Twitter Trade Rumor Roundup

[DusterBuster]

I’m looking at a Dame, Shaedon, Scoot or BM at 3 - (Justice or Nassir for first 20 games if needed), Jerami and Nurk starting lineup and Ant off the bench, and I don’t see much room for improvement outside of possibly a center upgrade or simply get Nurk a better backup.

We’re in a very weird position but at this point, taking l’s on value for Ant or the third pick isn’t solving anything. Toronto would be foolish to send us OG and Siakam for that package imo anyway, but that’s the only thing getting the phone picked up from my perspective.

Drafting Scoot means trading Dame.

I've been pushing back on this line of reasoning but I'm coming around. Hypothetically we get Brown and White for Dame, White and Nurkic go to Pheonix for Ayton(spit balling).
We would have a lineup of

Scoot
Sharpe
Brown
???
Ayton. (I might pursue Porzingas instead but Ayton serves as a temporary place holder in this scenario)

If it's Porzingas instead of Ayton you could try giving a ton of burn to Watford at PF and hope he steps up again.

Ant: Microwave SG/PG
Matisse:Elite Defender SG/SF
Watford : Quirky Mismatch Hunter PF/C
Mayes: Emergency PG/SG has upside

That leaves:
Nas
Walker
Knox
TPE
MLE
#23
A bushel of 2nd rounders
Grant S&T
Reddish
Keon

To fill out the bench and land a PF.
We could still keep Grant but I think if Dame is traded that's a low priority.

If we're lucky we reverse engineer the Hart deal and use the TPE and 23 for a Hart level contributor. Hopefully a big.

We could also just take a guy like GG Jackson or Murray, but Murray's too short and Jacksons too raw...maybe Noah Clowney works as part of the rebuild though.

I like guys like Jaylen Smith as a bridge PF options with some upside, but haven't locked in on who I would target.

It's a crazy temof year.

I'm not against the idea of a Dame for Brown trade. That said, unless Brown wants to pull a Butler and go somewhere to be "the guy", I'm not sure why he'd want to stay in Portland with a bunch of young guys probably 3-4yrs from developing. Maybe getting Ayton there changes his mind.

Also though, I'm starting to sour on Brown. I never realized how bad of a dribbler he is and how almost every player in the league knows to defend him. If he dribbles left, he's almost guaranteed to get stripped or dribble it off his foot. At this point of his career, you'd think he'd have tried to correct a flaw that glaring.

[Wizenheimer]

I'm not against the idea of a Dame for Brown trade. That said, unless Brown wants to pull a Butler and go somewhere to be "the guy", I'm not sure why he'd want to stay in Portland with a bunch of young guys probably 3-4yrs from developing. Maybe getting Ayton there changes his mind.

Also though, I'm starting to sour on Brown. I never realized how bad of a dribbler he is and how almost every player in the league knows to defend him. If he dribbles left, he's almost guaranteed to get stripped or dribble it off his foot. At this point of his career, you'd think he'd have tried to correct a flaw that glaring.

I'm totally against a Dame for Brown trade for several reasons...

you mentioned one and that's there is no way he re-signs with Portland with Dame gone....unless the Blazers paid him 50-60M/year...which he is absolutely not worth

I think Brown has been seriously overrated in Blazer fan circles. He's overrated by the 'trade-Dame-now' people; and he's overrated by the #3-for-Brown people. I saw Brown in 3 or 4 games when he played for Cal (Duck fan here) and my perception of Brown then was that he was a bit of a brick-layer as well as a turnover waiting to happen. Nothing he has done in the NBA has changed that perception. His career mark for three's is 36.5%. That's not bad but it's just a little above average which is a concern for somebody who attempts close to 7 a game. And in the last 4 seasons, he's averaged nearly 3 turnovers a game and less than 3.5 assists...that's a terrible ratio for somebody with a 30% usage rate

