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

[Jsun947]

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’m really not a fan of Derozan when it comes to winning playoff basketball. And I really don’t like Nurk and Derozan on the same floor

[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.

I’m really not a fan of Derozan when it comes to winning playoff basketball. And I really don’t like Nurk and Derozan on the same floor

DeRozan has been a pretty successful net-positive player his whole career, so not sure I agree with that assessment. I do think he's best suited as a 3rd best guy whereas he's also been more of a teams 2nd best player (him and Lowry in Toronto, him and Aldridge in SAS, now him in Chicago with LaVine). Now granted, one can make the argument that he would be Portland's 2nd best player with Lillard as well.

I guess all I'm trying to say is that I don't hate the move, and I think adding him in a move like this would likely put the Blazers back into playoff contention. Still would be far off from a contending team tho.

[Blazinaway]

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

Yuck, that IMO is an utter TREADMILL move and roster

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

I’m really not a fan of Derozan when it comes to winning playoff basketball. And I really don’t like Nurk and Derozan on the same floor

DeRozan has been a pretty successful net-positive player his whole career, so not sure I agree with that assessment. I do think he's best suited as a 3rd best guy whereas he's also been more of a teams 2nd best player (him and Lowry in Toronto, him and Aldridge in SAS, now him in Chicago with LaVine). Now granted, one can make the argument that he would be Portland's 2nd best player with Lillard as well.

I guess all I'm trying to say is that I don't hate the move, and I think adding him in a move like this would likely put the Blazers back into playoff contention. Still would be far off from a contending team tho.

[GEE]

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.

Of course I love this line of thinking: Using draft picks to get the guy Cronin decides to covet, instead of trying to trade Simons, when you don't need to. Also agree with you on Gobert... Just don't much care for him... just too french.

As for the trade package proposed, I think it's too weak for the Hornets to bite. If Cronin believes Mark is THE GUY, to assemble with Simons and Sharpe for a new era, then I'd overpay as much as needed. I would simply offer the same package, without us getting #5 back. That I would do for Williams, or better. Pretty sure I'd even do it without the #27.

Main Point: Cronin needs to pick the target first... figure out what it will take to get him... then go get him!

[GEE]

Give me the addition of Mark Williams to pair with Eubanks, and I'm stoked if we make zero picks. Follow up in my dream scenario (and I swear I'm not trolling): Nurkic + 4-5 2nd rounders for Zach Collins. I know ya'll will hate it, but that trio IMO would be just awesome at defending the paint for the next decade.

[DusterBuster]

Give me the addition of Mark Williams to pair with Eubanks, and I'm stoked if we make zero picks. Follow up in my dream scenario (and I swear I'm not trolling): Nurkic + 4-5 2nd rounders for Zach Collins. I know ya'll will hate it, but that trio IMO would be just awesome at defending the paint for the next decade.

They’ll be awesome defending the paint for those 30 games Collins is healthy per season.

[GEE]

Give me the addition of Mark Williams to pair with Eubanks, and I'm stoked if we make zero picks. Follow up in my dream scenario (and I swear I'm not trolling): Nurkic + 4-5 2nd rounders for Zach Collins. I know ya'll will hate it, but that trio IMO would be just awesome at defending the paint for the next decade.

They’ll be awesome defending the paint for those 30 games Collins is healthy per season.

That is why we should try to have 3 C's, instead of just having one guy (like we always have) as our token big man to do all of the dirty work down low. I know people will bash away and that's fine, but having that trio of bigs in Eubanks, Collins and Williams would no doubt, be a freakin' block party every damn night.

[DusterBuster]

Give me the addition of Mark Williams to pair with Eubanks, and I'm stoked if we make zero picks. Follow up in my dream scenario (and I swear I'm not trolling): Nurkic + 4-5 2nd rounders for Zach Collins. I know ya'll will hate it, but that trio IMO would be just awesome at defending the paint for the next decade.

They’ll be awesome defending the paint for those 30 games Collins is healthy per season.

That is why we should try to have 3 C's, instead of just having one guy (like we always have) as our token big man to do all of the dirty work down low. I know people will bash away and that's fine, but having that trio of bigs in Eubanks, Collins and Williams would no doubt, be a freakin' block party every damn night.

