RealGM

UPDATE - live Off-Season competition

Open to all comers. Competitors will be judged by the following factors

- coaching upgrades
- trades
- player extensions (or not)
- draft picks
- overall cap management

Proposing that all submissions will be judged by a poll the day after the competition closes.

The competion closes the week before the draft at midnight, 19 June.

all the above except extentions

I remember that and I think it's a good idea to bring it back.

I like the concept but I think it should go to a poll not mods.

Great idea. I'd love to participate.

PDXKnight wrote:I like the concept but I think it should go to a poll not mods.

Good call, then they can participate

soobias wrote:all the above except extentions

PDXKnight wrote:I like the concept but I think it should go to a poll not mods.

Good call, then they can participate

soobias wrote:all the above except extentions

OR - why you would not do extenstions

Butter wrote:

PDXKnight wrote:I like the concept but I think it should go to a poll not mods.

Good call, then they can participate

Partipate indeed, we are all a family here pretty much

Oops, double post

it's hard for me to think about something like this because after 50 years as a Blazer fan I've never been so negative on the Blazers as I am now because of ownership and management

Jody+Vulcans+Seattle is about the worst ownership option I can imagine

and I think the decade of Olshey absolutely fracked the roster up so bad it will take years to correct. And I don't believe Cronin has the vision to do it. I'm about 80% convinced that he intends to go ahead with a Big-3 of Ant/Grant/Ayton and that's as good as buying a treadmill to run in in purgatory

it is those very 3 players that I'd set as the main trade-out priorities. And if it doesn't happen it really doesn't matter much what the supporting cast looks like

Wizenheimer wrote:it's hard for me to think about something like this because after 50 years as a Blazer fan I've never been so negative on the Blazers as I am now because of ownership and management

Jody+Vulcans+Seattle is about the worst ownership option I can imagine

and I think the decade of Olshey absolutely fracked the roster up so bad it will take years to correct. And I don't believe Cronin has the vision to do it. I'm about 80% convinced that he intends to go ahead with a Big-3 of Ant/Grant/Ayton and that's as good as buying a treadmill to run in in purgatory

it is those very 3 players that I'd set as the main trade-out priorities. And if it doesn't happen it really doesn't matter much what the supporting cast looks like

He would be the only person to think they are a Big-3. Can't imagine anyone else considering them a Big-3.

The Blazers are on the cusp of the salary apron, AS ONE OF THE WORST TEAMS IN THE LEAGUE.

My goal is simple, cut salary, acquire more 2025 draft capital.



TRADES
Trade #1

Portland Trades
Matisse Thybulle

Portland Receives
Evan Fournier ($19M expiring)

Why for Portland? Salary dump. Fournier's contract is a Team Option next year. The Blazers can keep him for a veteran mentor, OR cut him loose for cap relief. I really wanted to pull the Mavs pick to the Blazers, but sent it to the Pistons to make this deal happen.

Detroit Trades
Evan Fournier

Detroit Receives
Tim Hardaway Jr
Robert Williams III
2025 Dallas 1st

Why for Detroit? Pick up an extra draft pick to package for possible trade up next year. Hardaway offers an upgrade at SG. TL is a short term deal that can offer invaluable mentorship to Detroit’s young “not winners”

Dallas Trades
Tim Hardaway Jr
2025 Dallas 1st

Dallas Receives
Matisse Thybulle

Why for Dallas? The Mavs tried to grab Matisse last year as a FA. Let’s make dreams come true.


Trade #2
Portland Trades
Jeremi Grant
2026 2nd Memphis

Sacramento Trades
Harrison Barnes
Trey Lyles ($8M expiring)
#13 2024
Partial salary dump. Cut Lyles immediately. Barnes offers some veteran experience. The #13 can be part of additional trades.


Trade #3

Portland Trades
Anfernee Simons
Why for Portland. Salary dump. The key is the 2025 1st. Also, Cole can be a vet PG insurance if Brogdon goes down.

Orlando Trades
Cole Anthony
Orl 2025 1st (unprotected)
Why for Orlando? They absorb extra salary, but add a PERFECT compliment to Anthony Black.


Trade #4

Portland Trades
#13 (from Sacramento)
#14
Why for Blazers? They add another 2025 FRP!!!

OKC Trades
#11
2015 1st
Thunder get two shots on this year’s crap shoot and get a chance to test drive two rookies this year, vs 4 rookies next year.