Brown is not good at dribble-drive and that's a skill that is absolutely necessary in a perimeter player on a max or super-max deal who shoots under 37% on three's. Brown's performance in game 7 is a flapping caution flag for anybody thinking about making him the center of their core

the only way I would ever support a Dame-for-Brown deal, is if first, Dame asks out (which I think is becoming less and less likely. If Dame was insisting on Portland trading the pick or else, he would not be showing up at all these prospect workouts or ridiculing the notion of being traded to the Lakers)....and if the Celtics trade Brown + more....like Robert Williams and a couple of future 1st's (which Boston likely wouldn't do); and then Portland re-directed Brown to a 3rd team that sent a bunch of draft capital and maybe/maybe-not youth to the Blazers

I think the only logical course of action for Portland if it does trade Dame is to also trade Simons, Nurkic, and Grant for as many draft assets as possible and become present at the top of the lottery for 2 or 3 or 4 more years. I know you and I have different opinions on Ant. Mine is he needs to be traded if Dame stays, and needs to be traded if Dame goes

I'm actually thinking there is kind of a middle path where Portland adds a good veteran or two while keeping their pick; or maybe trading down a little. For instance, If Orlando really wants that 3rd pick (Scoot?), #3 for #6 + Franz Wagner (absorbed into TPE). And, something like Ant + Little to Chicago for DeRozan + all of Portland's 1st's back. Or Little to Orlando so Blazers preserve that TPE

that's an intriguing lineup...Dame-DDR-Grant-Wagner-Nurkic? that doesn't mortgage any substantive future

[Sinobas]

I think drafting Scoot means trading Dame, because Dame would probably demand a trade. Dame doesn't want a young buck, especially not one that would play the same position as him.

Best Dame trade I can figure, is sending him to the Suns for Ayton. Ayton has 3 years left, is young, he'd fill a need, and a top 10 player at his position. If you trade Dame to a contender for picks, you probably end up with a lot of late 1sts.

Dame would be happy to go to Phoenix, and Phoenix is in win now mode and is having a falling out with Ayton.

[BlazersBroncos]

I would be floored if ORL moves Wagner + 6 for 3, but if it happened I would pour my whiskey extra tall.

I actually would prefer Franz to Brown.

As Wiz outlined, the warts on Brown make him pretty unappealing on what is set to be an insane contract. He is the worst ballhandling wing I have ever seen average over 20ppg - I have no idea how he manages that with how poor his handle and court vision are.

There is a decent arguemnt that even taking age and contract out of the equation - Franz is better than Brown.

FTR
Franz .288
Brown .249

TS%
Franz .589
Brown .581

TRB%
Franz 7.1
10.4

AST%
Franz 17.2
Brown 16.5

TOV %
Franz 11.7
Brown 11.4

USG%
Franz 23.5
Brown 31.4

WS48
Franz .099
Brown .100

BPM
Franz -0.1
Brown 1.3

VORP
Franz 1.3
Brown 2.0

IDK why I just did that - Franz is going nowhere.

[DusterBuster]

I'm not against the idea of a Dame for Brown trade. That said, unless Brown wants to pull a Butler and go somewhere to be "the guy", I'm not sure why he'd want to stay in Portland with a bunch of young guys probably 3-4yrs from developing. Maybe getting Ayton there changes his mind.

Also though, I'm starting to sour on Brown. I never realized how bad of a dribbler he is and how almost every player in the league knows to defend him. If he dribbles left, he's almost guaranteed to get stripped or dribble it off his foot. At this point of his career, you'd think he'd have tried to correct a flaw that glaring.

I'm totally against a Dame for Brown trade for several reasons...

you mentioned one and that's there is no way he re-signs with Portland with Dame gone....unless the Blazers paid him 50-60M/year...which he is absolutely not worth

I think Brown has been seriously overrated in Blazer fan circles. He's overrated by the 'trade-Dame-now' people; and he's overrated by the #3-for-Brown people. I saw Brown in 3 or 4 games when he played for Cal (Duck fan here) and my perception of Brown then was that he was a bit of a brick-layer as well as a turnover waiting to happen. Nothing he has done in the NBA has changed that perception. His career mark for three's is 36.5%. That's not bad but it's just a little above average which is a concern for somebody who attempts close to 7 a game. And in the last 4 seasons, he's averaged nearly 3 turnovers a game and less than 3.5 assists...that's a terrible ratio for somebody with a 30% usage rate

