Portland late offseason plan (NYK, LAC, SAS, DAL)

[JRoy]

I'd vomit if Clips gave up the last first available for Jerami Grant.

Clips would greatly prefer Randle to Grant. I could see them them giving up a fully unprotected 31 pick to get him.

Unfortunately, Clips must unload both Norm and PJ to make salaries match. Knicks don't want Norm. If any other team would give up anything useful for a superb scorer to add something for the Knicks, then this deal could work out. Clips could add Mann to replace PJ, but then the lost pick hurts even more and maybe is not worth it for the Clippers.

LAC IN = Randle
LAC OUT = Norm + PJ + 2031 Pick (unprotected)

NYK IN = PJ + 2031 Pick (unprotected) + ???
NYK OUT = Randle

Third Team In = Norman Powell
Third Team Out = ???

Based on the reaction to my proposal, I would expect a strong rebuke from Knicks fans for any idea which sells Randle off without getting a win-now upgrade. But at least you're not trying to foist Ayton on them like I did.

Randle is a polarizing player. Tough to find a deal that works for both sides.

[Rockazoids]

Clips would greatly prefer Randle to Grant. I could see them them giving up a fully unprotected 31 pick to get him.

Unfortunately, Clips must unload both Norm and PJ to make salaries match. Knicks don't want Norm. If any other team would give up anything useful for a superb scorer to add something for the Knicks, then this deal could work out. Clips could add Mann to replace PJ, but then the lost pick hurts even more and maybe is not worth it for the Clippers.

LAC IN = Randle
LAC OUT = Norm + PJ + 2031 Pick (unprotected)

NYK IN = PJ + 2031 Pick (unprotected) + ???
NYK OUT = Randle

Third Team In = Norman Powell
Third Team Out = ???

Based on the reaction to my proposal, I would expect a strong rebuke from Knicks fans for any idea which sells Randle off without getting a win-now upgrade. But at least you're not trying to foist Ayton on them like I did.

Randle is a polarizing player. Tough to find a deal that works for both sides.

Make that a 2 times All NBA, 3 times All Star polarizing player and it is really tough to find a deal that works for
NY when they are not shopping him or taking craps when the trade doesn't help them win.
Tell me how this trade helps NY(getting a old wing & a older PF)

[JRoy]

Based on the reaction to my proposal, I would expect a strong rebuke from Knicks fans for any idea which sells Randle off without getting a win-now upgrade. But at least you're not trying to foist Ayton on them like I did.

Randle is a polarizing player. Tough to find a deal that works for both sides.

Make that a 2 times All NBA, 3 times All Star polarizing player and it is really tough to find a deal that works for
NY when they are not shopping him or taking craps when the trade doesn't help them win.
Tell me how this trade helps NY(getting a old wing & a older PF)

I’m not defending the proposed deal.

NYK have to hope they can make it to the finals with minor tweaking and catching a break or two.

[Tim Lehrbach]

Randle is a polarizing player. Tough to find a deal that works for both sides.

Make that a 2 times All NBA, 3 times All Star polarizing player and it is really tough to find a deal that works for
NY when they are not shopping him or taking craps when the trade doesn't help them win.
Tell me how this trade helps NY(getting a old wing & a older PF)

I’m not defending the proposed deal.

NYK have to hope they can make it to the finals with minor tweaking and catching a break or two.

I didn't quite say it in the Şengün thread, but I think the Knicks are more than just a tough out next year. They lack Boston's depth or Denver's Jokic, but I genuinely think their ceiling is a championship. Boston and Philadelphia obviously have championship potential, too, so an early exit is a possible outcome. But I love the roster they've assembled -- tough, versatile, fun to watch, and led by a lethal-scoring/floor-general-ing/badass mofo in Brunson.

[Rockazoids]

Randle is a polarizing player. Tough to find a deal that works for both sides.

Make that a 2 times All NBA, 3 times All Star polarizing player and it is really tough to find a deal that works for
NY when they are not shopping him or taking craps when the trade doesn't help them win.
Tell me how this trade helps NY(getting a old wing & a older PF)

I’m not defending the proposed deal.

NYK have to hope they can make it to the finals with minor tweaking and catching a break or two.

