Dame requests a trade.

[tester551]

There does seem to be a lot of people thinking a deal is going to happen soon. Seen other beat reporters saying they’re hearing the same thing about a deal being close.

Just not sure I buy the Ayton part. Nurk and Caleb Martin doesn’t seem like enough.

Maybe a 4 way deal?… main pieces being Ayton to Indy, Buddy and Nurkic to Suns, Turner + heat stuff to Portland, Dame to Miami.

Remember this would take Suns out of the second apron & give added flexibility

[DusterBuster]

There does seem to be a lot of people thinking a deal is going to happen soon. Seen other beat reporters saying they’re hearing the same thing about a deal being close.

Just not sure I buy the Ayton part. Nurk and Caleb Martin doesn’t seem like enough.

Maybe a 4 way deal?… main pieces being Ayton to Indy, Buddy and Nurkic to Suns, Turner + heat stuff to Portland, Dame to Miami.

Remember this would take Suns out of the second apron & give added flexibility

I did not remember this, thank you!

[Norm2953]

He's just another entitled player and not the guy we thought we knew.

Makes you wonder if he'll have to sell his dealership

I think he’s played the “game” TERRIBLY, but I do think he’s the guy we thought he was still. I get it man, he’s only got a couple more years in the league. I don’t think he wants to play until he’s close to 40. I think he wants to win a ring and call it. He’s already said he doesn’t like what the league has become. He’s done everything the league has to offer but win it all.

The true test of if Dame is different than what he says is post career. Does he go the way of Clyde and Aldridge and call their second teams “home” (Houston and San Antonio), or does he win it but still come back to the Blazers and consider him a Blazer long-term like Walton has? If he spends his post-career forever in Miami and at Heat events, then yeah, **** him lol.

With Clyde, his second team was home but he did enter the HOF as a Rocket which stings. He at least visits Portland unlike LA.

Bill seems to enjoy Portland and there are number of players from 1977 who live in Oregon. It'll be interesting to see how Dames plays in Miami. I think he'll get traded as a big expiring contract in 2026 for Miami's next star player

[Slim Charless]

For what very very very little it’s worth, droppingdimes20 is saying Ayton could still end up in Portland.

I wonder what that would take to get done? I don't like the guy as a person, but as a player he is slightly better than Nurk and younger, but more expensive. Separate trade or some kind of 3 or 4 way deal? If we could get him and some decent picks and a few possible projects? Sure why not?

While Ayton is more appealing to me then Herro I don't think either one moves the needle much. I guess we could roll the dice on Ayton becoming the superstar he was pegged at being but if it hinders our ability to build around Scoot or Sharpe that would be rough.

Basically I am hoping for a Toronto trade because I think Scottie Barnes is the best possible player for us to receive in a Dame trade. I want Dame to go to Toronto for that reason alone I also have a feeling he would like it up there in many circumstances. The **** part of about a Barnes trade is he only makes $8 million per year this deal would be so much easier if he made like double or triple that.

Suns fan here, reading the same things you guys have been. I'm curious as to if you'd add Simons into this potential deal? You kinda need to clear room for Sharpe at the 2 and Simons is in his way. The money doesn't make sense as Ayton makes more than Nurk. The fit with Simons and Nurk fits almost pefectly. Thx

[monopoman]

I wonder what that would take to get done? I don't like the guy as a person, but as a player he is slightly better than Nurk and younger, but more expensive. Separate trade or some kind of 3 or 4 way deal? If we could get him and some decent picks and a few possible projects? Sure why not?

While Ayton is more appealing to me then Herro I don't think either one moves the needle much. I guess we could roll the dice on Ayton becoming the superstar he was pegged at being but if it hinders our ability to build around Scoot or Sharpe that would be rough.

Basically I am hoping for a Toronto trade because I think Scottie Barnes is the best possible player for us to receive in a Dame trade. I want Dame to go to Toronto for that reason alone I also have a feeling he would like it up there in many circumstances. The **** part of about a Barnes trade is he only makes $8 million per year this deal would be so much easier if he made like double or triple that.

Suns fan here, reading the same things you guys have been. I'm curious as to if you'd add Simons into this potential deal? You kinda need to clear room for Sharpe at the 2 and Simons is in his way. The money doesn't make sense as Ayton makes more than Nurk. The fit with Simons and Nurk fits almost pefectly. Thx

Are you asking for Simons+Nurkic for Ayton? If so not really interested unless some other player of high value was coming from the Suns. I think Ayton is pretty overrated in general though and some Blazer fans value him a lot more than I do.

