Center Upgrades

[Butter]

The three main topics recently have been about trading Dame, the #3, and trading ANT. But a 4th consistent topic is upgrading the center spot.

It seems like the consensus is that it's time to upgrade Nurk, but most topics include him as a throw in.

Two questions:

1) what is the attributea of the Blazers ideal center (assuming the Blazers keep Dame)

2) who is your ideal Center target (within reason)?

[Norm2953]

Portland could now offer Nurk + scrubs to Phoenix for Ayton.

[Brandon-Clyde]

I presume Ayton is off the table because Beal demanded he stay in Phoenix so I would target Porzingas and offer Ant, Little and Keon Johnson. This would give Portland an upgrade at center and Washington some younger players to try and develop.
Depth will also be important since we always seem to lose big men to injury so unless Nurkic asked out I would keep him. To further add depth I would re-sign Eubanks and draft a big at 23 that we can develop.

[GEE]

3rd stringer (Keon?) + #3 + whatever future picks it takes for Mark Williams from the Hornets. Jordan might just love to have both #2 & #3 in this year's draft. Pick w/ both, or pick one and trade one. Never know, but I'd go hard after Mark.

If I could, I would have 3 solid Bigs in Williams / Claxton / Eubanks to compete with the length in the WC, but that 2nd guy I list isn't available in this (Dame stays) scenario.

[Norm2953]

I would ask for Melo if MJ really wants Scoot/Miller.

Portland should be able to re-route Melo for what they really need

[JRoy]

I would ask for Melo if MJ really wants Scoot/Miller.

Portland should be able to re-route Melo for what they really need

Pretty sure MJ sold/is selling his stake in the franchise.

[Jsun947]

The three main topics recently have been about trading Dame, the #3, and trading ANT. But a 4th consistent topic is upgrading the center spot.

It seems like the consensus is that it's time to upgrade Nurk, but most topics include him as a throw in.

Two questions:

1) what is the attributea of the Blazers ideal center (assuming the Blazers keep Dame)

2) who is your ideal Center target (within reason)?

I think some shot blocking and the ability to spread is a HUGE for Dame. The threat of him having open driving lanes opens up our offense in ways that’s nearly impossible to defend.

The only center that’s somewhat obtainable that matches with our roster and is an upgrade is Turner. In a less ideal situation I’d say Brook Lopez & Porzingis.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

I kind of like Poeltl as a more realistic target, unless he is super committed to Toronto. Adams and Valanciunas are also solid centers that shouldn't break the bank to get.

I just dont think we can spend 30+ million on a center who isn't a #1 offensive force like Jokic or Embiid. If you don't have that I almost prefer a money-ball approach with several players who focus hard on defense/rebounding and maybe one that brings some floor spacing than spend the equivalent on a guy like Gobert, and Ayton is not quite the level of defender as Gobert.

Porzingis is a center who might be worth that 30 million price tag if he were more durable but that's not a game I am keen to play these days, we need consistency from our big men.

I guess you have to take a risk somehow, but I also don't think Nurkic is bad enough that we need to overpay for a lateral or slight improvement that doesn't move the overall needle very much. On the other hand, I also got the feeling* that Nurkic and the coaching staff never really gelled well and I think the team is closer to trading Nurkic than they are to canning Billups so that tension may get us to pull the trigger.

*(based on nothing really, don't go quoting me as anything more than pure speculation.)

[Jsun947]

I presume Ayton is off the table because Beal demanded he stay in Phoenix so I would target Porzingas and offer Ant, Little and Keon Johnson. This would give Portland an upgrade at center and Washington some younger players to try and develop.
Depth will also be important since we always seem to lose big men to injury so unless Nurkic asked out I would keep him. To further add depth I would re-sign Eubanks and draft a big at 23 that we can develop.

Hypothetically if we did this trade I don’t think we’d have enough salary filler left for an upgrade at SF or PF (depending on what position we have Grant play)

Even trading for OG we’d have to re-sign him and Porzingis next season and I don’t think we could afford both.

Something like

Portland Out
#3, Simons, Nurk, Little, Johnson
Portland In
Porzingis, OG, #11

Orlando Out
#6 & #11
Orlando In
#3

Toronto Out
OG, Young, Porter, #13
Toronto In
Simons, Little, #6

Wizards Out
Porzingis (Opts In)
Wizards In
Nurkic, Johnson, Young, Porter, #13

[Brandon-Clyde]

I presume Ayton is off the table because Beal demanded he stay in Phoenix so I would target Porzingas and offer Ant, Little and Keon Johnson. This would give Portland an upgrade at center and Washington some younger players to try and develop.
Depth will also be important since we always seem to lose big men to injury so unless Nurkic asked out I would keep him. To further add depth I would re-sign Eubanks and draft a big at 23 that we can develop.

Hypothetically if we did this trade I don’t think we’d have enough salary filler left for an upgrade at SF or PF (depending on what position we have Grant play)

Even trading for OG we’d have to re-sign him and Porzingis next season and I don’t think we could afford both.