Yes I know that just asking you as someone with no skin in the game.
So many poster on here looking for a starting PF & want NY to trade them Randle for craps.

[JRoy]

Make that a 2 times All NBA, 3 times All Star polarizing player and it is really tough to find a deal that works for
NY when they are not shopping him or taking craps when the trade doesn't help them win.
Tell me how this trade helps NY(getting a old wing & a older PF)

I’m not defending the proposed deal.

NYK have to hope they can make it to the finals with minor tweaking and catching a break or two.

Yes I know that just asking you as someone with no skin in the game.
So many poster on here looking for a starting PF & want NY to trade them Randle for craps.

He needs a mobile defensive center and hot shooting guards to maximize his talents. Doesn’t NYK have that now, more or less?

[JRoy]

Make that a 2 times All NBA, 3 times All Star polarizing player and it is really tough to find a deal that works for
NY when they are not shopping him or taking craps when the trade doesn't help them win.
Tell me how this trade helps NY(getting a old wing & a older PF)

I’m not defending the proposed deal.

NYK have to hope they can make it to the finals with minor tweaking and catching a break or two.

I didn't quite say it in the Şengün thread, but I think the Knicks are more than just a tough out next year. They lack Boston's depth or Denver's Jokic, but I genuinely think their ceiling is a championship. Boston and Philadelphia obviously have championship potential, too, so an early exit is a possible outcome. But I love the roster they've assembled -- tough, versatile, fun to watch, and led by a lethal-scoring/floor-general-ing/badass mofo in Brunson.

I did not think Brunson had it in him to produce in the playoffs like that.

[taikibansei]

Make that a 2 times All NBA, 3 times All Star polarizing player and it is really tough to find a deal that works for
NY when they are not shopping him or taking craps when the trade doesn't help them win.
Tell me how this trade helps NY(getting a old wing & a older PF)

I’m not defending the proposed deal.

NYK have to hope they can make it to the finals with minor tweaking and catching a break or two.

I didn't quite say it in the Şengün thread, but I think the Knicks are more than just a tough out next year. They lack Boston's depth or Denver's Jokic, but I genuinely think their ceiling is a championship. Boston and Philadelphia obviously have championship potential, too, so an early exit is a possible outcome. But I love the roster they've assembled -- tough, versatile, fun to watch, and led by a lethal-scoring/floor-general-ing/badass mofo in Brunson.

100% this. I don't think people realize how close we came to playing (and likely losing to) Boston in the ECF. And that was without Randle (and most of our starters).

Randle, despite all his warts, gives us a legit secondary scorer, as well as rebounding, some passing, and added toughness in the paint. Is he my favorite Knick? No **** way. And yes, I do get why other teams' fans don't want him on their rosters. But he does fit ours, and as long as everybody's healthy, we're the second best (at least) team in the conference.

[Tim Lehrbach]

I’m not defending the proposed deal.

NYK have to hope they can make it to the finals with minor tweaking and catching a break or two.

I didn't quite say it in the Şengün thread, but I think the Knicks are more than just a tough out next year. They lack Boston's depth or Denver's Jokic, but I genuinely think their ceiling is a championship. Boston and Philadelphia obviously have championship potential, too, so an early exit is a possible outcome. But I love the roster they've assembled -- tough, versatile, fun to watch, and led by a lethal-scoring/floor-general-ing/badass mofo in Brunson.

100% this. I don't think people realize how close we came to playing (and likely losing to) Boston in the ECF. And that was without Randle (and most of our starters).

Randle, despite all his warts, gives us a legit secondary scorer, as well as rebounding, some passing, and added toughness in the paint. Is he my favorite Knick? No **** way. And yes, I do get why other teams' fans don't want him on their rosters. But he does fit ours, and as long as everybody's healthy, we're the second best (at least) team in the conference.

Yeah. The Knicks just have the feel of a team where, ten months from now, it'll seem obvious in retrospect that they were going to win boatloads of games and, if they win the championship, we'll all be like "duh, should have seen that coming." Not comparing the top-end talent here, so nobody jump on me, but it reminds me of the anticipation for the 2008 Celtics a little bit. We all thought they'd be great, but when they steamrolled the regular season and finished the job in the postseason, we were all like "oh, of course they did."

