Game 68: Portland vs New Orleans 4:00pm Root

[DusterBuster]

It would get interesting if Portland ended up with the second pick. Would drafting Scoot lead to
a Dame trade?

No, it would lead to a draft pick trade. Either trade down or trade out.

[zzaj]

Good for the tank, I guess…I had forgotten that the odds got flattened. I got #1 or #2, 4 times out of 10 on Tankathon.

My issue is there aren’t any players I really like in the lotto other thank Wemby—especially if Ant and Sharpe are going to be the future. Believe it or not probably my next favorite prospect is Taylor Hendricks…

[The Sebastian Express]

This was such a huge loss combined with a huge win by OKC, who's now two games up on us. I think we've got one game left against them and I believe they've beaten us three times so far this year. We're in prime position to hit 5/6. I don't know if we can catch Orlando for fifth, but..

Doesn't a tied record result in a coin flip for the lotto?

It does. Tied records in lottery are determined by coin flips where in play-ins/playoffs they're determined by stuff like division record, conference record, h2h etc.

[The Sebastian Express]

It would get interesting if Portland ended up with the second pick. Would drafting Scoot lead to
a Dame trade?

No, it would lead to a draft pick trade. Either trade down or trade out.

I think the only pick they wouldn't trade is one. They maybe wouldn't trade two if Simons plus Sharpe plus future picks could pull Embiid or similar - but let's be honest, it wouldn't. They'd want that lotto pick.

Now if it's two I'd hope they'd try to keep Sharpe and trade Simons + #2 plus future picks.. but who knows.

[JasonStern]

Read on Twitter

[Norm2953]

It would get interesting if Portland ended up with the second pick. Would drafting Scoot lead to
a Dame trade?

No, it would lead to a draft pick trade. Either trade down or trade out.

It would be interesting though if Scoot's 2023 pre-draft workout was tremendous. If his workout
suggests he will be a franchise PG, most teams would make room for him.

Think about who the teams who likely be at 3 from the Spurs, Rockets, PIstons or Magic.
One of these teams would be picking at 1 to get Victor but which of the remaining teams be
willing to offer anything worthwhile in a trade down?

[Norm2953]

It would get interesting if Portland ended up with the second pick. Would drafting Scoot lead to
a Dame trade?

No, it would lead to a draft pick trade. Either trade down or trade out.

I think the only pick they wouldn't trade is one. They maybe wouldn't trade two if Simons plus Sharpe plus future picks could pull Embiid or similar - but let's be honest, it wouldn't. They'd want that lotto pick.

Now if it's two I'd hope they'd try to keep Sharpe and trade Simons + #2 plus future picks.. but who knows.

C'mon now, Philly would not trade Emblid for anything less than a trade package which brings back a big man
replacement +other multiple assets. Portland has no big man replacement to include in such a trade

[Norm2953]

Good for the tank, I guess…I had forgotten that the odds got flattened. I got #1 or #2, 4 times out of 10 on Tankathon.

My issue is there aren’t any players I really like in the lotto other thank Wemby—especially if Ant and Sharpe are going to be the future. Believe it or not probably my next favorite prospect is Taylor Hendricks…

Scoot is going to be a solid pro. Whether he's pure PG remains to be seen and his pre-draft workouts
will determine whether he's that much better than everyone else not named Victor. If Portland could find
the 2023 draft's version of Jeremy Sochan, they'd be doing fine.

[valleyman33]

Not sure what they are going to do with a high draft pick, but whoever they get it won't matter if Chauncy is still the coach! How may games this season have we lost big leads because he is outcoached?? I think most teams would have fired him after the last two games.

[BlazersBroncos]

If we get #2 IMO thats enough for Butler or Pascal w/o including SS. Maybe even get a pick back. I think Scoot will be that highly sought over.

Something like Simons, Nurkic, #2 for Butler, #19.

Then us MLE on a C, go BPA w/ NYK and MIA FRP.

G - Damian Lillard / FRP
G - Matisse Thybulle / Shadeon Sharpe
F - Jimmy Butler / Cam Reddish
F - Jerami Grant / Nas Little
C - Mason Plumlee (MLE) / Drew Eubanks / FRP

[mighty_duck]

Simons is not a point guard. Trading Dame to build around Simons is, in my opinion, a terrible idea.

If the Sixers flameout in the playoffs this summer you absolutely see if they're interested in Simons, Sharpe plus any pick 2-8 plus future picks to try to pair Dame with Embiid here.

Simons isn't the answer. Trading Dame to clear room for him and building the future isn't the answer either imo. Dame is having the best year of his career and has shown he's still got it in him.

If you want to build around Simons, then you need to pair him with a tall, defensive minded point guard.
A Dejounte Murray type would be ideal.
But as nice as he is, if Simons is your #1 guy, you won't be winning many playoff games.

[BlazersBroncos]

Simons is not a point guard. Trading Dame to build around Simons is, in my opinion, a terrible idea.

If the Sixers flameout in the playoffs this summer you absolutely see if they're interested in Simons, Sharpe plus any pick 2-8 plus future picks to try to pair Dame with Embiid here.

Simons isn't the answer. Trading Dame to clear room for him and building the future isn't the answer either imo. Dame is having the best year of his career and has shown he's still got it in him.

If you want to build around Simons, then you need to pair him with a tall, defensive minded point guard.
A Dejounte Murray type would be ideal.
But as nice as he is, if Simons is your #1 guy, you won't be winning many playoff games.