My hope is we draft Miller. Also with luck we get either Leonard Miller or Clowney who could play both PF and center. Our starting lineup would be rebound deficient unless Nurk started. I could also see Portland occasionally start both Nurk and Porzingas. I might even try Eubanks at PF

[Sinobas]

I think Ayton would be a nice addition. He makes sense, since he's young (would fit in with our core in the even to of a rebuild), but also a vet that I think would make Dame happy.. He has 3 more years left so he can't bolt right away. He's a top 10 center.

We get out of Nurk's contract, whom I'm pretty much done with.

[zzaj]

Thing is, Nurkic is actually pretty good when he's healthy and locked in. He sets good screens, is a willing passer, a good rebounder and a workable positional defender. He obviously has some pretty glaring issues as a finisher and a defender in space/rim protector...but if he could do those things and stay healthy, he'd be a Top 10 center.

I like the idea of Valanciunas. Sure, he's 30 and likely on the descent...but he's better and slightly cheaper than Nurkic, and doesn't miss a whole lot of games.

[Norm2953]

I would ask for Melo if MJ really wants Scoot/Miller.

Portland should be able to re-route Melo for what they really need

Pretty sure MJ sold/is selling his stake in the franchise.

MJ will still have a minority stake in the franchise and the Scoot/Miller workout for Monday
is all about MJ getting a look at both players.

Here's to hoping MJ wants both guys and gives us Melo in trade

[JasonStern]

I would ask for Melo if MJ really wants Scoot/Miller.

Portland should be able to re-route Melo for what they really need

Pretty sure MJ sold/is selling his stake in the franchise.

MJ will still have a minority stake in the franchise and the Scoot/Miller workout for Monday
is all about MJ getting a look at both players.

Here's to hoping MJ wants both guys and gives us Melo in trade

MJ playing talent evaluator? #3 just got more valuable.

[Blazers98]

If we liked a player at the#5 spot like Whitmore or one of the Thompson twins, I would not mind trading down with Detroit if they throw in Duran.

[Sinobas]

If this Heat rumor is really true, and Dame asks for a trade there. Could we package Dame and Nurk and get Bam and picks in return? Lowry as a filler.


https://basketball.realgm.com/tradechecker/saved_trade/7833328

[DeBlazerRiddem]

I think Ayton would be a nice addition. He makes sense, since he's young (would fit in with our core in the even to of a rebuild), but also a vet that I think would make Dame happy.. He has 3 more years left so he can't bolt right away. He's a top 10 center.

We get out of Nurk's contract, whom I'm pretty much done with.

I think the same reasons you are done with Nurkic would be there with Ayton. He's a more talented player sure but still has issues with staying focused and consistent, prone to getting banged up and missing some time.

For me it is much easier to swallow this issues with a 15 mill contract compared to 30 mill.

[Jsun947]

If we liked a player at the#5 spot like Whitmore or one of the Thompson twins, I would not mind trading down with Detroit if they throw in Duran.

Nnaji looks a hell of a lot like Duren to me, but bigger. I’d really really like to draft him at 23

[zzaj]

I presume Ayton is off the table because Beal demanded he stay in Phoenix so I would target Porzingas and offer Ant, Little and Keon Johnson. This would give Portland an upgrade at center and Washington some younger players to try and develop.
Depth will also be important since we always seem to lose big men to injury so unless Nurkic asked out I would keep him. To further add depth I would re-sign Eubanks and draft a big at 23 that we can develop.

Hypothetically if we did this trade I don’t think we’d have enough salary filler left for an upgrade at SF or PF (depending on what position we have Grant play)

Even trading for OG we’d have to re-sign him and Porzingis next season and I don’t think we could afford both.

My hope is we draft Miller. Also with luck we get either Leonard Miller or Clowney who could play both PF and center. Our starting lineup would be rebound deficient unless Nurk started. I could also see Portland occasionally start both Nurk and Porzingas. I might even try Eubanks at PF

BC, I REALLY like Leonard Miller too…I actually think LM and Black will end up being the steals of this draft.

[tester551]

The three main topics recently have been about trading Dame, the #3, and trading ANT. But a 4th consistent topic is upgrading the center spot.

It seems like the consensus is that it's time to upgrade Nurk, but most topics include him as a throw in.

Two questions:

1) what is the attributea of the Blazers ideal center (assuming the Blazers keep Dame)

2) who is your ideal Center target (within reason)?

I know Nurk is the current lightning rod here on the roster, but I think this effort is a bit misplaced.

The bigger issue last season was the lack of big man depth.

Trading Nurk for Turner or Ayton would have less of an effect than just getting some good quality depth (ie sign Plumlee or Wood using the MLE).

Also, the #1 priority should be to improve the wings. Grant is nice, but he doesn't rebound or is really that impactful. Even adding a player like John Collins would do wonders for this team (although I would hope for a bigger fish than JC).