[Slim Charless]

While Ayton is more appealing to me then Herro I don't think either one moves the needle much. I guess we could roll the dice on Ayton becoming the superstar he was pegged at being but if it hinders our ability to build around Scoot or Sharpe that would be rough.

Basically I am hoping for a Toronto trade because I think Scottie Barnes is the best possible player for us to receive in a Dame trade. I want Dame to go to Toronto for that reason alone I also have a feeling he would like it up there in many circumstances. The **** part of about a Barnes trade is he only makes $8 million per year this deal would be so much easier if he made like double or triple that.

Suns fan here, reading the same things you guys have been. I'm curious as to if you'd add Simons into this potential deal? You kinda need to clear room for Sharpe at the 2 and Simons is in his way. The money doesn't make sense as Ayton makes more than Nurk. The fit with Simons and Nurk fits almost pefectly. Thx

Are you asking for Simons+Nurkic for Ayton? If so not really interested unless some other player of high value was coming from the Suns. I think Ayton is pretty overrated in general though and some Blazer fans value him a lot more than I do.

Yeah, I was. I think that the gulf between the 2 players needs to be bridged somehow. However, I don't see any reason why we would attempt to trade for Nurk as he is not a good fit with the rest of the team. I think this whole trade is a nothing burger but I guess we'll see.

[DusterBuster]

I wonder what that would take to get done? I don't like the guy as a person, but as a player he is slightly better than Nurk and younger, but more expensive. Separate trade or some kind of 3 or 4 way deal? If we could get him and some decent picks and a few possible projects? Sure why not?

While Ayton is more appealing to me then Herro I don't think either one moves the needle much. I guess we could roll the dice on Ayton becoming the superstar he was pegged at being but if it hinders our ability to build around Scoot or Sharpe that would be rough.

Basically I am hoping for a Toronto trade because I think Scottie Barnes is the best possible player for us to receive in a Dame trade. I want Dame to go to Toronto for that reason alone I also have a feeling he would like it up there in many circumstances. The **** part of about a Barnes trade is he only makes $8 million per year this deal would be so much easier if he made like double or triple that.

Suns fan here, reading the same things you guys have been. I'm curious as to if you'd add Simons into this potential deal? You kinda need to clear room for Sharpe at the 2 and Simons is in his way. The money doesn't make sense as Ayton makes more than Nurk. The fit with Simons and Nurk fits almost pefectly. Thx

No chance. Blazers aren’t moving Dame, Nurkic AND Simons and the best player coming back being Ayton. Regardless of talent, salary makes zero sense from a CBA perspective.

[Slim Charless]

While Ayton is more appealing to me then Herro I don't think either one moves the needle much. I guess we could roll the dice on Ayton becoming the superstar he was pegged at being but if it hinders our ability to build around Scoot or Sharpe that would be rough.

Basically I am hoping for a Toronto trade because I think Scottie Barnes is the best possible player for us to receive in a Dame trade. I want Dame to go to Toronto for that reason alone I also have a feeling he would like it up there in many circumstances. The **** part of about a Barnes trade is he only makes $8 million per year this deal would be so much easier if he made like double or triple that.

Suns fan here, reading the same things you guys have been. I'm curious as to if you'd add Simons into this potential deal? You kinda need to clear room for Sharpe at the 2 and Simons is in his way. The money doesn't make sense as Ayton makes more than Nurk. The fit with Simons and Nurk fits almost pefectly. Thx

No chance. Blazers aren’t moving Dame, Nurkic AND Simons and the best player coming back being Ayton. Regardless of talent, salary makes zero sense from a CBA perspective.

Well this is under the scenario of you guys getting Barnes, Dick and filler for Dame. I think that's a legit possibility if he goes to Toronto.

[DusterBuster]

Suns fan here, reading the same things you guys have been. I'm curious as to if you'd add Simons into this potential deal? You kinda need to clear room for Sharpe at the 2 and Simons is in his way. The money doesn't make sense as Ayton makes more than Nurk. The fit with Simons and Nurk fits almost pefectly. Thx

No chance. Blazers aren’t moving Dame, Nurkic AND Simons and the best player coming back being Ayton. Regardless of talent, salary makes zero sense from a CBA perspective.

Well this is under the scenario of you guys getting Barnes, Dick and filler for Dame. I think that's a legit possibility if he goes to Toronto.

That’s not a realistic scenario. Random Trades and Transactions idea, sure, good deal. Real world scenario, not even in the realm of reality.