Brown is not good at dribble-drive and that's a skill that is absolutely necessary in a perimeter player on a max or super-max deal who shoots under 37% on three's. Brown's performance in game 7 is a flapping caution flag for anybody thinking about making him the center of their core

the only way I would ever support a Dame-for-Brown deal, is if first, Dame asks out (which I think is becoming less and less likely. If Dame was insisting on Portland trading the pick or else, he would not be showing up at all these prospect workouts or ridiculing the notion of being traded to the Lakers)....and if the Celtics trade Brown + more....like Robert Williams and a couple of future 1st's (which Boston likely wouldn't do); and then Portland re-directed Brown to a 3rd team that sent a bunch of draft capital and maybe/maybe-not youth to the Blazers

I think the only logical course of action for Portland if it does trade Dame is to also trade Simons, Nurkic, and Grant for as many draft assets as possible and become present at the top of the lottery for 2 or 3 or 4 more years. I know you and I have different opinions on Ant. Mine is he needs to be traded if Dame stays, and needs to be traded if Dame goes

I'm actually thinking there is kind of a middle path where Portland adds a good veteran or two while keeping their pick; or maybe trading down a little. For instance, If Orlando really wants that 3rd pick (Scoot?), #3 for #6 + Franz Wagner (absorbed into TPE). And, something like Ant + Little to Chicago for DeRozan + all of Portland's 1st's back. Or Little to Orlando so Blazers preserve that TPE

that's an intriguing lineup...Dame-DDR-Grant-Wagner-Nurkic? that doesn't mortgage any substantive future

While I didn't expound nearly as much, we're in full agreement. When I say I'm not against the deal, I mean it in this regard. If we're having to trade Dame, then I'm not against it, but also like you mentioned, I just don't see it likely he resigns in Portland without Dame. So as an amendment I would add that Brown agreeing to a extension would need to be part of any Dame for Brown deal. So saying I'm not against it doesn't mean it doesn't have tons of conditionals.

I've actually been on the DDR train for a bit. I think he'd have a bigger impact than most people expect and if Portland can get him without using the #3 or a trade down for picks to send to Chicago, I'm alllll for that.

I'm firmly against any trade down of #3 though. I have yet to see that actually work out for any team side from maybe... Boston with Fultz for Tatum, but Fultz also had pretty glaring mechanical issues with his game that were exceptionally large red flags.

If I'm a GM, I handle the draft relatively simply with some pretty major guiding-light foundations:

1) Always take BPA, never draft for positional needs if there's a clear best player hierarchy on he board.
2) If a player has a major mechanical deficiency like a completely broken jumpshot, move along. Even if that player is supposedly the BPA, I would take the player ranked next best after the player with a broken part of the game. I have yet to see a player who can't shoot actually learning to shoot after a few years in the league. I'm sure there are some examples, but the vast majority it's a long-term problem.

Neither of those problems exist with Scoot or Miller, so Portland just needs to take one or the other if there's no blockbuster deal on the table.

[DusterBuster]

I think drafting Scoot means trading Dame, because Dame would probably demand a trade. Dame doesn't want a young buck, especially not one that would play the same position as him.

Best Dame trade I can figure, is sending him to the Suns for Ayton. Ayton has 3 years left, is young, he'd fill a need, and a top 10 player at his position. If you trade Dame to a contender for picks, you probably end up with a lot of late 1sts.

Dame would be happy to go to Phoenix, and Phoenix is in win now mode and is having a falling out with Ayton.

Woof. For one, totally disagree drafting Scoot means Dame is gone. Scoot has already said he would love to be mentored by Dame and Dame may actually like that opportunity as long as other moves are still made to bring in veterans like DeRozen or LaVine level guys.

And Dame for Ayton... barf.

