2023 NBA Draft (tonight's discussion on pg 58)

[zzaj]

IMHO, trading this upcoming draft pick + future 1st round pick(s) for a marginal “star” on another team would be disastrous for the franchise. The return is almost never worth it in those types of trades, and to mortgage hope for the future simply to team an aging Lillard with a ‘cross our fingers-hope they fit’ player? Or a rental like Doncic if he was somehow, magically available? Again, not my style…

Arguably, the last great team Portland had was built out of the draft. It’s always been Portland’s best tool for success. One could argue that the Pippen era team had him as a non-drafted player…but every other good player on that roster was drafted by Portland, or developed early by Portland.


Our best hope is to catch lightning in a bottle in the draft, IMHO.

[Goldbum]

I've read so many comments talking about the poor trade value of 1st round picks... so isn't this the time to sell our assets for high returns?

[DusterBuster]

IMHO, trading this upcoming draft pick + future 1st round pick(s) for a marginal “star” on another team would be disastrous for the franchise. The return is almost never worth it in those types of trades, and to mortgage hope for the future simply to team an aging Lillard with a ‘cross our fingers-hope they fit’ player? Or a rental like Doncic if he was somehow, magically available? Again, not my style…

Arguably, the last great team Portland had was built out of the draft. It’s always been Portland’s best tool for success. One could argue that the Pippen era team had him as a non-drafted player…but every other good player on that roster was drafted by Portland, or developed early by Portland.


Our best hope is to catch lightning in a bottle in the draft, IMHO.

That's not accurate. Stoudamire was drafted by Toronto and Rasheed was drafted by... the Bullets/Wizards if memory serves correctly. Pretty sure the large majority of that era of team was all trades and FA. Detlef Schrempf drafted by the Pacers, Steve Smith by Miami, Brian Grant drafted by Kings, Greg Anthony by the Knicks... The only players drafted by Portland on that roster was Sabas, Bonzi and Jermaine O'Neal.

[BlazersBroncos]

I do think there could be a way to get OG and Myles w/o using Sharpe -

PDX - Jusuf Nurkic, 5, 23
TOR - OG, 13

Then

PDX OUT - Simons, 13
PDX IN - Myles Turner

ORL OUT - JI, 12
ORL IN - Simons

IND OUT - Turner
IND IN - JI, 12, 13

Maybe we could get Duarte from IND as well?

G - Damian Lillard / ???
G - Matisse Thybulle / Shadeon Sharpe
F - OG Anunoby / Nas Little
F - Jerami Grant / Trendon Watford
C - Myles Turner / Drew Eubanks

[DusterBuster]

I do think there could be a way to get OG and Myles w/o using Sharpe -

PDX - Jusuf Nurkic, 5, 23
TOR - OG, 13

Then

PDX OUT - Simons, 13
PDX IN - Myles Turner

ORL OUT - JI, 12
ORL IN - Simons

IND OUT - Turner
IND IN - JI, 12, 13

Maybe we could get Duarte from IND as well?

G - Damian Lillard / ???
G - Matisse Thybulle / Shadeon Sharpe
F - OG Anunoby / Nas Little
F - Jerami Grant / Trendon Watford
C - Myles Turner / Drew Eubanks

Toronto is not going to accept any OG trade without Sharpe. You can book it that they'll make him a must-have in any deal, which should kill any deal immediately for OG imo. I think OG is pretty overrated anyway.

[Norm2953]

I'm wondering how radioactive Gobert is for Portland could offer Nurk + Ant in a trade for Gobert.

[zzaj]

IMHO, trading this upcoming draft pick + future 1st round pick(s) for a marginal “star” on another team would be disastrous for the franchise. The return is almost never worth it in those types of trades, and to mortgage hope for the future simply to team an aging Lillard with a ‘cross our fingers-hope they fit’ player? Or a rental like Doncic if he was somehow, magically available? Again, not my style…

Arguably, the last great team Portland had was built out of the draft. It’s always been Portland’s best tool for success. One could argue that the Pippen era team had him as a non-drafted player…but every other good player on that roster was drafted by Portland, or developed early by Portland.


