Trade Deadline Approaches

[The Sebastian Express]

I don't know why you're saying he milked his injury. There's no evidence to support that and I think it's insulting to someone who has worked so hard for so long to get into the league to say they milked an injury to not have to play.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

I don't know why you're saying he milked his injury. There's no evidence to support that and I think it's insulting to someone who has worked so hard for so long to get into the league to say they milked an injury to not have to play.

Yeah, I dont get that either. Coming back from injury can be unpredictable and you dont want to rush someone. Plus he was just starting to trend in the right direction, so we trade him once he finally starts playing for us because he previously didn't? Because we cut bait when he finally got heathy we basically just paid to rehab and get him back into game shape perfect for GS. It doesn't make a lot of sense. The most important role he had for us anyways was as a playoff stopper. It's fine to punt on that roll a bit during the regular season, especially the early regular season, but you bring a guy like GP2 out in the late season and playoffs to throw other teams and stars off their game. Although, I guess by that same analysis that player is kind of not needed if you cant even make the playoffs...

I'm pretty disappointed with this trade deadline, Hart and GP2 were some of the only players who brought defensive intensity (although I thought Hart was overrated on that end). I know Thybulle should hopefully help with that and Nas seems to be playing that energy role pretty well but still, those are the type of players I want to stockpile around Dame, not passive low intensity players like Reddish.

After having sold some of our best plus-minus players at the trade deadline I dont know how we can expect to pass any of the teams ahead of us and LA made moves so will quickly be sniffing on our heels, so clearly we must be fine with another lottery pick. I cannot imagine how Dame must feel about that when he is having one of his best seasons ever and another year wasted of his peak prime. Are we going to appease his ego and fight for a play-in spot, making believe that Dame heroics can pull us from a 10th seeded team into a playoff champion? And dont doubt that he could put up a couple magnificent play-in games and guarantee we give Chicago the 15th pick, but is that really what is best for the team going forward? If we dont fight for the playoffs though, is Grant going to want to stick around, are we going to want to pay what it takes to get Grant to stick around? Like if we were sellers at the deadline then we should have moved him too.

This team will just NOT pick a damn lane.

[Case2012]

So say we get a lottery pick, then what? The point of accumulating these assets should be to make a splashy trade since Dame is under contract and still in his prime, but most likely we just take the bpa that probably will take a few years to develop. Hopefully if we go that route we actually push our chips in, but I don't see it.

[Embiid P]

Sixers fan here who comes in peace. I'm late but I just wanted to say congrats on acquiring Thybulle. You're getting one helluva defensive player whose length and lateral quickness can make life miserable for smaller opposing guards and is a steal and deflection machine who can generate easy fast break opportunities. The only negative aspect about his defense is that he occasionally commits dumb fouls by being overly aggressive.

Offensively, he doesn't provide much except for putbacks, occasional ally oops and lay-ups off the pick and roll as well as fast break dunks as a result of his steals. Expect opposing defenses to regularly leave him wide open on the perimeter but once in a while he'll hit one.

All in all he's a solid acquisition. Hopefully he's found a new long-term home in Portland. Good luck!

[Norm2953]

Thybulle likely has a place in Portland, on a team with three ball dominant players in Dame, Ant and Grant

[red_power]

Good freaking riddance, he was gonna be a bad contract anyway.

Yep, GSW literally served as a life saving jacket in this situation. Blazers FO is really lucky to bail out from the situation on such favorable terms.

[JasonStern]

Don't the Blazers still need to get rid of a player? They had one open roster position to begin with, sent out two players are are receiving 4 players in return. That doesn't add up.

According to the tweet above:

Cam Reddish, Matisse Thybulle, Ryan Arcidiacono (presumably will be waived), Kevin Knox

From Spotrac:

Arcidiacono is being traded and will not take the court for the Trail Blazers.

So, that would get the roster down to 15.

Bummer. Ryan Arcidiacono could have been the next Sauce Castillo.

Blazers waived GB2 to get down to the 15 man limit. One guy went to last deal and other presumably will be released.

Sad he didn't pan out. Guy had amazing athleticism.

Olshey wouldn't trade 4 firsts and CJ for harden, Paul George, or Butler and could have according to Haynes. Instead he used those picks on Collins, Afflalo, Nance and Roco. Portland didn't do what they could, they mismanaged assets to a shocking degree. Putrid effort. Idk now much of it is on Cronin or on Paul, Jody and Burt but the last 2 need to go before I can be a fan of this team I think. It's a slap in the face to Lillard and the fans the way they run this team.

Butler didn't even need rookie contract CJ and 4 firsts. Wizenheimer will correct me, as he didn't drink his brain away, but I think the rumors were 2 firsts - including the lotto pick that became Zach Collins. Another thing you can add to your "why are the Blazers a .500 team wasting Dame's career?" list. That was Bulls era. I think Olshey blew too many assets to get Butler when he was traded from Minnesota and Philadelphia.

Thybulle has tons of defensive ability with zero offense and it sounds like Philly fans consider him a bust. So much has changed in 2 years before philly fans didn't want to give him up for anything

I am excited for Thybulle. With a change of scenery, he could be the next Josh Hart. Oh, wait.

I've been a massive Thybulle fan since he was at UW (go Huskies!)

So say we get a lottery pick, then what? The point of accumulating these assets should be to make a splashy trade since Dame is under contract and still in his prime, but most likely we just take the bpa that probably will take a few years to develop. Hopefully if we go that route we actually push our chips in, but I don't see it.

Honestly, drafting rookie contract players is in Portland's best interest. We already lost 3 firsts recently with the Covington and Nance trades. The alternative is Cronin trotting out Mario Hezonja as his big, splashy off-season acquisition - assuming the intent is not to pay luxury tax.