[Wizenheimer]

While I didn't expound nearly as much, we're in full agreement. When I say I'm not against the deal, I mean it in this regard. If we're having to trade Dame, then I'm not against it, but also like you mentioned, I just don't see it likely he resigns in Portland without Dame. So as an amendment I would add that Brown agreeing to a extension would need to be part of any Dame for Brown deal. So saying I'm not against it doesn't mean it doesn't have tons of conditionals.

the extension agreement would be an issue. If Brown is traded at the draft, the longest extension he could sign would be for one year. If he's traded in the summer, 2 years. That won't happen. And if he is traded, he couldn't sign any extension for 6 months after the trade. Too much can happen in a half year to monkey wrench any verbal agreement

I've actually been on the DDR train for a bit. I think he'd have a bigger impact than most people expect and if Portland can get him without using the #3 or a trade down for picks to send to Chicago, I'm alllll for that.

I just think the cost of DeRozan would be low, especially considering Chicago seems incle=ined to tear things down and start over And I also think he's still a really effective player. He's not a 3 points shooter but he's a king of the mid-range and at getting to the FT line. He's also a really good passer who can run an offense and has the versatility on both ends of the floor to play either wing position

elsewhere I did a comparison of the primary mentioned targets for Portland plus DDR trying to estimate impact. I used winshares and BPM. It's not a perfect pair of comparisons but it does go a decent way toward gauging impact

Winshares (winshare/48) last season:

DDR - 8.5 (.153)
Siakam - 7.8 (.141)
Bridges - 7.5 (.121)
Brown - 5.0 (.100)


BPM:

Siakam - 3.1
DDR - 2.0
Bridges - 1.7
Brown - 1.3

first thing is whenever I look thru the prism of stats Brown doesn't do well. And for this comparison, It might be short-changing Bridges a bit because if he spent the full season being featured in Brooklyn he would have registered better

still, when you use any equation of acquisition-cost/impact, I think DDR comes out ahead. I don't think Bridges is even available; and everything I've seen says Toronto is impossible to deal with. Their fans at RealGM sure are. I think that Brown might be available but AFAIC, he's not worth the 3. neither is Siakam for that matter

and if the Blazers could land DDR AND get all their first's back, that's a good trade

I'm firmly against any trade down of #3 though. I have yet to see that actually work out for any team side from maybe...

now why would you be opposed to Portland trading down from 3 to 6? It worked out so well for the Blazers in 2005

If I'm a GM, I handle the draft relatively simply with some pretty major guiding-light foundations:

1) Always take BPA, never draft for positional needs if there's a clear best player hierarchy on he board.
2) If a player has a major mechanical deficiency like a completely broken jumpshot, move along. Even if that player is supposedly the BPA, I would take the player ranked next best after the player with a broken part of the game. I have yet to see a player who can't shoot actually learning to shoot after a few years in the league. I'm sure there are some examples, but the vast majority it's a long-term problem.

Neither of those problems exist with Scoot or Miller, so Portland just needs to take one or the other if there's no blockbuster deal on the table.

you're probably right. I'm not good at gauging draft prospects. I am just pretty high of Franz Wagner so if the Blazers could get hime on one of the Thompson twins or Whitmore it might work out well

[GEE]

Whether we trade down a few spots and pick up a Franz in the process, or do what I'd prefer and just trade the pick with a expendable bench player for salary matching, and get a PF or C for the future (Not a Rookie).

I think either one is smart to consider Vs drafting Scoot (another guard), who I think the Hornets will take, leaving us with the Bama' kid who's previous gun issues make me think he could drop like a rock. In favor of letting our Super-Scout use the NYK pick on his' BPA.

I hope we will use the #3 with other assets, in a series of moves to upgrade our PF/C rotation. Not sure who or how, but if Dame and Cronin end up deciding to get Dame a shot at a ring somewhere this summer... That could have our roster looking faaaar different than last year's. Prior to the draft if possible, and as far as "Trade Rumors", I don't think we will hear a peep, until it's already done.

Finally... Highly interested in Rui Hachimura's services as our potential PFOTF, and curious of other people's thoughts on him.