Just a great mix of talented and tenacious players in New York right now. Audacious Ayton ideas aside, I almost wish the Blazers could donate some depth just to see how high that team can really ascend.

[Rockazoids]

I’m not defending the proposed deal.

NYK have to hope they can make it to the finals with minor tweaking and catching a break or two.

Yes I know that just asking you as someone with no skin in the game.
So many poster on here looking for a starting PF & want NY to trade them Randle for craps.

He needs a mobile defensive center and hot shooting guards to maximize his talents. Doesn’t NYK have that now, more or less?

You got that right
Hot shooting guards (Brunson, DiVincenzo) check
Top End 3D wings( OG, Bridges) check
Mobile Defensive Center(Robinson) check
Bulldogs Role Players(Hart, McBride, Achiuwa) check
They just need to stay healthy. ?

[taikibansei]

I didn't quite say it in the Şengün thread, but I think the Knicks are more than just a tough out next year. They lack Boston's depth or Denver's Jokic, but I genuinely think their ceiling is a championship. Boston and Philadelphia obviously have championship potential, too, so an early exit is a possible outcome. But I love the roster they've assembled -- tough, versatile, fun to watch, and led by a lethal-scoring/floor-general-ing/badass mofo in Brunson.

100% this. I don't think people realize how close we came to playing (and likely losing to) Boston in the ECF. And that was without Randle (and most of our starters).

Randle, despite all his warts, gives us a legit secondary scorer, as well as rebounding, some passing, and added toughness in the paint. Is he my favorite Knick? No **** way. And yes, I do get why other teams' fans don't want him on their rosters. But he does fit ours, and as long as everybody's healthy, we're the second best (at least) team in the conference.

Yeah. The Knicks just have the feel of a team where, ten months from now, it'll seem obvious in retrospect that they were going to win boatloads of games and, if they win the championship, we'll all be like "duh, should have seen that coming." Not comparing the top-end talent here, so nobody jump on me, but it reminds me of the anticipation for the 2008 Celtics a little bit. We all thought they'd be great, but when they steamrolled the regular season and finished the job in the postseason, we were all like "oh, of course they did."

Just a great mix of talented and tenacious players in New York right now. Audacious Ayton ideas aside, I almost wish the Blazers could donate some depth just to see how high that team can really ascend.

No worries--I've seen (far) crazier proposals here almost daily! And it must be frustrating for Portland fans--Ayton (with his physical gifts) should be the best player in these trades, but he's just not...and it's truly on him.

Yeah, we're really close--something I haven't thought (let alone wrote) about the Knicks in over thirty years. I just wish we could have kept Hartenstein. (Darn new CBA....)

Maybe at the deadline we'll be able to pick up/trade for an additional mobile big who can give us rebounding/defense and some offense (including 3-point shooting) off the bench? That's what we need--another Hartenstein (in addition to retaining Robinson and Randle)--and I'm not holding my breath that we can find one. Again, fingers crossed.

[cgf]

I’m not defending the proposed deal.

NYK have to hope they can make it to the finals with minor tweaking and catching a break or two.

Yes I know that just asking you as someone with no skin in the game.
So many poster on here looking for a starting PF & want NY to trade them Randle for craps.

He needs a mobile defensive center and hot shooting guards to maximize his talents. Doesn’t NYK have that now, more or less?

IMO the most important thing for Julius is to have someone who is more skilled that can control the offense in crunch time. That’s why I was so confident that he’d have a much better year with Brunson around, even before Brunson proved that he could be this much of a killer as the guy.

Of course better spacing & shooting around him helps, the man is unstoppable going to the rim 1-on-1 and has become really good at beating double teams to find the open man for a 3…so having Brunson, McBride, DiVincenzo, Bridges, & Anunoby that you expect to hit their 3s more often than not, is great.

But Ju’s limitations are technical, although he has very good vision he doesn’t put great touch on his passes, although he can overpower even Giannis when he wants to get to the rim, he doesn’t have that guard-like handle or touch around the rim that a Zion does. So once he forces them to adjust teams can shift their defense to neutralizing him. And in crunch time you just don’t know when his handle will suddenly get too loose or his brain will just pause for a second.

