Nurkic for Ayton

[Sinobas]

There's a lot of buzz about Ayton coming to Portland with Nurkic going to the Suns, supposedly as part of a larger 3 team deal that has Lillard going out.


I'd like this deal. I'm tired of Nurk, and I don't know if he'd be happy here with Dame gone, and an unhappy Nurk is NOT something anybody wants. I'm tired of his weak finishing around the rim. And Ayton hits 80% at the rim vs Nurk 65%.

Ayton is over-paid, but his contract is not going to affect us. He's also young and has a chance to gel with our young core and become a long term starter for us.

[BlazersBroncos]

I would do it for the upside if it’s basically Nurkic do Ayton. I actually think Jusuf is a better win now fit for PHX assuming he is healthy. More willing to be a role player, much better passer and spreads the floor with his 3. And an enforcer to protect the Suns big-3.

For a rebuild team like us I take Ayton, give him huge usage while we rack up losses and flip him to a stupid team later. I don’t think he is a winner, at all.

[Norm2953]

We're all tired of Dame talk but its a shame it could not have went down with more dignity for unlike
Clyde who kept his mouth shut, he's going to be remembered as a guy who made sure he got paid
before putting a stink to get out of town.

[DusterBuster]

If the Blazers get Ayton out of this, it’s a big win imo. I have problems with his attitude, but in a new situation maybe that changes. It’s worth a gamble for a 25yo former #1 pick who even at his worst puts up solid numbers and plays more above the rim than Nurkic. Pack on some picks and a young player or two from Miami and I’m looking more forward to this new season than I have all summer.

That said, I have a hard time believing this rumor. Ayton for Nurk just doesn’t make a ton of sense and would come down to whatever else is going to Phoenix. Is Caleb Martin enough to make up the difference for Phoenix? I think Martin is overrated, but maybe they do it?

I could still see a 4 team deal with Indy considering they’re motivated to move Buddy and have long had interest in Ayton. Maybe Buddy and Nurk is enough for Phoenix? Then Turner would be moved as well going to Portland. He would give what Ayton does, but without the mental headache… albeit a bit older.

Moving Ayton for multiple pieces makes sense to help the Suns get deeper and not be so top heavy. So I get it in some regard, but it’s still an odd situation.

[DusterBuster]

We're all tired of Dame talk but its a shame it could not have went down with more dignity for unlike
Clyde who kept his mouth shut, he's going to be remembered as a guy who made sure he got paid
before putting a stink to get out of town.

Before giving Clyde any credit for “dignity”, you should listen to Bob Whitsitt recounting his experience is trading Clyde.

The only thing saving Clyde’s dignity was lack of internet and social media.

[DusterBuster]

Even Sean Highkin is posting Ayton briefs which is interesting. He’s a bit of a canary in the coal mine. He’s one of the last people to buy any random twitter rumor. So the fact he’d post anything about a player in a Blazer rumor is interesting…

[NWGunner]

This is from John Gambodoro (Gambo) Phoenix talk show host and presumed Sun's insider. He also thinks Dame will be moved in the next 24 hrs. He had the Beal and Durant trades pegged.

[DusterBuster]

This guy from Phx reminds me a lot of Marang from here in Portland. Probably had some connections, but how close they are to current talks… who knows.

That said, Blazer twitter is going through it tonight. They have a whole Twitter Space “therapy session” going on and like, there’s no real rumor of something is close than very very very loose tea leaf reading lol.

[The Sebastian Express]

This guy from Phx reminds me a lot of Marang from here in Portland. Probably had some connections, but how close they are to current talks… who knows.

That said, Blazer twitter is going through it tonight. They have a whole Twitter Space “therapy session” going on and like, there’s no real rumor of something is close than very very very loose tea leaf reading lol.

Well it's suppose to start raining for real on Saturday so I guess the myopic downtrodden depression mood has hit the state and overreactions are needed.

[DusterBuster]

This guy from Phx reminds me a lot of Marang from here in Portland. Probably had some connections, but how close they are to current talks… who knows.

That said, Blazer twitter is going through it tonight. They have a whole Twitter Space “therapy session” going on and like, there’s no real rumor of something is close than very very very loose tea leaf reading lol.

Well it's suppose to start raining for real on Saturday so I guess the myopic downtrodden depression mood has hit the state and overreactions are needed.

Makes sense.

