What should the Blazers do about the center spot?

[BlazersBroncos]

AD plays like 50% of the time. No way I move Dame for him.

Dame is head and shoulders above all the other talent we have, he is the engine that makes this team purr. Remove him and we arent even using the car analogy anymore, more like a stagecoach.

[Blazers20]

Nurkic-Simons-Hart for Pozingas 7’3-Kuzma 6’10-Deni 6’9 (+5.1pp / +1rpg / -2apg)

Blazers add scoring, size and versatility.


Dame-Demi-Kuzma-Grant-Porzingas

[Village Idiot]

Wendell Carter Jr. could be a good target since he can play PF alongside Nurkic giving us a long line-up or play C. He's a real solid defender. He's also on a bargain contract. $14.1M, $13.0M, $11.9M, $10.8M

Watch on YouTube

Portland trades:

Anfernee Simons
Nassir Little

Portland receives:

Wendell Carter
Terrence Ross
2023 Portland 1st returned from Chicago

Orlando trades:

Wendell Carter
Terrence Ross
2023 Chicago 1st returned to Chicago

Orlando receives:

Anfernee Simons
Nassir Little

Chicago trades:

2023 Portland 1st returned from Chicago

Chicago receives:

2023 Chicago 1st returned from Orlando

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Dieng could be a cheap way to bolster the position.

[tester551]

Wendell Carter Jr. could be a good target since he can play PF alongside Nurkic giving us a long line-up or play C. He's a real solid defender. He's also on a bargain contract. $14.1M, $13.0M, $11.9M, $10.8M

Watch on YouTube

Portland trades:

Anfernee Simons
Nassir Little

Portland receives:

Wendell Carter
Terrence Ross
2023 Portland 1st returned from Chicago

Orlando trades:

Wendell Carter
Terrence Ross
2023 Chicago 1st returned to Chicago

Orlando receives:

Anfernee Simons
Nassir Little

Chicago trades:

2023 Portland 1st returned from Chicago

Chicago receives:

2023 Chicago 1st returned from Orlando

I like the idea of Carter for Simons, but I don't think Orlando would include the Bulls pick.

IF Orlando would do that, then why in the world would you trade Chicago's pick for Portland's? Chicago's pick is only top 4 protected. The Bulls pick is likely going to land between #7 and #14.
Portland's pick is lotto protected, meaning it is guaranteed to be higher than #14... This is not a good trade.


I suppose you are using the mistaken assumption that because Portland's pick is lotto protected, that it is blocking the possibility of trading future picks?
There are several issues with that narrative:
1) You have to assume that there is an immediate trade on the table Portland is trying to execute (there's no scuttlebutt out there right now).
2) Portland can just remove the protections on the pick and guarantee Chicago gets the pick in '23. For those saying that Portland can't without Chicago's permission... why in the world would Chicago NOT want a potential lotto pick this year? There is no downside for the Bulls to resist the change in protections.
3) The protections on the pick will likely only be a minor concern for the next 6-weeks. After the trade deadline in February, the next time teams can trade will be after the season is over. By then Portland will likely be in the playoffs, and the '23 pick will be officially Chicago's to use. All of the future Portland picks will not be encumbered.