Lillard: I don't want to be a part of a rebuild.

[NCHeels2008]

I wouldn't do it. DDR is an aging hired gun, he wouldn't put us over the top. Simons has not even peaked yet. Fair trade but if you care about the future you don't make that trade.

I suggested it assuming you're dealing 3 and/or Sharpe in another deal to win now. Stupid trade by itself.

That's even worse hahahaha, but me personally am not willing to gamble the future for a bad win now scenario.

I hear you, I'm not making a value judgement on whether its smart overall or not. But just thinking if you went win now and wanted to better balance the team in terms of size (though DDR isn't huge) a Simons for DDR deal might be a good appetizer to the bigger deal. Similar to Ray Allen before KG on the 07 Celtics.

[m0ng0]

I suggested it assuming you're dealing 3 and/or Sharpe in another deal to win now. Stupid trade by itself.

That's even worse hahahaha, but me personally am not willing to gamble the future for a bad win now scenario.

I hear you, I'm not making a value judgement on whether its smart overall or not. But just thinking if you went win now and wanted to better balance the team in terms of size (though DDR isn't huge) a Simons for DDR deal might be a good appetizer to the bigger deal. Similar to Ray Allen before KG on the 07 Celtics.

Why do you want Simons? I am assuming you are a Bulls fan? Simons gives you a little hope as part of a rebuild? Sadly my friend we are in the same boat as you.... However we have young talent, and Simons IMHO is a big part of it.

[NCHeels2008]

That's even worse hahahaha, but me personally am not willing to gamble the future for a bad win now scenario.

I hear you, I'm not making a value judgement on whether its smart overall or not. But just thinking if you went win now and wanted to better balance the team in terms of size (though DDR isn't huge) a Simons for DDR deal might be a good appetizer to the bigger deal. Similar to Ray Allen before KG on the 07 Celtics.

Why do you want Simons? I am assuming you are a Bulls fan? Simons gives you a little hope as part of a rebuild? Sadly my friend we are in the same boat as you.... However we have young talent, and Simons IMHO is a big part of it.

I'm not a fan of either I just think Simons is a lot younger, a bit worse of a player (for now) and smaller. But Chicago is going to need to retool anyways so to me they should adjust their window further out while if Portland is gonna keep Dame and go for it, this is the type of incremental upgrade that could loom large under the playoff lights.

[Moonbeam]

Sign me up for a DDR-Simons trade.

[Blazers98]

TBH, I'd like to go full rebuild and trade Dame. The Miami trade is less than appealing with Herro being the "big return". He's OK and all but we have the backcourt of the future already. I believe OG to be a better fit for this team so why not trade Dame to Toronto? OG can fill a position of need as well as fit the teams rebuild timeline since he is 25. Great 3 and D guy who is exactly what we need. I know it is not "equal value" but it is better than Herro. The Raps might do this because they can let Freddy walk and insert Dame. That makes a good Raps team.

We would have 3 guys set for a long time to come with Scoot, Sharpe, and OG. I just can't see too many trades out there that gives us a good young established player that can fill a position of need and actually be realistically traded.

[Wizenheimer]

Sign me up for a DDR-Simons trade.

it just makes too much sense, and it might be enough to keep Dame around to mentor Scoop and Sharpe. I think that would be critical for their development. DDR is reportedly a real positive influence on a locker room too

by the way, last season, winshares (winshares/48:

Demar DeRozan - 8.5 (.153)
Pascal Siakam - 7.8 (.141)
Mikal Bridges - 7.5 (.121)
Jaylen Brown - 5.0 (.100)


PER:

Demar DeRozan - 20.6
Pascal Siakam - 20.3
Jaylen Brown - 19.1
Mikal Bridges - 16.8

to be fair, Bridges did much better in Brooklyn, but it was a small sample size

DDR can play SG or SF. He's not a good defender but he isn't a sieve either. He a good facilitator and passer, and he gets to the FT line which is an underrated skill. He would give the Blazers versatility at wing they've been missing since the Mathews/Batum days

[Sinobas]

If the Blazers can just land a decent PF, move Grant to SF, start Sharpe at SG, we have the makings of a pretty good team. We'd no longer be undersized. That one move could make a big difference.