[Norm2953]

I would be floored if ORL moves Wagner + 6 for 3, but if it happened I would pour my whiskey extra tall.

I actually would prefer Franz to Brown.

As Wiz outlined, the warts on Brown make him pretty unappealing on what is set to be an insane contract. He is the worst ballhandling wing I have ever seen average over 20ppg - I have no idea how he manages that with how poor his handle and court vision are.

There is a decent arguemnt that even taking age and contract out of the equation - Franz is better than Brown.

FTR
Franz .288
Brown .249

TS%
Franz .589
Brown .581

TRB%
Franz 7.1
10.4

AST%
Franz 17.2
Brown 16.5

TOV %
Franz 11.7
Brown 11.4

USG%
Franz 23.5
Brown 31.4

WS48
Franz .099
Brown .100

BPM
Franz -0.1
Brown 1.3

VORP
Franz 1.3
Brown 2.0

IDK why I just did that - Franz is going nowhere.

More likely it would be Wagner for 3 if Scoot is on the board. Orlando would need 6 to replace Wagner

[DusterBuster]

While I didn't expound nearly as much, we're in full agreement. When I say I'm not against the deal, I mean it in this regard. If we're having to trade Dame, then I'm not against it, but also like you mentioned, I just don't see it likely he resigns in Portland without Dame. So as an amendment I would add that Brown agreeing to a extension would need to be part of any Dame for Brown deal. So saying I'm not against it doesn't mean it doesn't have tons of conditionals.

the extension agreement would be an issue. If Brown is traded at the draft, the longest extension he could sign would be for one year. If he's traded in the summer, 2 years. That won't happen. And if he is traded, he couldn't sign any extension for 6 months after the trade. Too much can happen in a half year to monkey wrench any verbal agreement

I've actually been on the DDR train for a bit. I think he'd have a bigger impact than most people expect and if Portland can get him without using the #3 or a trade down for picks to send to Chicago, I'm alllll for that.

I just think the cost of DeRozan would be low, especially considering Chicago seems incle=ined to tear things down and start over And I also think he's still a really effective player. He's not a 3 points shooter but he's a king of the mid-range and at getting to the FT line. He's also a really good passer who can run an offense and has the versatility on both ends of the floor to play either wing position

elsewhere I did a comparison of the primary mentioned targets for Portland plus DDR trying to estimate impact. I used winshares and BPM. It's not a perfect pair of comparisons but it does go a decent way toward gauging impact

Winshares (winshare/48) last season:

DDR - 8.5 (.153)
Siakam - 7.8 (.141)
Bridges - 7.5 (.121)
Brown - 5.0 (.100)


BPM:

Siakam - 3.1
DDR - 2.0
Bridges - 1.7
Brown - 1.3

first thing is whenever I look thru the prism of stats Brown doesn't do well. And for this comparison, It might be short-changing Bridges a bit because if he spent the full season being featured in Brooklyn he would have registered better

still, when you use any equation of acquisition-cost/impact, I think DDR comes out ahead. I don't think Bridges is even available; and everything I've seen says Toronto is impossible to deal with. Their fans at RealGM sure are. I think that Brown might be available but AFAIC, he's not worth the 3. neither is Siakam for that matter

and if the Blazers could land DDR AND get all their first's back, that's a good trade

I'm firmly against any trade down of #3 though. I have yet to see that actually work out for any team side from maybe...

now why would you be opposed to Portland trading down from 3 to 6? It worked out so well for the Blazers in 2005

If I'm a GM, I handle the draft relatively simply with some pretty major guiding-light foundations:

1) Always take BPA, never draft for positional needs if there's a clear best player hierarchy on he board.
2) If a player has a major mechanical deficiency like a completely broken jumpshot, move along. Even if that player is supposedly the BPA, I would take the player ranked next best after the player with a broken part of the game. I have yet to see a player who can't shoot actually learning to shoot after a few years in the league. I'm sure there are some examples, but the vast majority it's a long-term problem.

