Blazers get #1 w/Hornets

[jredsaz]

Yeah trading for a bad contract and moving down from 6 to 14 isn't my idea of a good time. Hornets pass thanks.

Atlanta and Charlotte donating value to Portland here.

What does Charlotte expect from their space?

I'll repeat. We aren't moving down 8 spots for the negative contract of Jerami Grant - regardless of how you want to frame it.

But if I’m Charlotte how is Grants contract negative? He is a good NBA player. He is overpaid but not significantly for his production/skill set. Being under control for four years is a good thing for the Hornets because A) he can’t leave in FA and B) if Lamelo/Miller/Williams are legit Charlotte will need some salary to trade to add a real third wheel in 2-3 years.

[jredsaz]

If we can get Sarr for pieces not in the future plan, even if that means 1 lotto instant of 2, we have to do it. I just don’t think the other teams will here.

What if they trade Simons +14 for 8 if the team knows Clingon will be there at 7?

Gives them a chance to draft one of Cody Williams, Salaun, Holland or Knecht (whoever they want)
at 8, for none of those players will be there at 14

Spurs get to pick someone like Topic at 14 and get Simons for the last two years of his contract

I’m on board with this too. It also feels more realistic. Heck, even if Clingan isn’t available. I’ll trade Simons to have both Cody and Salaun.

I thought about that too but Thybulle is more valuable than Simons for the Hornets. They need a POA defender next to Lamelo. At least if they are trying to build a functional roster.

[Norm2953]

That's fine. If they prefer Thybulle, that would work as well.

[Norm2953]

If we can get Sarr for pieces not in the future plan, even if that means 1 lotto instant of 2, we have to do it. I just don’t think the other teams will here.

What if they trade Simons +14 for 8 if the team knows Clingon will be there at 7?

Gives them a chance to draft one of Cody Williams, Salaun, Holland or Knecht (whoever they want)
at 8, for none of those players will be there at 14

Spurs get to pick someone like Topic at 14 and get Simons for the last two years of his contract

I’m on board with this too. It also feels more realistic. Heck, even if Clingan isn’t available. I’ll trade Simons to have both Cody and Salaun.

This would be a move if the team wanted to add two players from a group of Williams, Salaun, Holland, Knecht
if Clingan was not there at 7 or one player from this group together with Clingan.

I don't know why Charlotte would do Thybulle +14 for 6 for Simons is the better player and they could possibly
draft Castle at 6, which get them a POA defender on a rookie contract

[azuresou1]

I think the value is okay for Atlanta, but the fit is not.

Why are we putting Trae next to an offense-first center who isn't a great defender, doesn't run the floor particularly well, and doesn't space the floor? This feels like when the Sixers tossed a bajillion dollars at Baron Davis and Elton Brand - complete skill mismatch.

[luciano-davidwesley]

What does Charlotte expect from their space?

I'll repeat. We aren't moving down 8 spots for the negative contract of Jerami Grant - regardless of how you want to frame it.

But if I’m Charlotte how is Grants contract negative? He is a good NBA player. He is overpaid but not significantly for his production/skill set. Being under control for four years is a good thing for the Hornets because A) he can’t leave in FA and B) if Lamelo/Miller/Williams are legit Charlotte will need some salary to trade to add a real third wheel in 2-3 years.

I'll keep this brief: Overpaid = Negative value, especially if long term and about to be on the wrong side of 30.

You don't give up assets for negative value players, well unless you are giving up something more negative of course. Jerami Grant isn't moving the needle to make a massive commitment to AND trade down for on long-term overpaid salary. It's just a clear no for Charlotte and no rationalising is going to change that.

[Courant]

But if I’m Charlotte how is Grants contract negative? He is a good NBA player. He is overpaid but not significantly for his production/skill set. Being under control for four years is a good thing for the Hornets because A) he can’t leave in FA and B) if Lamelo/Miller/Williams are legit Charlotte will need some salary to trade to add a real third wheel in 2-3 years.

Here are some reasons:

1.) Jerami Grant is an overlap/duplication of what Charlotte already has in Brandon Miller and Miles Bridges: a 6-foot-8 wing player who can serve as a primary scorer.

2.) Charlotte is in the early stages of a rebuild that will take a few years. Adding a 30-year-old player making $132 million over the next four years who potentially can take opportunities from two of your best young players doesn't sound enticing.

3.) It would be a replay of the Gordon Hayward experience Charlotte just got out of -- tying up $100 million-plus dollars into a veteran player who doesn't move the needle on a young rebuilding team. There is no benefit in putting that kind of investment into a player who doesn't help your team's long- or short-term horizon.

4.) I question whether Grant's productivity results from putting up deceptive numbers on bad teams. Grant was a typical reserve/fifth starter on some playoff-level teams in Oklahoma City and Denver. Then he goes to a pair of lottery teams in Detroit and Portland, and his scoring average and shot attempts jump considerably.

Grant would be a better fit as a complementary piece on a playoff team at this stage of his career. I can see Dallas moving to acquire him after seeing in the NBA Finals that it needs a third scorer to complement Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

[Courant]

Yeah trading for a bad contract and moving down from 6 to 14 isn't my idea of a good time. Hornets pass thanks.

Atlanta and Charlotte donating value to Portland here.

As a TrailBlazers fan living in the Charlotte area, I agree these trades are a bit unrealistic. Portland will not get the No. 1 pick in the draft and get off Jerami Grant's contract, while Charlotte and Atlanta would be in worse positions. Moreover, Portland likely will get more value in moving Grant and Matisse Thybulle in separate deals.

A more realistic trade would be:

Dallas gets: Jerami Grant

Portland gets: Tim Hardaway Jr., Josh Green and a 2025 second-round pick

Portland would have Hardaway's deal for one year at $16 million vs. paying Grant $132 million over four years. The Blazers then could move Green along with some veteran trade pieces in a separate deal. Meanwhile, Dallas will get a third scorer with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, who can manufacture his offense, provide quality wing defense and fit into Dallas' win-now window.

I planned to create a Portland seller's market thread before seeing this response, so I likely will proceed.