Simons is the obvious odd man out. Seems like he should be a big enough chip to at least get a middle of the pack PF who can rebound.

[PDXKnight]

TBH, I'd like to go full rebuild and trade Dame. The Miami trade is less than appealing with Herro being the "big return". He's OK and all but we have the backcourt of the future already. I believe OG to be a better fit for this team so why not trade Dame to Toronto? OG can fill a position of need as well as fit the teams rebuild timeline since he is 25. Great 3 and D guy who is exactly what we need. I know it is not "equal value" but it is better than Herro. The Raps might do this because they can let Freddy walk and insert Dame. That makes a good Raps team.

We would have 3 guys set for a long time to come with Scoot, Sharpe, and OG. I just can't see too many trades out there that gives us a good young established player that can fill a position of need and actually be realistically traded.

Depends on other pieces but I feel like masai would be the guy offering us a wooden nickel for acres of Dimonds. If they can match what the nets can then maybe it's decent but the nets have something that the Raps might not and that is the ability to offer us variety in picks from 3 teams in case one team is really good, IE imagine if we deal dame for OG and 3-4 number 25-30 picks when all is said and done. At least with broklyn's potential offer there's 3 teams worth of picks to spread that risk out a bit. And I'd imagine the ny market is the place where they'd be more likely to party like its 1999 and toss around an obscene amount of firsts so they can put that big name on a poster in front of the arena

[GEE]

If the Blazers can just land a decent PF, move Grant to SF, start Sharpe at SG, we have the makings of a pretty good team. We'd no longer be undersized. That one move could make a big difference.

Simons is the obvious odd man out. Seems like he should be a big enough chip to at least get a middle of the pack PF who can rebound.

I think the plan by Cronin is to continue to build with youth regardless of what Dame decides to do, and I don't see Simons getting traded like most everyone else around here. With that said, I agree that the PF position is the next position to fill, as I don't see the upgrade to C coming until next year's draft.

My choice would be to steal Rui Hachimura away from the Lakers if at all possible. Perfect fit IMO. We should go get our C next summer, unless the right guy falls into our lap and it can be done sooner with a Dame trade, but I'd be willing to be patient and wait for the right fit, and not settle for mediocrity.

[PDXKnight]

If the Blazers can just land a decent PF, move Grant to SF, start Sharpe at SG, we have the makings of a pretty good team. We'd no longer be undersized. That one move could make a big difference.

Simons is the obvious odd man out. Seems like he should be a big enough chip to at least get a middle of the pack PF who can rebound.

I think the plan by Cronin is to continue to build with youth regardless of what Dame decides to do, and I don't see Simons getting traded like most everyone else around here. With that said, I agree that the PF position is the next position to fill, as I don't see the upgrade to C coming until next year's draft.

My choice would be to steal Rui Hachimura away from the Lakers if at all possible. Perfect fit IMO. We should go get our C next summer, unless the right guy falls into our lap and it can be done sooner with a Dame trade, but I'd be willing to be patient and wait for the right fit, and not settle for mediocrity.

If hachimura is our big solution I'd rather just run out the rookie If we go nuclear

[JasonStern]

I wonder how both sides would grade a Simons for DeRozan swap

If the Blazers are seriously committed to this dual timeline path, I love it. Simons isn't nearly as bad as most Blazer fans make him out to be. But he's a SG in a PG body that is a terrible fit next to Dame. Shorter Jamal Crawford. 23 and on a reasonable contract for someone that can get you 20ppg every night.

Meanwhile, DeRozan is one of the most underrated players in the league. I'm guessing because his game doesn't translate to the modern 3 point chucker era. But he's still efficient. He's taller than 6'3", so I'm sure the Blazers have no interest. But he'd be the best player Dame has played with since Aldridge left. And with one year left on his contract, you aren't committing to long-term salary. There is definite concerns that DDR will go the Gerald Wallace path of decline. But, if you aren't giving up anything of major value, you take that risk.