I’m no longer in Portland, now days living in Las Vegas and we have clear skies and 90s for the next 10 days minimum… so trade Dame, don’t trade Dame, w/e. I’d prefer to have the trade happening sooner than later to no longer hear from Heat “fan” and hearing the same rumor weekly of “Blazers want more than Heat are willing to offer, Heat want Dame for a rock bottom price.” I’ve known this since July 15th. Got it. Waiting for new news.

[Sinobas]

There's some bad blood in between Ayton and Phoenix from what I understand. Nurkic is cheaper, and still above average at both ends.

The Suns might be thinking about depth. They are so top heavy. They can convert Ayton into Nurk+another rotational player (or 2).

[red_power]

Ayton is grossly overpaid but Blazers can put up with that as long as we have Scoot and Sharpe playing on their rookie deals.

I just wonder how much is it going to cost to sweeten this deal for Suns because I don't think they will be OK with a straight salary dump coming along with a production downgrade in the long run.

[red_power]

That said, I have a hard time believing this rumor. Ayton for Nurk just doesn’t make a ton of sense and would come down to whatever else is going to Phoenix. Is Caleb Martin enough to make up the difference for Phoenix? I think Martin is overrated, but maybe they do it?

Nurk is a good option to cover their big-3 backs and, even more importantly, his cost is half of Ayton's. Yeah, there are concerns about Nurk's durability, so I think Suns must get something else to offset that issue.

[BlazersBroncos]

Ayton to PDX, Herro to TOR and GTJ + Nurkic to PHX as part of a larger Dame trade makes sense IMO.

PHX cuts Ayton's salary in half, gets a guy that doe alot of thinks he doesnt (Passing, elite dribble handoff and screens, 3PT range) and a year of GTJ as their bench gunner (I guess they can resign him if they go LAC on the payroll).

[Sinobas]

Ayton to PDX, Herro to TOR and GTJ + Nurkic to PHX as part of a larger Dame trade makes sense IMO.

PHX cuts Ayton's salary in half, gets a guy that doe alot of thinks he doesnt (Passing, elite dribble handoff and screens, 3PT range) and a year of GTJ as their bench gunner (I guess they can resign him if they go LAC on the payroll).

Will be interesting. If we trade Dame and Nurk that is 64 mil in outgoing, and we'd probably have to take on some kind of filler.

I'd hope we could get pieces from Toronto, even just someone like Boucher or Precious.

[Norm2953]

I'm not crazy about taking on a player who had problems with a nice guy like Monte Williams but
can understand the desire of acquiring a player at a position of great need. Those draft picks
that are coming in the trade are still 5-7 years away

[ebott]

I never liked the idea of getting Ayton with Dame cause Ayton as he seems to be mainly motivated by scoring and he wasn't going to do that much with Dame. I remember Shaq once had what one might consider a slump where Kobe was shooting so much that Shaq wasn't scoring that much and when asked about his lack of defensive intensity he said something like "if you don't feed the dog, he's not gonna protect the house" I feel like Ayton is cut from the same clothe. On a team woth Scoot trying to run plays for him, Ayton might live up to his potential.

[Goldbum]

I 100% believe if Ayton lands in Portland he will have a Renaissance. I think year 2 as a Blazer he's pushing for the All-Star team (we won't win enough year 1 but some of the NBA's talking heads will see him as a near MIP candidate). I see him dropping something like 24.5ppg and 12rpg on big time efficiently and top 10 in the league in blocks. I have a sinking feeling that Nas goes out in the trade, I think they drafted Murray to play mostly SF and will "clear the runway" for him.

[tester551]

I 100% believe if Ayton lands in Portland he will have a Renaissance. I think year 2 as a Blazer he's pushing for the All-Star team (we won't win enough year 1 but some of the NBA's talking heads will see him as a near MIP candidate). I see him dropping something like 24.5ppg and 12rpg on big time efficiently and top 10 in the league in blocks. I have a sinking feeling that Nas goes out in the trade, I think they drafted Murray to play mostly SF and will "clear the runway" for him.

I don't share your optimism with Ayton. I think hes at the 'what you see is what you get' stage.
Good player, but not an Allstar.

I agree that Nas is probably on the way out

[BlazersBroncos]

Not sure why higher usage would elevate Ayton to Top-10 in blocks. He is somehow a **** shotblocker. Averaged under 1 BPG the past 2 years despite 30mpg, a 7'7 wingspan and elite athleticism for his size. Its a pretty shocking stat actually.