Now what?

[Norm2953]

That might not be a bad idea for if TL is healthy, Portland could then buy out Vuc and regain full
use of its pick.

I’m not really worried about the roster being too good, for so much depends on Scoot and Sharpe.

I tend to think Portland in 2024/5 is a 35 win team as opposed we to the 21 win team they were this
season. They will be better but unlikely to make the playoffs.

Likely just letting Ayton walk after playing out the last two years of his deal is what will happen

Would be very foolish of us. The long term were much better off seeing how we can pair DC and DA

We have 2 years to try that and if (I would say, when) it fails we can let him walk.

I would be very surprised if Ayton was here in 2 years. Donovan is the future and a bouncy, stretch PF would be the best fit at PF w/ Clingan being a traditional C (I dont believe the 3PT shot) and Scoot / Sharpe likely being rim attacking, high usage guys. You want a JJJ to round this roster out IMO. MUCH harder said than done though.

Likely will be the case.

Even with Deni, uncertainty on just effective Scoot/Sharpe will limit Portland to perhaps a 35 win team.
Deni who is a slasher will be a good fit with Jerami's game. I think Portland will miss Brogdon's steady hand
and think the team could have used Kolek as a backup PG. I buy the notion of using Banton as the backup
PG is like asking Will Barton to be a PG.

I see the Blazers are now posting video of Clingan's workout in Portland. Interesting he's wearing #27

[tacos]

Re Ayton at PF - I do wonder if he actually would be a better defender there. He shies from contact and isnt a rim protector - but he moves his feet tremendously well for his size. I actually trust him on switches more than I do as a post defender / rim protector. Its an experiment worth trying and I wouldnt be surprised if the FO had the same thoughts.

Assuming we can move Grant - Scoot / Sharpe / Deni / Ayton / Clingan would be a ride for better or worse.

There are articles quoting him saying he is much more of a power forward than a canter

[BlazersBroncos]

DJM to NO for a meh package.

Good for us as LAL had some interest in him apparently. Hope the market goes dry and they make a LeGM desperation move for Grant.

[Bigpoppapomp82]

Read on Twitter

?s=46

One of my good buddies was all heated because we took a big white center and because of our general terrible history with drafting centers. I remain hopeful for Clingan and glad they don’t reach for anyone and let the guy they wanted come to them.

Deni is going to kill it in Portland. He’s hands down the best wing we’ve had since Nico and IMO he’s better and has more of a killer instinct. Kinda reminds me of a more athletic Tony Kukoc.

Anyone over 25 needs to go!lol!

[PDXKnight]

Read on Twitter

?s=46

One of my good buddies was all heated because we took a big white center and because of our general terrible history with drafting centers. I remain hopeful for Clingan and glad they don’t reach for anyone and let the guy they wanted come to them.

Deni is going to kill it in Portland. He’s hands down the best wing we’ve had since Nico and IMO he’s better and has more of a killer instinct. Kinda reminds me of a more athletic Tony Kukoc.

Anyone over 25 needs to go!lol!

Making decisions based on fear of past failue is one of the worst management M.O.'s. Yeah we've had some unfortunate and maybe not so smart selections with the knowledge upper management had (Oden) but if klingon checks out taking a chance on a center is always a good gamble in any era

[Dominator83]

I’d bet money Grant still gets moved for Topic and/or future 1st to one of the Lakers, OKC, Dallas, LAC, or Philly

Williams and Thybulle can be traded into someone’s MLE

Simons, I think that’s a tougher one. He makes so much sense for Orlando and SAS. Maybe you can pry away a couple future 1st for him?

I don’t think there is a market for Ayton but given how many minutes Clingan played in college it’s not the end of the world if we just keep him on his current contract. I’d take ANY asset I could for him though.

My bigger concern, despite our ability to tank the 2nd half of our season is that this current roster is just too good going into two good draft years. I want us to be as bad as possible and play the young guys as much as possible.

Bulls fan here. Vuc and your pick debt expunged ?

Man that's not bad but that's just one opinion. Has vuc's value dropped that much?

We're just kind of ready to move on from all our mid 3 and fire up the rebuild. His contract isn't great, but its not the albatross that people make it out to be either. its 2 years at $20 mill per

[Dame Lizard]

Read on Twitter

?s=46

One of my good buddies was all heated because we took a big white center and because of our general terrible history with drafting centers. I remain hopeful for Clingan and glad they don’t reach for anyone and let the guy they wanted come to them.

Deni is going to kill it in Portland. He’s hands down the best wing we’ve had since Nico and IMO he’s better and has more of a killer instinct. Kinda reminds me of a more athletic Tony Kukoc.

Anyone over 25 needs to go!lol!