I dont think Simons is a #2 caliber talent either. I think he falls into the bucket of scoring guards that dont bring much else, or get to the FT line much, like Clarkson, Poole and Herro. I dont think any of those guys are #2s, and even as a #3 its a 'we could improve on this guy' #3.

[zzaj]

Good for the tank, I guess…I had forgotten that the odds got flattened. I got #1 or #2, 4 times out of 10 on Tankathon.

My issue is there aren’t any players I really like in the lotto other thank Wemby—especially if Ant and Sharpe are going to be the future. Believe it or not probably my next favorite prospect is Taylor Hendricks…

Scoot is going to be a solid pro. Whether he's pure PG remains to be seen and his pre-draft workouts
will determine whether he's that much better than everyone else not named Victor. If Portland could find
the 2023 draft's version of Jeremy Sochan, they'd be doing fine.

I could get behind Scoot. I would be a bit worried about his outside shooting. Hard to tell if this year shooting at league average is an anomaly vs. his atrocious numbers last year, or what (his FT% is fairly meh). But he’s obviously a great passer and a complete physical specimen. His FT rate should be fine, given the Gleague nonsense of 1 FT.

If he completely wows in workouts and in a place to draft him, this is one of the only scenarios where I’d look at the possibility of trading Lillard if I’m GM. Getting a legit AS PF/C back could change the trajectory of this team. ESPECIALLY if they ditch Chauncey and hire a legitimate coach and get their team management together.

Henderson
Ant
Sharpe
All-Star

That’s a young core that would probably lose a lot, but that I could get behind as a fan.

[DaVoiceMaster]

He's played 8 now. But two shots and eight minutes in a game where we're down thirty IN THE THIRD is ridiculous. Infuriating.

Chauncey is a **** idiot. With Dame sitting and the team clearly tanking, why the **** did he not start Shaedon next to Anfernee???? Are they not the future of this team?

Because he needs Reddiah to facilitate the offense since Simons clearly can't do it. I'm fine with that. I am not fine with Sharpe only getting 3 1/2 minutes in the first half. If I started Sharpe, it would be in place of Thybulle. Sit Lillard, Simons, Grant, and Nurkic the rest of the year and play the young'ns.

[The Sebastian Express]

No, it would lead to a draft pick trade. Either trade down or trade out.

I think the only pick they wouldn't trade is one. They maybe wouldn't trade two if Simons plus Sharpe plus future picks could pull Embiid or similar - but let's be honest, it wouldn't. They'd want that lotto pick.

Now if it's two I'd hope they'd try to keep Sharpe and trade Simons + #2 plus future picks.. but who knows.

C'mon now, Philly would not trade Emblid for anything less than a trade package which brings back a big man
replacement +other multiple assets. Portland has no big man replacement to include in such a trade

Okay, norm. You're right. If they explored trading Embiid (which I'm not saying they will), they're going to look at the #2 + Simons + Sharpe plus a buttload of first round picks and say, "You know. It just doesn't have any type of bigman. Can't do it." That's going to be what kills any deal. DEfinitely.

[DaVoiceMaster]

This was such a huge loss combined with a huge win by OKC, who's now two games up on us. I think we've got one game left against them and I believe they've beaten us three times so far this year. We're in prime position to hit 5/6. I don't know if we can catch Orlando for fifth, but..

One again, I am stewing with rage that the Blazers won that game in Orlando.

Let it out big boy! Don't hold it in.

[Norm2953]

It'll be interesting to see who emerges as the #2 big from this draft for that's what Portland
needs, which is a guy who is big & strong enough to make the team competitive underneath
both baskets. Team has been looking for such a player since LA left town in 2015.

Teams are loathe to trade such players unless they get someone back who could be that player
which is why I'm skeptical we can trade for such a player, even if we got the #2 pick, unless that
guy was a pain in the butt.

It will be interesting to see what the team does this summer for if the team cans Chauncey, would
the team ask Stotts to come back?

[Brandon-Clyde]

It'll be interesting to see who emerges as the #2 big from this draft for that's what Portland
needs, which is a guy who is big & strong enough to make the team competitive underneath
both baskets. Team has been looking for such a player since LA left town in 2015.

Teams are loathe to trade such players unless they get someone back who could be that player
which is why I'm skeptical we can trade for such a player, even if we got the #2 pick, unless that
guy was a pain in the butt.

It will be interesting to see what the team does this summer for if the team cans Chauncey, would
the team ask Stotts to come back?

If Detroit or Charlotte end up with the #1 pick Portland should look at Duren or Williams in exchange for their pick. Of course depending on where Portland's pick ends up further details would need to be worked out.

[Norm2953]

Charlotte though has Melo who would fit like a glove with Victor and would not need Scoot
while Detroit has Ivey and Cunningham already in the BC. Detroit has cap space and if they
got the #1 pick, might make a run at Grant to complete the FC.

The team I'd approach is Magic who I've always thought are a good match for a trade partner
with Portland. Portland could do the Simons for WCJ trade and just keep Scoot to be Dame's
eventual replacement

[zzaj]

It will be interesting to see what the team does this summer for if the team cans Chauncey, would
the team ask Stotts to come back?

My sense is that the Stotts ship has sailed as long as Lillard is on the team. But who knows…I’d certainly prefer him over Chauncey.

The two coaches which seem like natural hires to me are Frank Vogel and Quin Snyder. Both have a proven track record of winning basketball from behind the clipboard, which is far more than what Billups has to offer. Of course, if CB is actually Lillard’s “guy” as has been reported? It’s probably all moot anyway…