. CJ is able to play off Lillard without overlapping skills reducing production. I believe Westbrook's production would reduce next to Lillard, or Lillard would have to be less aggressive to accommodate Westbrook.

I also doubt Pacers would make that deal, but it's a closer call.

Rockets wouldn't consider the Cavs or Kings deals for a second.

[Sinobas]

I'd trade CJ and Collins for RW just for the fun of it. I used to be a Collins fan but think he's a bust now. I'm just tired of CJ.

Westbrook would give us some toughness.

[Norm2953]

I'd trade CJ and Collins for RW just for the fun of it. I used to be a Collins fan but think he's a bust now. I'm just tired of CJ.

Westbrook would give us some toughness.

I wouldn't do a Westbrook trade but doing such a trade would make Portland into the 2020 Rockets, a likely
more interesting team than the 2021 Blazers will be.

[Goldbum]

Westbrook has a ball dominate game that will likely gos along with his athleticism. Ad to that his lack of self awareness and the history he had with Dame and i have to say no way.

[VCfor3]

Read on Twitter

Follow up trades:
Ariza+16 for Beverley
Trent for Kim Kardashian
Simons for Paris Hilton

VH1 pays the luxury tax

Gross.

Every one of those RW ideas aside from Cleveland. Gross.

[Soulyss]

Neil Olshey runs a very tight ship and generally avoids the rumor mill. If you are hearing a rumor about Portland, and it's not from WoJ... it's probaby dead and buried and being leaked by another team. Olshey only leaks info to WOJ he wants out there, so if it comes from WoJ, it probably represents something Portland is ACTUALLY looking at.

It will be interesting to see if NeO is aggressive or not... we also don't know what kind of constraints he's working under from ownership.

[Blazinaway]

Per WOJ trading can begin Monday 12 noon est

[Blazinaway]

Looks like Schroeder to Lakers for Green and #28 per Woj is likely