That’s why having a Brunson to take over once the defense has adjusted to neutralize Juju, is so vital…and why they have such great synergy. Not only do their games work great together because Jalen is even better off the ball than he is on it, but Jalen often needs to feel his way into a game. So having Randle running wild until the defenses adapts, helps Brunson find his rhythm without the team falling behind…as well as giving Jalen more room to operate once he does get going.

Being the Knicks health will always bite us in the ass…but when healthy this team should play some great basketball & I’m thoroughly satisfied with our top 9.

[wemby]

Trade #3: Blazers-Spurs
Portland trades
Anfernee Simons

San Antonio trades
Keldon Johnson
2027 first round draft pick (own, lottery protected in 2027, top-three protected in 2028, two seconds thereafter)

Portland perspective
Immediate savings are offset by the extra year owed to Keldon, but he's a bigger guard/wing, and the Blazers add to the draft pick collection.

San Antonio perspective
Simons is not popular 'round these parts, but I have him as a great fit alongside Castle and Paul in the backcourt and draining open jumpers all day playing off Wemby. The Spurs don't give up any of their valuable near-term draft capital to get a player with a lot of prime left for a team starved of scoring punch.

I like Simons and I think he and Castle/Sochan would complement each other quite well, plus his age fits the timeline. You can debate the pick's protection, probably top 3 the 2nd year sounds a bit too aggressive, but it's not a deal breaker. The issue for me is that this deal should have happened before the Spurs signed Chris Paul. Now he'd be competing for minutes with:

CP3 (likely promissed a big role)
Castle (drafted no. 4 and highly regarded, Pop already said he'd play a large role from the start)
Tre Jones (was pretty good last year, I don't see him playing less than 20 mpg)
Vassell (starting SG)
Champagnie (good shooter who should probably get 15 mpg at least).

So Simons isn't so easy to slot right now as he would have been a month ago. I think Spurs plan right now is probably to start the season with the current group, and see how things go. If CP3 proves useful and Castle meets expectations, they probably roll with it. Otherwise, maybe a deal could happen by the trade deadline.

Honestly, I don't know why the Blazers want to move Simons so bad. He's flawed in that he's always going to need some structure behind him to be effective, but he's definitely talented and young enough to be part of their next good team and his contract is not unreasonable. I get that you guys want to play Scoot and Sharpe more but there's no guarantee they'll be better than Simons. So I wouldn't mind keeping him around an extra season until the picture becomes clearer. My 2c.

[Tim Lehrbach]

Honestly, I don't know why the Blazers want to move Simons so bad. He's flawed in that he's always going to need some structure behind him to be effective, but he's definitely talented and young enough to be part of their next good team and his contract is not unreasonable. I get that you guys want to play Scoot and Sharpe more but there's no guarantee they'll be better than Simons. So I wouldn't mind keeping him around an extra season until the picture becomes clearer. My 2c.

Appreciate the feedback!

I am not a believer in Scoot or Sharpe. I want to move Simons because I think he's not contributing to Portland wins now and could very well be gone at the end of his contract. I want to move him now instead of later because I don't think he'll return anything of value in his final season, whereas now a team may like him as their offensive sparkplug for their next two playoff runs. Then again, we've seen a bunch of Simons proposals and nobody on RealGM wants him for their team, either.

[Knickfan1982]

Trade #1: Blazers-Knicks
Portland trades
Deandre Ayton
Jabari Walker (via TPE)
Delano Banton (via TPE)

New York trades
Julius Randle
Jericho Sims
2025 second round draft pick (from Brooklyn)
2026 second round draft pick (from Minnesota)

Portland perspective
The Blazers balance the roster a bit, save money by waiving or trading Sims prior to next season, and gain a couple minor draft assets for the war chest.

New York perspective
The Knicks gain a full-time center who replaces Randle's midrange game and rebounding while letting Bridges and OG log the forward minutes. Walker and Banton add some rebounding and potential scoring punch, respectively, to a thin bench.

Why do the Knicks trade the better player on the better deal but are somehow the ones who have to add sweetners?