2024 Draft
#7 Tidjane Salaun, PF
#11 Kel’el Ware, C
#40 Johnny Furphy, SG


Depth Chart
Portland Depth Chart
PG
Scoot Henderson
Malcom Brogdon
Anthony Cole

SG
Shaedon Sharp
Delano Banton
Johnny Furphy (R)

SF
Toumani Camara
Kris Murray
Rayan Rupert

PF
Harrison Barnes
Jabari Walker
Tidjane Salaun (R)

C
Deandre Ayton
Duop Reath
Kel’el Ware (R)

2025 Picks
Blazers #1
Orlando #1
OKC 1st (pending)


Coaching
Keep Billups for one more season. Next year the Blazers need a coach committed to player development who doesn't care about his record. A Larry Brown type coach. Punt till next year.

I'll post my ideal off season plan here, so I can focus on other things...

DRAFT
1) Riscacher
2) Sarr
3) Sheppard
4) Topic
5) Buzelis
6) *** Trade *** Bulls select Clingan
Hornets: #6 to Chicago for #11 + Thybulle + #40
Bulls: #11 to Hornets & '25 Portland to Blazers for #6
Blazers: Thybulle + #40 for '25 Portland pick returned
7) Blazers select Holland
....
14) *** Trade *** Knicks select Missi
Blazers: #14 to New York + Reath to Pels for #21 + #24
Knicks: #24 to Portland + #25 to Pels for #14
Pels: #21 to Portland for #25 + Reath
...
21) Blazers select Holmes (or Edey as backup choice)
24) Blazers select Dadiet
34) Blazers select AJ Johnson


FA & Trades
Trade 1
* Simons to Orlando for WCJ + '25 Den/Orl (best of)
* WCJ to Memphis for Kennard + '25 Mem
* Kennard + '25 Den + '25 Mem/Orl (best) to Portland for Simons

This should have Portland near $160M in salary (about $12M below the tax)

Final Depth Chart Entering Season
PG: Brogdon, Scoot
SG: Sharpe, Banton (Dadiet, Rupert)
SF: Grant, Kennard (Holland)
PF: Walker, Camara (Murray)
C: Ayton, Williams (Holmes)

2-Way: Johnson, Hagans, Badji

Future picks acquired: '25 Por, '25 Den/Orl, '25 Mem

During the season, we would look/consider trades for Grant, Brogdon, and Banton

Butter wrote:Portland Trades
Matisse Thybulle

Portland Receives
Evan Fournier ($19M expiring)

Why for Portland? Salary dump. Fournier's contract is a Team Option next year. The Blazers can keep him for a veteran mentor, OR cut him loose for cap relief. I really wanted to pull the Mavs pick to the Blazers, but sent it to the Pistons to make this deal happen.

FWIW I think they closed this loophole a few years ago. If you trade for a player with an option you basically have to pick it up now. We could have done at the trade deadline but just not during summer. Detroit seems to be getting the better player and the pick which is just a great deal for them, I think if we have to eat Fournier's last team option year while giving up Thybulle+Williams we should be demanding that pick.

DeBlazerRiddem wrote:

Butter wrote:Portland Trades
Matisse Thybulle

Portland Receives
Evan Fournier ($19M expiring)

Why for Portland? Salary dump. Fournier's contract is a Team Option next year. The Blazers can keep him for a veteran mentor, OR cut him loose for cap relief. I really wanted to pull the Mavs pick to the Blazers, but sent it to the Pistons to make this deal happen.

FWIW I think they closed this loophole a few years ago. If you trade for a player with an option you basically have to pick it up now. We could have done at the trade deadline but just not during summer. Detroit seems to be getting the better player and the pick which is just a great deal for them, I think if we have to eat Fournier's last team option year while giving up Thybulle+Williams we should be demanding that pick.

DVM - good catch, and thanks for the input. Without Fournier coming off this season, the Blazers cap savings are minimal this year, but pretty substantial next season.

TRADE 1

PDX TRADES
Jerami Grant, Kris Murray, Duop Reath, #40

SAC TRADES
Harrison Barnes, Davion Mitchell, #13

TRADE 2

PDX TRADES
Anfernee Simons, Robert Williams III

ORLANDO TRADES
Anthony Black, 2025 lower of ORL / DEN FRP

TRADE 3

PDX TRADES
#7, #13, 2025 lower of ORL / DEN FRP

WAS TRADES
#2

NBA DRAFT
#2 - Alexandre Sarr FC
#14 - Tristan da Silva F
#34 - Pacome Dadiet G

G - Scoot Henderson / Malcolm Brogdan / Davion Mitchell
G - Shadeon Sharpe / Dalano Banton / Pacome Dadiet
F - Matisse Thybulle / Anthony Black / Rayan Rupert
F - Harrison Barnes / Toumari Camara / Tristan da Silva
C - DeAndre Ayton / Alexandre Sarr / Jabari Walker JR

OK, so I think POR needs to go all in on maximizing Scoot's potential. What would help him reach his max potential? Pick & roil\Pick & pop big men, 3&D wings, shooters.