Getting blocks does not equal good defense.

[BlazersBroncos]

This team is not a Mark Williams away from being relevant. There are much better uses of our Top-5 pick.

If Miami loses here I think we could see Butler moved even. That’s a move that makes us relevant.

[tester551]

This team is not a Mark Williams away from being relevant. There are much better uses of our Top-5 pick.

If Miami loses here I think we could see Butler moved even. That’s a move that makes us relevant.

Ant + Little + #6 (~$36M) <-> Butler ($45M) works.

[DaVoiceMaster]

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”)

I was referring to their height.

[GEE]

This team is not a Mark Williams away from being relevant. There are much better uses of our Top-5 pick.

If Miami loses here I think we could see Butler moved even. That’s a move that makes us relevant.

I think it depends on the timeline you look at: I'm looking long, and think a player like M.Williams is exactly what this team currently needs, but he's just MY personal favorite player to target in an overpay, but I usually try to always include "or better". Adding a legit Big Man for the future to go with Sharpe and Simons IMO WOULD make us quite relevant and would bring me back to the glory days of B-Roy. Plus we already have the role players to go along with.

As for Miami... What if they indeed come up short in the playoffs (as they likely will) and decide a shake up is needed, but Butler's coffee is just too damn good. Could Dame end up in South Beach?

Portland trades: Dame / Nurkic
Miami trades: Lowry / BAM

I think I like this for both teams actually. Picks to balance things maybe. Add in the M.Williams stuff and we could maybe have this next year, with plenty of future picks:

Simons / Lowry / Mays
Sharpe / Thybulle
Grant / Little / Knox
Winslow / Watford / Walker
BAM / Eubanks / Williams

[DusterBuster]

This team is not a Mark Williams away from being relevant. There are much better uses of our Top-5 pick.

If Miami loses here I think we could see Butler moved even. That’s a move that makes us relevant.

I think it depends on the timeline you look at: I'm looking long, and think a player like M.Williams is exactly what this team currently needs, but he's just MY personal favorite player to target in an overpay, but I usually try to always include "or better". Adding a legit Big Man for the future to go with Sharpe and Simons IMO WOULD make us quite relevant and would bring me back to the glory days of B-Roy. Plus we already have the role players to go along with.

As for Miami... What if they indeed come up short in the playoffs (as they likely will) and decide a shake up is needed, but Butler's coffee is just too damn good. Could Dame end up in South Beach?

Portland trades: Dame / Nurkic
Miami trades: Lowry / BAM

I think I like this for both teams actually. Picks to balance things maybe. Add in the M.Williams stuff and we could maybe have this next year, with plenty of future picks:

Simons / Lowry / Mays
Sharpe / Thybulle
Grant / Little / Knox
Winslow / Watford / Walker
BAM / Eubanks / Williams

Any off-season that ends with Winslow as a starting player is an instant fail. Nothing against him as a player, but dudes body is not suited for the NBA. At this point, you can call it for his career, he’s perpetually injury prone and likely always will be.

[Jsun947]

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’m really not a fan of Derozan when it comes to winning playoff basketball. And I really don’t like Nurk and Derozan on the same floor

DeRozan has been a pretty successful net-positive player his whole career, so not sure I agree with that assessment. I do think he's best suited as a 3rd best guy whereas he's also been more of a teams 2nd best player (him and Lowry in Toronto, him and Aldridge in SAS, now him in Chicago with LaVine). Now granted, one can make the argument that he would be Portland's 2nd best player with Lillard as well.

I guess all I'm trying to say is that I don't hate the move, and I think adding him in a move like this would likely put the Blazers back into playoff contention. Still would be far off from a contending team tho.

Derozan isn’t a great defender, he’s the most impactful with the ball in his hands, and he hurts your spacing when the doesnt. He’s a high floor & low ceiling guy unless you have a very specific roster around him.

And then you consider we’d have to trade a very valuable asset for him, and he’s 33 on the downside of his career?

No thank you…

[Village Idiot]

This team is not a Mark Williams away from being relevant. There are much better uses of our Top-5 pick.

If Miami loses here I think we could see Butler moved even. That’s a move that makes us relevant.