Our best hope is to catch lightning in a bottle in the draft, IMHO.

That's not accurate. Stoudamire was drafted by Toronto and Rasheed was drafted by... the Bullets/Wizards if memory serves correctly. Pretty sure the large majority of that era of team was all trades and FA. Detlef Schrempf drafted by the Pacers, Steve Smith by Miami, Brian Grant drafted by Kings, Greg Anthony by the Knicks... The only players drafted by Portland on that roster was Sabas, Bonzi and Jermaine O'Neal.

Well, that’s why I put “developed by”—Sheed came here after a 1 season. But you’re right about the others…I was thinking Stoudamire and Grant came over after year 2, but it was later than that. Smith I just plum forgot about…

[Jsun947]

I do think there could be a way to get OG and Myles w/o using Sharpe -

PDX - Jusuf Nurkic, 5, 23
TOR - OG, 13

Then

PDX OUT - Simons, 13
PDX IN - Myles Turner

ORL OUT - JI, 12
ORL IN - Simons

IND OUT - Turner
IND IN - JI, 12, 13

Maybe we could get Duarte from IND as well?

G - Damian Lillard / ???
G - Matisse Thybulle / Shadeon Sharpe
F - OG Anunoby / Nas Little
F - Jerami Grant / Trendon Watford
C - Myles Turner / Drew Eubanks

Toronto is not going to accept any OG trade without Sharpe. You can book it that they'll make him a must-have in any deal, which should kill any deal immediately for OG imo. I think OG is pretty overrated anyway.

I think there is a strong chance that Gary Trent Jr jumps from Toronto to another team, and in that case Simons is actually a really good fit with their guys, including their best prospect, Barnes. There could be a deal we could figure out revolving around Simons

[zzaj]

I'm wondering how radioactive Gobert is for Portland could offer Nurk + Ant in a trade for Gobert.

I doubt it would happen, in fact I’m not dure it can… but I’d do it in a heartbeat. Imagine if the Blazers got #1 and suddenly had their own “French Connection”…that length at PF/C would have to be a record.

Lillard
Sharpe
Wemby (at his preferred PF)
Gobert

Now THAT is a team I could get behind.

[BlazersBroncos]

I am pretty wary on Gobert. He seems to not be well liked by his teammates, both in Utah and Minny. Add in his enormous contract and offensive limitations, plus his dramatic drop in all advanced metrics this year (Granted his fit for the Wolves is horrible) and its a big risk.

He is owed 41M, 44M, 47M. That is a tremendous amount for a guy that isnt more than a garbage man on offense.

I also dont think Minnesota can justify moving him after the cost last summer.

I would actually try for Kyle. Nas for Anderson would be a great move. Kyle is perennially underrated. Great defender, connector on offense and his 3PT shot seems to have returned. MIN takes the young guy and alleviates the beef b/t Gobert and Anderson.

[DaVoiceMaster]

I'm wondering how radioactive Gobert is for Portland could offer Nurk + Ant in a trade for Gobert.

I doubt it would happen, in fact I’m not dure it can… but I’d do it in a heartbeat. Imagine if the Blazers got #1 and suddenly had their own “French Connection”…that length at PF/C would have to be a record.

Hakeem Olajuwan (7'0) & Ralph Sampson (7'5)

[JasonStern]

There is going to be some disappointed Blazers fans when Cronin's big move is Simons+Little for DeRozan, bringing Grant and Thybulle back, using both picks on rookies that won't contribute much, and filling out the rest of the roster with minimum contracts.

[DusterBuster]

There is going to be some disappointed Blazers fans when Cronin's big move is Simons+Little for DeRozan, bringing Grant and Thybulle back, using both picks on rookies that won't contribute much, and filling out the rest of the roster with minimum contracts.