[monopoman]

I am a pretty big fan of Barnes in general so that makes me like more deals but we aren't even sure if Toronto is moving him.

I will say if we are trading Dame, Simons has more value to us because he could be a great 6th man down the line. He might be a tad overpaid for that but I would love seeing him come off the bench for a scoring punch with Sharpe+Scoot as the starting guards.

[DaVoiceMaster]

While Ayton is more appealing to me then Herro I don't think either one moves the needle much. I guess we could roll the dice on Ayton becoming the superstar he was pegged at being but if it hinders our ability to build around Scoot or Sharpe that would be rough.

Basically I am hoping for a Toronto trade because I think Scottie Barnes is the best possible player for us to receive in a Dame trade. I want Dame to go to Toronto for that reason alone I also have a feeling he would like it up there in many circumstances. The **** part of about a Barnes trade is he only makes $8 million per year this deal would be so much easier if he made like double or triple that.

Suns fan here, reading the same things you guys have been. I'm curious as to if you'd add Simons into this potential deal? You kinda need to clear room for Sharpe at the 2 and Simons is in his way. The money doesn't make sense as Ayton makes more than Nurk. The fit with Simons and Nurk fits almost pefectly. Thx

Are you asking for Simons+Nurkic for Ayton? If so not really interested unless some other player of high value was coming from the Suns. I think Ayton is pretty overrated in general though and some Blazer fans value him a lot more than I do.

Can't happen, even if we wanted to. Nurkic and Simon's is roughly $41M while Ayton is $32M. The Suns are $9M short. And I pass on this idea.

[Sinobas]

I wonder what that would take to get done? I don't like the guy as a person, but as a player he is slightly better than Nurk and younger, but more expensive. Separate trade or some kind of 3 or 4 way deal? If we could get him and some decent picks and a few possible projects? Sure why not?

While Ayton is more appealing to me then Herro I don't think either one moves the needle much. I guess we could roll the dice on Ayton becoming the superstar he was pegged at being but if it hinders our ability to build around Scoot or Sharpe that would be rough.

Basically I am hoping for a Toronto trade because I think Scottie Barnes is the best possible player for us to receive in a Dame trade. I want Dame to go to Toronto for that reason alone I also have a feeling he would like it up there in many circumstances. The **** part of about a Barnes trade is he only makes $8 million per year this deal would be so much easier if he made like double or triple that.

Suns fan here, reading the same things you guys have been. I'm curious as to if you'd add Simons into this potential deal? You kinda need to clear room for Sharpe at the 2 and Simons is in his way. The money doesn't make sense as Ayton makes more than Nurk. The fit with Simons and Nurk fits almost pefectly. Thx

Simons + Nurk becomes too much salary. And no, I think the Blazers value Simons more than that. It would probably be Nurk plus a role player, which might come from another team. If Portland, it might be a player like Nasir Little.

[Sinobas]

How funny would it be if we actually ended up doing better than the team we traded Damian to.

[Goldbum]

I'm so conflicted by the Ayton rumors, mostly because I think a guy like Sarr or Clingan could be amazing with Portland's pick. This would allow Portland to key in on that wing position though.
Scoot/Ant/Mayes
Sharpe/Ant
Thybulle/Nas/Murray
Grant/J-Walk
Ayton/Brown/Reath

Is a dang-fine start to the rebuild. I'm excited to see what all we put together with the remaining players and assets. If SF somehow ended up as Barnes I'd be over the moon.

[zzaj]

Wake me when it's over...I just can't really get excited/pissed until we get "multiple sources", and I feel like I won't really exhale about the situation until one of Cronin, or Lillard/Goodwin spills beans.

However, on the surface it appears talks have opened up and that's a good thing.

I do feel sad about Lillard's legacy in Portland. I highly doubt he cares, but instead of someday retiring the king of the city he played in for a decade, he'll be halfway maligned forever--if not fully rejected.

[BlazersBroncos]

My gut says the trade will be something like -

PDX OUT - Damian Lillard, Jusuf Nurkic
PDX IN - Kyle Lowry, Deandre Ayton, Nikola Jovic, TOR Filler (Flynn OR Precious), TOR Future FRP LP, MIA FRP, 28 UNP, MIA FRP, MIA FRP 30 UNP, MIA Swaps

TOR OUT - Gary Trent JR, TOR Filler (Flynn OR Precious), TOR Future FRP, LP
TOR IN - Tyler Herro

PHX OUT - Deandre Ayton, PHX Filler (Lee OR Okogie)
PHX IN - Jusuf Nurkic, Gary Trent JR

MIA OUT - Kyle Lowry, Tyler Herro, Nikola Jovic, MIA FRP 28 UNP, MIA FRP 30 UNP, Swaps
MIA IN - Damian Lillard, PHX Filler (Lee OR Okogie)

Not the best return but IMO the Vulcans need a guy to point at as the return for Dame and Ayton has a name more casual fans will recognize.