Dame/DDR/Grant/Nurkic to win now, Sharpe/Scoot/the rest to win later. I think that everyone agrees the dual timeline thing is not advantageous to winning now or later. But if that is the path that ownership/management wants to go down, a Simons (hell, throw in Little to match salaries) for DDR swap shows that, look, Dame, we brought in an all-star you're friends with. A year after bringing in Grant. We also brought in 2 players that could potentially go #1 in weaker drafts. This isn't management not doing our jobs.

The problem is Chicago seems as stubborn about blowing up their flawed roster as Portland is about blowing up their flawed roster. Cronin is better than Neil Olshey, but he's still not upper echelon. So we're running a dual path, which I have come to terms with. But Chicago? You don't have young talent. The talent you do have isn't winning games. You did the Olshey thing of giving up valuable picks to acquire mid-tier talent. I have no idea what they are doing, but will stand by saying they're bottom third in the league GM-wise.

[Brandon-Clyde]

To get Rui would probably take the full MLE and either a full 4 year guarantee or years 3 and 4 being player options. I would do it in part to annoy the Laker fans, in part the hope that he partially solves our forward problems and partially if things go south that we could get assets like we got for GP2. It could uld be simple asset acquisition and it would be a veteran that might appease Dame a little bit.

[JasonStern]

I don't want to be a part of a rebuild.

Cronin: Well, guess what? I'm trading Hart and GP2 for two more rookie draft picks. Play with the bull, get the horns, hombre.

[Sinobas]

Hopefully Dame's game doesn't fall of a cliff suddenly. Most players are done by age 33. Hopefully he ages like Steve Nash, and is not holding the team back like an old Kobe Bryant.

[HoopsFanAZ]

Simons (and Nas + overpay) for OG + filler is NOT going to make some Blazers fans real happy. Ant is a 3-pointer and a bucket. He’s really frickin’ good. Dame-lite. BUT for roster construction — 3&D with switchable and age (OG at 25) — after Bridges, OG fits best.

Bridges is an overpay — an offer they couldn’t refuse of Ant + Nas + PICKS PICKS PICKS …
Siakam is going to get paid and is more PF than SF … not quite the defender
DDR is older, lack of 3’s less defense than others
Brown would be more of a trade for Dame than to play beside him

OG fits and can opt out in a year … Toronto needs to make some player and salary moves. It’s not the BIG move with the name — Brown and Bridges — but it’s a strong move to win.

Dame-Scoot-Sharpe
OG-Grant
Nurkic

Thybulle, Trendon, Murray, Eubanks, Walker, Rupert, Badji … still work to do on the bench

I’m picking this hill to die on. That team has a shot with OG making forward a strength NOT a weakness.

[Norm2953]

Toronto (Masai) is notoriously difficult to deal with for he's likely going to ask for Scoot
in a trade for OG.

[Wizenheimer]

Simons (and Nas + overpay) for OG + filler is NOT going to make some Blazers fans real happy. Ant is a 3-pointer and a bucket. He’s really frickin’ good. Dame-lite. BUT for roster construction — 3&D with switchable and age (OG at 25) — after Bridges, OG fits best.

Bridges is an overpay — an offer they couldn’t refuse of Ant + Nas + PICKS PICKS PICKS …
Siakam is going to get paid and is more PF than SF … not quite the defender
DDR is older, lack of 3’s less defense than others
Brown would be more of a trade for Dame than to play beside him

OG fits and can opt out in a year … Toronto needs to make some player and salary moves. It’s not the BIG move with the name — Brown and Bridges — but it’s a strong move to win.

Dame-Scoot-Sharpe
OG-Grant
Nurkic

Thybulle, Trendon, Murray, Eubanks, Walker, Rupert, Badji … still work to do on the bench

I’m picking this hill to die on. That team has a shot with OG making forward a strength NOT a weakness.