I think it depends on the timeline you look at: I'm looking long, and think a player like M.Williams is exactly what this team currently needs, but he's just MY personal favorite player to target in an overpay, but I usually try to always include "or better". Adding a legit Big Man for the future to go with Sharpe and Simons IMO WOULD make us quite relevant and would bring me back to the glory days of B-Roy. Plus we already have the role players to go along with.

As for Miami... What if they indeed come up short in the playoffs (as they likely will) and decide a shake up is needed, but Butler's coffee is just too damn good. Could Dame end up in South Beach?

Portland trades: Dame / Nurkic
Miami trades: Lowry / BAM

I think I like this for both teams actually. Picks to balance things maybe. Add in the M.Williams stuff and we could maybe have this next year, with plenty of future picks:

Simons / Lowry / Mays
Sharpe / Thybulle
Grant / Little / Knox
Winslow / Watford / Walker
BAM / Eubanks / Williams

You're short a Walker (Jarace) in your line-up. I would start him at PF. Also, isn't Mark Williams better than Eubanks? I also fully expect the team to bring back Reddish

[The Sebastian Express]

Grant isn't resigning here if Dame is traded. DOn't know why you'd put that in. This is also not a great trade at all. Dame is worth far more than Bam.

[Jsun947]

There is a star player who’s been reportedly unhappy for years on his team, and has missed a lot of games due to injury, but also seems to have missed as many if not more due to just not wanting to play basketball for them. His value is probably pretty depressed. He’s also spent a fair amount of time in Portland.

….. What about Zion? ….???

[BlazersBroncos]

There is a star player who’s been reportedly unhappy for years on his team, and has missed a lot of games due to injury, but also seems to have missed as many if not more due to just not wanting to play basketball for them. His value is probably pretty depressed. He’s also spent a fair amount of time in Portland.

….. What about Zion? ….???

I wouldnt bet much on Zion. Dude is a walking injury. And guys that just 'dont want to play' for their teams scare the hell out of me.

[BlazersBroncos]

This team is not a Mark Williams away from being relevant. There are much better uses of our Top-5 pick.

If Miami loses here I think we could see Butler moved even. That’s a move that makes us relevant.

I think it depends on the timeline you look at: I'm looking long, and think a player like M.Williams is exactly what this team currently needs, but he's just MY personal favorite player to target in an overpay, but I usually try to always include "or better". Adding a legit Big Man for the future to go with Sharpe and Simons IMO WOULD make us quite relevant and would bring me back to the glory days of B-Roy. Plus we already have the role players to go along with.

As for Miami... What if they indeed come up short in the playoffs (as they likely will) and decide a shake up is needed, but Butler's coffee is just too damn good. Could Dame end up in South Beach?

Portland trades: Dame / Nurkic
Miami trades: Lowry / BAM

I think I like this for both teams actually. Picks to balance things maybe. Add in the M.Williams stuff and we could maybe have this next year, with plenty of future picks:

Simons / Lowry / Mays
Sharpe / Thybulle
Grant / Little / Knox
Winslow / Watford / Walker
BAM / Eubanks / Williams

You're short a Walker (Jarace) in your line-up. I would start him at PF. Also, isn't Mark Williams better than Eubanks? I also fully expect the team to bring back Reddish

You think we bring back Cam? I would be pretty surprised if we did. MT for sure, but Cam didnt really show much (Or at least, show much we didnt already know).

Anyways, as someone else said if we trade Dame then Grant is gone. And a team whos best player is Bam isnt going far. Not to mention Winslow the walking injury as a starter is horrifying.

[Jsun947]

There is a star player who’s been reportedly unhappy for years on his team, and has missed a lot of games due to injury, but also seems to have missed as many if not more due to just not wanting to play basketball for them. His value is probably pretty depressed. He’s also spent a fair amount of time in Portland.

….. What about Zion? ….???

I wouldnt bet much on Zion. Dude is a walking injury. And guys that just 'dont want to play' for their teams scare the hell out of me.

I think his injury history is a little overblown from a games played perspective but still very concerning. He clearly could have been playing a ton of the games he’s missed in his career.

What if he’s doing it to force his way out of NO? He doesn’t have the trade value of Durant, Embiid, etc so he’s more getable. If we do trade for him and Dame does leave he still fits with the age of a rebuilding team too.