[Norm2953]

My gut says the trade will be something like -

PDX OUT - Damian Lillard, Jusuf Nurkic
PDX IN - Kyle Lowry, Deandre Ayton, Nikola Jovic, TOR Filler (Flynn OR Precious), TOR Future FRP LP, MIA FRP, 28 UNP, MIA FRP, MIA FRP 30 UNP, MIA Swaps

TOR OUT - Gary Trent JR, TOR Filler (Flynn OR Precious), TOR Future FRP, LP
TOR IN - Tyler Herro

PHX OUT - Deandre Ayton, PHX Filler (Lee OR Okogie)
PHX IN - Jusuf Nurkic, Gary Trent JR

MIA OUT - Kyle Lowry, Tyler Herro, Nikola Jovic, MIA FRP 28 UNP, MIA FRP 30 UNP, Swaps
MIA IN - Damian Lillard, PHX Filler (Lee OR Okogie)

Not the best return but IMO the Vulcans need a guy to point at as the return for Dame and Ayton has a name more casual fans will recognize.

Likely so for Ayton plays a position of great need and is a guy who would be on the court on opening night
as opposed to a trade that focusing on future assets that are 5-7 years away. I'd still ask for both JJJ/Jovic
with the Toronto filler going to Miami but whatever

[BlazersBroncos]

My gut says the trade will be something like -

PDX OUT - Damian Lillard, Jusuf Nurkic
PDX IN - Kyle Lowry, Deandre Ayton, Nikola Jovic, TOR Filler (Flynn OR Precious), TOR Future FRP LP, MIA FRP, 28 UNP, MIA FRP, MIA FRP 30 UNP, MIA Swaps

TOR OUT - Gary Trent JR, TOR Filler (Flynn OR Precious), TOR Future FRP, LP
TOR IN - Tyler Herro

PHX OUT - Deandre Ayton, PHX Filler (Lee OR Okogie)
PHX IN - Jusuf Nurkic, Gary Trent JR

MIA OUT - Kyle Lowry, Tyler Herro, Nikola Jovic, MIA FRP 28 UNP, MIA FRP 30 UNP, Swaps
MIA IN - Damian Lillard, PHX Filler (Lee OR Okogie)

Not the best return but IMO the Vulcans need a guy to point at as the return for Dame and Ayton has a name more casual fans will recognize.

Likely so for Ayton plays a position of great need and is a guy who would be on the court on opening night
as opposed to a trade that focusing on future assets that are 5-7 years away. I'd still ask for both JJJ/Jovic
with the Toronto filler going to Miami but whatever

I prefer both as well, ideally w/ Nas going out too. Ayton is marketable based on his draft position, relative age and name recognition. I think the Vulcans want that to ensure the revenues dont plummet. Market it as a young up-and-coming team that got a young, dominant big man for Dame rather than a package of picks half a decade out.

G - Scoot Henderson / Anfernee Simons / Keon Johnson
G - Shadeon Sharpe / Anfernee Simons / Keon Johnson
F - Matisse Thybulle / Jamie Jacquez JR / Rayan Rupert
F - Jerami Grant / Kris Murray / Jabari Walker JR
C - DeAndre Ayton / Nikola Jovic / Moses Brown

Thats pretty fun. Would prefer a guy like Pat Williams or Barnes to Ayton but the above at least would be worth watching.

[DusterBuster]

For what it's worth:

Read on Twitter

[Norm2953]

More likely we'd see a lot of 3 guard lineups with Scoot, SS and Ant for the team could use Ant's 3 point
shooting more than Thybulle's defense.

It'll be interesting to see how the roster would shape up for its clear the team would lack a quality SF
to play the Batum role but the presence of JJJ, Jovic, Murray and Ayton deepens Portland's front court
and Lowry should be a fine mentor for Scoot, who will be much most rookies (inconsistent).


PG Scoot, Lowry
SG Ant, Thybulle
SG Sharpe, Thybulle
PF Grant, JJJ, Murray
C Ayton, Jovic