Neither of those problems exist with Scoot or Miller, so Portland just needs to take one or the other if there's no blockbuster deal on the table.

you're probably right. I'm not good at gauging draft prospects. I am just pretty high of Franz Wagner so if the Blazers could get hime on one of the Thompson twins or Whitmore it might work out well

Yeah, I know the extension issues with Brown. Honestly, the more I look at the Brown idea, the less it makes sense regardless of the deal. Keeping Dame, I have serious doubts about Brown’s overall skills… to be that bad of a dribbler at this point in your career is bad. Goes back to my point of not having a broken part of your game. As good as Brown is, to have that big of a flaw and still be commanding a supermax?… I don’t love it. Without Dame, still have the extension problem and skill problem, and now he probably doesn’t see a reason to stay. So yeah… just all around, feeling like a hard pass on Brown.

As for Franz, I’m too old and not watching the league enough anymore to really know an up and comer on Orlando lol.

[The Sebastian Express]

My man is so known for being unable to dribble consistently with his left hand it's an open talking point with other NBA players on social media. It's hard to swallow trading the third pick for him when he can bolt if he wants next summer. I would hate to see that happen.

Franz is not worth the third pick, imo. Hes's a very talented and well-sized young player, but imo I think he will top out as a third on a championship kind of team player. Which is not bad at all!!! But with the three you are hoping to hit someone who's a two or a one on that scale if you can. I also don't think Orlando would trade him plus a pick for it anyways regardless. Like we value Sharpe very highly, they value him - and they should! - very highly. But I don't think they would trade Franz + 6 for 3 and I don't think we should trade 3 for 6+11 or Wagner + 11.

I just don't think Portland and Orlando make good trade partners based on where we both are as franchise and what we're trying to accomplish right now. I think the only deal there is something around Ant for the 11 or Ant+ for WCJ (that's my pipedream!).

I also fully agree with Wiz's sarcasm about the idea of trading back with the pick. We have learned that the hard way in the past. This isn't trading back from the 5-8 spot. This is trading back from the three spot in a draft that's highly touted as three potential franchise-impacting players at the top.

I think the lowest I would go is five and only six and that is if Scoot is off the table and something is thought of to lower Miller's value and we trade back for assets plus being able to draft Black or Walker.

[Jsun947]

The only player I’m ok trading #3 for is Bridges. He’s young enough, cheap enough, and on a contract long enough where we don’t have the downside of him aging out too quickly, murdering our cap, or bolting. And because we likely have to include Simons I’d only do it with a Nurkic/Claxton swap as part of the trade. If there’s an additional cost of future picks or Sharpe they can piss off.

#3, Simons, Nurkic for Bridges, Claxton, Mills

Draft at #23 & #43
Depending on who we draft & If you get them cheap enough re-sign Reddish & Thybulle short term
Re-sign Grant & Eubanks

Dame/Mills/?
Sharpe/Thybulle/Johnson
Bridges/Little/Reddish
Grant/Watford/Walker
Claxton/Eubanks/?

If we decide to blow it up next year we can always trade Grant & Dame at that point

[PDXKnight]

The only player I’m ok trading #3 for is Bridges. He’s young enough, cheap enough, and on a contract long enough where we don’t have the downside of him aging out too quickly, murdering our cap, or bolting. And because we likely have to include Simons I’d only do it with a Nurkic/Claxton swap as part of the trade. If there’s an additional cost of future picks or Sharpe they can piss off.

#3, Simons, Nurkic for Bridges, Claxton, Mills

Draft at #23 & #43
Depending on who we draft & If you get them cheap enough re-sign Reddish & Thybulle short term
Re-sign Grant & Eubanks

Dame/Mills/?
Sharpe/Thybulle/Johnson
Bridges/Little/Reddish
Grant/Watford/Walker
Claxton/Eubanks/?