I don't agree with your glowing appraisal of Simons. He does a few things well but overall he's a flawed player with some significant limitations, and I think he has narrow value across the 30 NBA team landscape

that said, what he does bring to the floor might appeal to 3 or 4 teams, and Toronto might be one of those. They may be losing FVV and will have a hole at PG. Ant has generally poor PG skills and vision, but they may be good enough to plug into Toronto's starting lineup. Between the two of them, Siakam and Barnes averaged nearly 11 assists/game last season so the Raptors have good facilitation skills at wing, and Ant's catch & shoot ability would complement that. Ant + future 1st, top-7 to top-10 protected seems fair

the problem is Masai Ujiri. There seems to be widespread belief out there that 29 NBA front offices have found him nearly impossible to work with. I've seen rumors that the Blazer front office got pretty sour about Ujiri last year when they were discussing an OG trade for #7

[GEE]

To get Rui would probably take the full MLE and either a full 4 year guarantee or years 3 and 4 being player options. I would do it in part to annoy the Laker fans, in part the hope that he partially solves our forward problems and partially if things go south that we could get assets like we got for GP2. It could uld be simple asset acquisition and it would be a veteran that might appease Dame a little bit.

I'd do it in a hot tick. I think the non-tax payer MLE is $12.4 for us. Lakers, I would imagine really want him to stay, but I have to think they can only offer waaay less, thinking they may need try to retain both Rui AND Reaves with just their smaller MLE.

I do think he could play some small-ball C too, like a Cappella. I absolutely love him as a #1 free-agent target. If a Dame trade to BRK can return us Claxton and Sharpe, I think we are sitting pretty with a very talented young rebuild completed, with lots of really good future assets to use going forward.

Scoot / Dinwiddie(1 yr) / Rupert
Simons / Thybulle / Keon
Sharpe / Little / Knox / Murray
Rui / Simmons(2 yrs) / Watford
Claxton / Eubanks / Sharpe / Walker

Obviously we can only carry 15, but with the new G-League team that shouldn't be an issue. Honestly, I think this team above is pretty damn scary to the rest of the NBA, DAY 1.

And for those of you that just can't stomach the idea of bringing Simmons on... There is more than a slight chance IMO the move out from the BIG CITY, might be just what he needs to return to his earlier form. Worst case scenario is... his large expiring contract becomes a fairly big asset in just one year from now. Plus we can get extra pick compensation just for taking him. Why wouldn't you eat that $?

[Norm2953]

To get Rui would probably take the full MLE and either a full 4 year guarantee or years 3 and 4 being player options. I would do it in part to annoy the Laker fans, in part the hope that he partially solves our forward problems and partially if things go south that we could get assets like we got for GP2. It could uld be simple asset acquisition and it would be a veteran that might appease Dame a little bit.

I'd do it in a hot tick. I think the non-tax payer MLE is $12.4 for us. Lakers, I would imagine really want to him to stay, but I have to think they can only offer waaay less, thinking they may need try to retain both Rui AND Reaves with just their smaller MLE.

I do think he could play some small-ball C too, like a Cappella. I absolutely love him as a #1 free-agent target. If a Dame trade to BRK can return us Claxton and Sharpe, I think we are sitting pretty with a very talented young rebuild completed, with lots of really good future assets to use going forward.

Scoot / Dinwiddie(1 yr) / Rupert
Simons / Thybulle / Keon
Sharpe / Little / Knox / Murray
Rui / Simmons (2 yrs) / Watford
Claxton / Eubanks / Sharpe / Walker

Obviously we can only carry 15, but with the new G-League team that shouldn't be an issue. Honestly, I think this team above is pretty damn scary to the rest of the NBA, DAY 1.

I would want DFS, Dinwiddie and Sharpe + the usual picks/swaps in any Brooklyn trade for Dame.

That would give some veteran leadership to a very young Blazers team and Portland could still go after
a backup center with their MLE, especially if Eubanks decides to sign elsewhere.

[Brandon-Clyde]

Toronto (Masai) is notoriously difficult to deal with for he's likely going to ask for Scoot
in a trade for OG.

I am going to experience a lot of schadenfreude next summer if Toronto loses either or both in free agency.