Making decisions based on fear of past failue is one of the worst management M.O.'s. Yeah we've had some unfortunate and maybe not so smart selections with the knowledge upper management had (Oden) but if klingon checks out taking a chance on a center is always a good gamble in any era

Agreed, particularly when it's based on their skin colour too.

Clingan isn't the most exciting pick, but from all accounts he was clearly the BPA, and his defensive record is clear.

[Dame Lizard]

Bulls fan here. Vuc and your pick debt expunged ?

Man that's not bad but that's just one opinion. Has vuc's value dropped that much?

We're just kind of ready to move on from all our mid 3 and fire up the rebuild. His contract isn't great, but its not the albatross that people make it out to be either. its 2 years at $20 mill per

I'd make the trade.

[PDXKnight]

Bulls fan here. Vuc and your pick debt expunged ?

Man that's not bad but that's just one opinion. Has vuc's value dropped that much?

We're just kind of ready to move on from all our mid 3 and fire up the rebuild. His contract isn't great, but its not the albatross that people make it out to be either. its 2 years at $20 mill per

it’s less than aytons. If chicago signs off on that i’d do it

It’s not as if the pick is that good to chicago anyhow being lotto protected. To portland that protection is a massive headache obviously

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Clingan isn't the most exciting pick, but from all accounts he was clearly the BPA, and his defensive record is clear.

Yeah I said he was boring but that doesn't mean he was a bad prospect at all. He's probably the safest one in the draft. Analytics love him, really on both ends but especially defensively and generally when they are this clear about a player this young they don't end up being completely wrong.

He does a lot of things you want from a center well. Great frame, takes up a ton of space and moves with purpose, rebounds and blocks shots with fluidity. He has good hands and can finish with either right or left and through contact which makes him a solid role option. He has pretty good passing skills for a center so he shouldn't be a ball stopper like many bigs. At 7'2 and all those tools it's hard to see him not having a long NBA career; I mean the next decade and a half is going to be ruled by Wemby so you might need a defensive big with his size just to match up.

I'm still skeptical of his shooting but with how locked on the team was you have to believe he showed them something in workouts to be hopeful. There is not an insignificant chance he ends up the best player from the draft and he is almost certainly going to stick around for a long time even if he is more average than not. Hard not to like that gamble, short of swinging at a generational talent next best is probably taking a bet on a prototypical young center. It isn't flashy but it is the right move where we were in the draft.

[The Sebastian Express]

His shooting motion scares me, he brings it up from low it feels like and it's a bit slow. Not ideal.

[Pattycakes]

His shooting motion scares me, he brings it up from low it feels like and it's a bit slow. Not ideal.

For 7’2” I was very pleased. Seems slightly more appealing and potl consistent than the Jokic overhead heave..

[Norm2953]

Donovan isn't going to be a guy who will demand XX amount of touches every game.

Portland drafted him to rebound, protect the basket and set solid screens, which is what he
did at UConn.

[GEE]

IN CRONIN I TRUST... and to answer the Subject question of "Now what?", I say... WIN BABY!!!

Just wanted to share, that on draft night I was soo confused by the trade leading into it, and not thrilled that we ended the night with only Clingan. I quickly became kinda pissed-off. But now, a couple days later I see the brilliance of the less-than sexy moves Cronin made.

In fact, I realized now that Cronin did (with trade) exactly what I had been suggesting and hoping he would do. for many months now.. Instead of more rookies, comb the other NBA teams rosters and try to identify a player that might fit perfectly on our roster, and use a high draft pick or two and some expendable talent to get him. Overpay if needed.

So obviously, once I found out who this Deni guy was, and realized Clingan is only being asked to be the 3rd string Center next season, I am now feeling Cronin is in the A+ zone for draft day. Free-agency is next up, but I really, really, really don't think we need to do anything more to our roster, and if all arrive healthy (TL especially) in top physical shape and even slightly improved in their respective games.......

Simons / Scoot / Delano
Sharpe / Thybulle / Chi
Grant / Deni / Camara
TL / Realth / Love (vet min)
Ayton / Walker / Clingan

35ish wins would be a huge disappointment in my view, and think this NEW Blazers squad is BUILT.

edit: I just realized I do want to add just one player if able. Kevin Love would be my sole target this Free-Agency period.

[soobias]

i guess my sorta dream this off season would be to get rid of GRANT,DA,SIMONS contracts and hopefully getting picks and low decent contracts back then hopefully in a year or 2 we could offer a nice contract to a good up and comer all star(2 way player) sorta speak.
i dont know crap about cap situations. i know sharpe would be up for a extension .idk who the player would be or if we would need such player in a year or 2. but i feel like GRANT,DA,SIMONS dont scream i want to win in thier game(sharpe too for that matter).but the young ones could be molded in to winners and blazers can change their culture and environment where they're winning and having fun.