If we decide to blow it up next year we can always trade Grant & Dame at that point

Brooklyn wants far more than 3 for bridges it sounds like. I love bridges but It may not be worth it

[Norm2953]

The only player I’m ok trading #3 for is Bridges. He’s young enough, cheap enough, and on a contract long enough where we don’t have the downside of him aging out too quickly, murdering our cap, or bolting. And because we likely have to include Simons I’d only do it with a Nurkic/Claxton swap as part of the trade. If there’s an additional cost of future picks or Sharpe they can piss off.

#3, Simons, Nurkic for Bridges, Claxton, Mills

Draft at #23 & #43
Depending on who we draft & If you get them cheap enough re-sign Reddish & Thybulle short term
Re-sign Grant & Eubanks

Dame/Mills/?
Sharpe/Thybulle/Johnson
Bridges/Little/Reddish
Grant/Watford/Walker
Claxton/Eubanks/?

If we decide to blow it up next year we can always trade Grant & Dame at that point

Brooklyn wants far more than 3 for bridges it sounds like. I love bridges but It may not be worth it

I would worry Bridges would revert to the player he was in Phoenix. In Portland, he'd have Dame and likely
Jerami Grant to compete for shots

[Goldbum]

The rumor has been that HOU wants to bring Harden back and that doesn't make sense to me. I think Brown would be a phenomenal pick up for them and fits what they have extremely well. So hypothetically PHI overpays to keep Harden. CHA takes Miller. Portland sees Amen as a Scotty Pippen like SF and not a PG (that's what I see but who knows what the Super Scout sees...)
PORT Trades:
Dame + Watford
4
#4 (Amen) Jabari Smith

HOU
Traded
#4 + Jabari Smith
4
Jaylen Brown + Watford

BOS
Jaylen Brown
4
Dame

IDK that's the Nuclear option but if we're trading Dame we liquidate the roster and start over from a position of strength with 2 you pieces that Mike is super high on.

Scoot
Sharpe
Amen
Smith
Nurkic

Now you start looking for that replacement Center. Maybe Nurkic and 4 for Wendell Carter and #6? It would then need to be Walker instead of Amen or maybe even Ausar.
So let's say it's Walker
Scoot
Sharpe
Walker
Smith
Carter

Ant is your 6th man. Putting him in a Non-Dame position gives him a chance to build his value over an entire season. Having a guy off the bench who's scored 21+ppg is a luxury with such a young back court.
Then let's get a 3rd big
Say
Nas + 2 second round picks
4
Isiah Stewart +TPE

I could go on but I'm sure if your still reading your either board or annoyed so I'll cap it off with the top 10 man rotation.

Scoot
Sharpe
Walker
Smith
Carter

Top 5 Bench
6 Ant
7 Stewart
8 Matisse
9 Reddish
10 Mayes

You still have 23, Keon, Knox and seconds to finish the bench. Also multiple TPE, Grant's S&T, and cap space. There are lots of options but add 1 more high lotto pick with a year of experience for our young team feels like the 2024 season could be a chance to start making a push. Alternatively you could probably pair 23 with a TPE for a guy like Collins. Curious to hear your rebuild ideas if we absolutely MUST trade Dame.

[PDXKnight]

The rumor has been that HOU wants to bring Harden back and that doesn't make sense to me. I think Brown would be a phenomenal pick up for them and fits what they have extremely well. So hypothetically PHI overpays to keep Harden. CHA takes Miller. Portland sees Amen as a Scotty Pippen like SF and not a PG (that's what I see but who knows what the Super Scout sees...)
PORT Trades:
Dame + Watford
4
#4 (Amen) Jabari Smith

HOU
Traded
#4 + Jabari Smith
4
Jaylen Brown + Watford

BOS
Jaylen Brown
4
Dame

IDK that's the Nuclear option but if we're trading Dame we liquidate the roster and start over from a position of strength with 2 you pieces that Mike is super high on.