With that being said, here is what I would propose:

Love the WAS trade & it makes a ton of sense if POR goal is to MAXIMIZE Scoot's potential:

TRADE #1
ORL receives: Simons & 2nd round pick from POR (#34 or #40)
ORL trades: Cole Anthony (who they probably don't value anyway) & #18 to WAS and a 25' 1st round pick (best b\t DEN\ORL) to POR

WAS receives: Anthony, Walker, #14 and a 2nd round pick from POR (#34 or #40)
WAS trades: Deni Avdija & #18 to POR

POR receives: Denis Avdija & #18 from WAS and 25' 1st round pick from ORL
POR trades: Simons & #34 or #40 to ORL, Walker, #14 & #34 or #40 to WAS

WHY?
WAS- Clear the decks for Risacher who is likely to be #2, Avdija & Risacher share same position, they get #14 to address further holes in their roster, they take a swing on Anthony, Walker provides frontcourt depth and they get an additional 2nd round pick to take a flyer on another player. They need a lot of help\talent, and this trade helps with that.

ORL - Simons, homegrown son, shooter they need, ready to compete now, #18 and one of the two 25' 1st's is pretty slim to give up for that IMO

POR - Avidja good shooter\SF archetype, good contract, age fits with Scoot\Sharpe, Moving from #14 to #18 is negligble, 2nd round picks are flyers anyway, they have a lot of young players, this maximizes their value. Two 1st round rookies is enough (+ 25' rookies)

TRADE #2
POR Trades: Brogdon, Williams & #7 to HOU
POR Receives: #3, Landale, Tate & Adams

WHY?
HOU: Win now mode, receive Brogdon & Williams to move down 4 spots, too good to pass up
POR: Let's not kid ourselves, competition for #3 pick will be more fierce than people think, but this is pretty hard to pass up, PLUS POR insures they get 1 of SARR\RISACHER or CLINGAN, all of which fit the new directive, BUILD A TEAM AROUND SCOOT

DRAFT
@#3 POR selects: Donovan Clingan
let's face facts Sarr\Risacher are going #1/#2, and I have to say after reading\listening to more, Clingan is the no brainer move @ #3, and POR SHOULD try to get him.

WHY?
What is Scoot good at? He is built like a tank, very good at pick & roll\pop, so let's put players around him that MAXIMIZE his strengths. Clingan is that type player. Would I prefer Risacher\Sarr? Probably, but they are going #1/#2, if not I will be surprised. I buy into the observation that POR did NOT help Scoot out LY by surrounding him with players who either could not shoot (everyone but Grant\Simons?), clogged the paint (Ayton) and\or needed the ball in their hands (Brogdon\Simons). Do you believe that Scoot has elite talent? Then you need to build a team around him to maximize his strengths\deficeiences (RIP Dame).

Clingan has elite pick & roll skills, good vision, good defender, in a WC that has players with skilled big men that is important. None of the wing players available at #7 IMO have really distinguished themselves outside of Risacher IMO, over any other wing-type players THAT much more of a sure shot than what POR could get at #18? I am not so sure.

DRAFT
#3 POR selects: Donovan Clingan - pick & roll center to pair w\Scoot, I like Ayton, he could work, more of pick & pop IMO, but Clingan also provides insurance when Ayton's contract is up & could end up being a better fit w\Scoot.

#18 POR selects: A little harder to gauge, at this point in the draft is so wide open, but in preference (in order):

McCain - Great shooter & with Brogdon\Simons gone, there are minutes for him as #3 guard and he can shoot. Don't think he lasts to #18
Carter: Doubt he is there @ #18, but could be as good\beter than McCain
Furphy: Yes he is raw, yes he needs a few years, but has great size and great shooting instincts. Might be my preference @ #18
Christie: Lights out shooter, b\u to Sharpe in case that does not work out long term. Has the skills to complement Scoot
Dadiet: Real unknown, but if he can meet expectations could be a HR pick
Da Silva: POR has Camara (more defense) & Murray (TBD), Da Silva provides another option, best man wins. Goal 3 & D

ROTATION

PG: Scoot, Banton
SG: Sharpe,Rupert, Furphy
SF: Avdija,Camara, Thybulle, Tate
PF: Grant, Murray
C: Ayton, Clingan, Adams. Reath

Again, I think people are drastically underrating the value of Deni.

Agreed, the Wizards board is laughing there is a thread about trading Deni.