[Myth]

Free agency starts today (well, free agency with other teams at least). I’m hoping that starts the next wave of trades so we can hopefully see some vets sent out.

[DaVoiceMaster]

yawn

[DusterBuster]

yawn

Yeah....

I kind of wonder if the Deni deal isn't holding up other things from happening for salary cap reasons? That can't be official until the 7th I believe?

At this point, aside from DeRozen, I think most of the major FA dominos have fallen...

[mojomarc]

IN CRONIN I TRUST... and to answer the Subject question of "Now what?", I say... WIN BABY!!!

Just wanted to share, that on draft night I was soo confused by the trade leading into it, and not thrilled that we ended the night with only Clingan. I quickly became kinda pissed-off. But now, a couple days later I see the brilliance of the less-than sexy moves Cronin made.

In fact, I realized now that Cronin did (with trade) exactly what I had been suggesting and hoping he would do. for many months now.. Instead of more rookies, comb the other NBA teams rosters and try to identify a player that might fit perfectly on our roster, and use a high draft pick or two and some expendable talent to get him. Overpay if needed.

So obviously, once I found out who this Deni guy was, and realized Clingan is only being asked to be the 3rd string Center next season, I am now feeling Cronin is in the A+ zone for draft day. Free-agency is next up, but I really, really, really don't think we need to do anything more to our roster, and if all arrive healthy (TL especially) in top physical shape and even slightly improved in their respective games.......

Simons / Scoot / Delano
Sharpe / Thybulle / Chi
Grant / Deni / Camara
TL / Realth / Love (vet min)
Ayton / Walker / Clingan

35ish wins would be a huge disappointment in my view, and think this NEW Blazers squad is BUILT.

edit: I just realized I do want to add just one player if able. Kevin Love would be my sole target this Free-Agency period.

I would be horribly disappointed if all of those players remain on the team beyond the first few months of the season Trade them for picks/prospects and tank hard for a shot of adding a Cooper Flagg or one of the other top prospects in the next two drafts. I'm hoping for a 20 win season, with no Ayton, Grant and Simons by the trade deadline.

[JasonStern]

Really disappointed that Wizenheimer didn't give an A+ grade for the Vulcans selling a 2nd round pick. How do you pass up cash considerations?

I think Ant stays here until the FO figures out whether it'd be better to move on from Scoot

Not move on from Scoot, but develop him. He's looking like Ricky Rubio not Westbrook tier. As flawed as his game is, Simons is the best player on the team. If not him, who? Grant? Ayton? Scoot/Sharpe are hopefully the future, but the Vulcans still need to win games to make money.

I think Grant and possibly Thy get moved and we roll with that. Simon's is a much better player than Scoot at this point, and with the departure of Brogdon we need depth. I guess we should wait until the 2nd round is complete. I think timelord sticks also.

No idea how long Timelord stays, but you get it. It's a rebuild. A lot of the pieces here aren't permanent.

didnt simons ask quietly for a trade ?

No. That rumor is 100% speculation. He is the best player on this team, and isn't demanding to be the 4th best player in Orlando. That is just RealGM hype, where if you could get 3 first round picks for Jordan, you better take it. Maybe you could draft the next Jordan!

I’d bet money Grant still gets moved for Topic and/or future 1st to one of the Lakers, OKC, Dallas, LAC, or Philly

Williams and Thybulle can be traded into someone’s MLE

Simons, I think that’s a tougher one. He makes so much sense for Orlando and SAS. Maybe you can pry away a couple future 1st for him?

I don’t think there is a market for Ayton but given how many minutes Clingan played in college it’s not the end of the world if we just keep him on his current contract. I’d take ANY asset I could for him though.

My bigger concern, despite our ability to tank the 2nd half of our season is that this current roster is just too good going into two good draft years. I want us to be as bad as possible and play the young guys as much as possible.

Being the worst team in the league does not sell tickets.

Shoot my shot - Clank-in isn't going to out perform Ayton. Not bringing race into it, but the Joel Przybilla comparison someone else made is pretty accurate. Which is fine. I loved the Vanilla Gorilla. And given our history with centers, and the overall lack of sure-fire picks in this draft, and sliding to 7....

I watched the Cronin presser live, and I too arched a brow when he mentioned that about Scoot and Shaedon. I'm sure the statement was nothing, but I REALLY hope that the organization has the gonads to bring Simons off the bench as an uber-scorer. He would be so good in that role.

Scoot and Sharpe (I'm the biggest Sharpe stan) aren't ready. There is no way Simons gets benched when he's the best player on the team. More concerning is Cronin saying we need to develop talent, then trading away Brogdon. It's early, so I won't react yet. But the team needs a few veterans to mentor the younger talent that is trying to be developed.