Scoot
Sharpe
Amen
Smith
Nurkic

Now you start looking for that replacement Center. Maybe Nurkic and 4 for Wendell Carter and #6? It would then need to be Walker instead of Amen or maybe even Ausar.
So let's say it's Walker
Scoot
Sharpe
Walker
Smith
Carter

Ant is your 6th man. Putting him in a Non-Dame position gives him a chance to build his value over an entire season. Having a guy off the bench who's scored 21+ppg is a luxury with such a young back court.
Then let's get a 3rd big
Say
Nas + 2 second round picks
4
Isiah Stewart +TPE

I could go on but I'm sure if your still reading your either board or annoyed so I'll cap it off with the top 10 man rotation.

Scoot
Sharpe
Walker
Smith
Carter

Top 5 Bench
6 Ant
7 Stewart
8 Matisse
9 Reddish
10 Mayes

You still have 23, Keon, Knox and seconds to finish the bench. Also multiple TPE, Grant's S&T, and cap space. There are lots of options but add 1 more high lotto pick with a year of experience for our young team feels like the 2024 season could be a chance to start making a push. Alternatively you could probably pair 23 with a TPE for a guy like Collins. Curious to hear your rebuild ideas if we absolutely MUST trade Dame.

Doesn't seem like enough for dame. Seems like houston is getting away with robbery here taking most of our dame return in brown

[Goldbum]

I get that thought process, my thought was that that TPE has fairly big value, and Jabari+#4 kick starts the rebuild. Brown is very-very good (he had a bad ECF, but was as good or better than Tatum in last years finals). This gets Portland out of the Max Contract business for awhile. We could also take on a guy with a bad contract to get some additional picks.

[BlazersBroncos]

I would take Jabari and 4 over Brown pretty easily.

Brown in a Dame trade is a 1 way ticket to 'bubble championship' status - pure treadmill.

And the dribbling / court vision of a 1-3 of Simons, Sharpe and Brown would be historically bad.

[GEE]

The Blazers trading for Brown, with his contract status, feels a bit like Kawhi going to Toronto: Huge gamble, especially if you plan to keep Dame here. The only way I see Brown coming to Portland is if Dame is in the trade. I just don't see the desire to go young from a Celtic's POV.

Dame/Nurkic <-> Brown/TimeLord/Pritchard/Brogden or White(their choice)

This is the best deal that I can see happening, IF Dame wanted want to go there. On an added note, I would think real hard before signing Grant to big money if Brown were incoming. I would likely spend that money on retooling my PF/C rotation, starting with Rui Hachimura.

I have a very strong feeling that internal discussions are being had, and I'm hoping Cronin can convince Dame to want to go to a contender. Dame, after the season he just had, has also rebuilt his trade value from as low as it has ever been, to potentially becomming the "Big Move of the Summer" throughout the NBA type value, and with how the playoffs resulted, many potential suitors.

I just have a gut feeling that Cronin may be fielding some really good offers, from some really good current playoff teams, and I can easily see some good to great potential returns. Boston will be one I think, but I still have my money on Brooklyn as the most likely landing spot, IF Dame wants to leave. There will be others too I think like the Suns, 76'ers, Knicks, Lakers, and maybe a handful of others.

l'm also beginning to think Dame's desire to get moved is very very low, regardless of what direction Cronin is taking this team in, and may be more bluffing on his part than any thing else, but that's for another day.

[cedric76]

I would be floored if ORL moves Wagner + 6 for 3, but if it happened I would pour my whiskey extra tall.

I actually would prefer Franz to Brown.

As Wiz outlined, the warts on Brown make him pretty unappealing on what is set to be an insane contract. He is the worst ballhandling wing I have ever seen average over 20ppg - I have no idea how he manages that with how poor his handle and court vision are.

There is a decent arguemnt that even taking age and contract out of the equation - Franz is better than Brown.

FTR
Franz .288
Brown .249

TS%
Franz .589
Brown .581

TRB%
Franz 7.1
10.4

AST%
Franz 17.2
Brown 16.5

TOV %
Franz 11.7
Brown 11.4

USG%
Franz 23.5
Brown 31.4

WS48
Franz .099
Brown .100

BPM
Franz -0.1
Brown 1.3

VORP
Franz 1.3
Brown 2.0

IDK why I just did that - Franz is going nowhere.

We wouldn't trade Franz for 3

Zero interest