I actually think you’re probably pretty close to what I’m predicting too. Cronin has openly admitted they’ve been in regular contact with the Bulls to discuss possible ways to pay off that pick debt. If the Bulls flame out in the playin, I suspect they’ll look to move one of DeRozen or LaVine. I could definitely see a world where talk originating about the pick debt from the two teams turns into a bigger deal where Ant, the Blazers lottery pick (if it drops after the lottery) and some seconds for DeRozen and the Blazers pick returned. Then they resign Grant and some vets at the min and call it a summer, so you end with a roster next year of:

Lillard
Sharpe
DeRozen
Grant
Nurk

I mean… it would be… better? /shrug

Not exactly competing at the highest level caliber, but DeRozen is a big upgrade on the wing.

[zzaj]

I'm wondering how radioactive Gobert is for Portland could offer Nurk + Ant in a trade for Gobert.

I doubt it would happen, in fact I’m not dure it can… but I’d do it in a heartbeat. Imagine if the Blazers got #1 and suddenly had their own “French Connection”…that length at PF/C would have to be a record.

Hakeem Olajuwan (7'0) & Ralph Sampson (7'5)

Gobert (7’9”)
Wemby (8’0”)

[zzaj]

There is going to be some disappointed Blazers fans when Cronin's big move is Simons+Little for DeRozan, bringing Grant and Thybulle back, using both picks on rookies that won't contribute much, and filling out the rest of the roster with minimum contracts.

I actually think you’re probably pretty close to what I’m predicting too. Cronin has openly admitted they’ve been in regular contact with the Bulls to discuss possible ways to pay off that pick debt. If the Bulls flame out in the playin, I suspect they’ll look to move one of DeRozen or LaVine. I could definitely see a world where talk originating about the pick debt from the two teams turns into a bigger deal where Ant, the Blazers lottery pick (if it drops after the lottery) and some seconds for DeRozen and the Blazers pick returned. Then they resign Grant and some vets at the min and call it a summer, so you end with a roster next year of:

Lillard
Sharpe
DeRozen
Grant
Nurk

I mean… it would be… better? /shrug

Not exactly competing at the highest level caliber, but DeRozen is a big upgrade on the wing.

I think Derozan is a better fit than Ant, probably no question. The issue with that lineup is there wouldn’t be enough basketballs…

[Norm2953]

It will gall Nurk even more to be the fifth option, having to rebound and play defense and never getting
any touches of the ball

[Village Idiot]

not at all interested in Gobert at that salary. We (especially GEE) can hope we move ahead of Charlotte in the lottery. We are currently at 5 and they are at 4. If we get the third and they slide to 5

Charlotte trades:

5
27
Mark Williams


Portland trades

3

This assumes Jarace Walker is the target and will still be on the board at 5.

[DusterBuster]

It will gall Nurk even more to be the fifth option, having to rebound and play defense and never getting
any touches of the ball

Until he can play more than 50 games, I don’t care what Nurk wants.

[BlazersBroncos]

not at all interested in Gobert at that salary. We (especially GEE) can hope we move ahead of Charlotte in the lottery. We are currently at 5 and they are at 4. If we get the third and they slide to 5

Charlotte trades:

5
27
Mark Williams


Portland trades

3

This assumes Jarace Walker is the target and will still be on the board at 5.

I would do this, but CHA would really need to love Brandon Miller to pull the trigger.

[DusterBuster]

not at all interested in Gobert at that salary. We (especially GEE) can hope we move ahead of Charlotte in the lottery. We are currently at 5 and they are at 4. If we get the third and they slide to 5

Charlotte trades:

5
27
Mark Williams


Portland trades

3

This assumes Jarace Walker is the target and will still be on the board at 5.

I would do this, but CHA would really need to love Brandon Miller to pull the trigger.

Miller may not even be there at 3. Hearing rumblings he could overtake Scoot at 2.