Blazers Players: Comparison / Trade Value

[Goldbum]

I haven't posted in a bit since I haven't gotten any inside info that was more than speculation and the dog days before always seem to fill up with that type of speculation on there own anyway.

I did find one observation from an Eastern scout about our front court really interesting. He asked me to explain to him why I'm fine with Jabari Walker at backup dour and not Timelord.

His point was that Timelord and Walker have been comparable shooters, TL is the better passer and vertical lob threat.
He called them similar screen setters, but acknowledged Walkers edge as an offensive rebounder and ball handler.
On defense it's another story with Walker rating slightly above average(matchup dependant) and a healthy TL being that DPOY candidate.

My response was that I feel Walker understands perimeter spacing better, and can use his handle to generate the occasional advantage, plus open floor ball handling.

Still I think the TL/Walker discussion could be more relevant than TL/Clingan

If the possible Walker/Reath/Matisse deal goes through I'm curious what they do with those 2 roster spots....

[Walton1one]

Probably allows them to take more players back in a deal if they trade Grant/Simons without having to cut anyone

I am not a believer in Walker, he is an OK player, but I don’t think he’s anywhere in Williams category, even with the injury questions, if you put both of them up for trade, you would get far better offers for Williams than you would Walker


Wait, what is the possible 3 for 1 trade?

[Norm2953]

It'll be interesting to see if another Eastern Conference team pulls off a trade to compete in the arms race with Boston, Philly and now the Knicks.

Miami and Milwaukee come to mind for those teams are built to win now but are going to be left behind

[Wizenheimer]

If the possible Walker/Reath/Matisse deal goes through I'm curious what they do with those 2 roster spots....

I'm assuming I'm speaking for many when I say...."wut"?

first I've heard of it

[Walton1one]

Let the sleuthing begin

Combine those 3 players make $15mil, POR is $3mil+ below the luxury tax, that means in a 3 for 1 trade they could take around $18mil back in one player without going over the luxury tax

[DaVoiceMaster]

Yeah, what 3-for-1 deal?

[tester551]

If the possible Walker/Reath/Matisse deal goes through I'm curious what they do with those 2 roster spots....

Wait... did I miss something?
What is this possible deal you are referring to?

***edit*** apparently Im not the only one who was caught off guard by that.

[Walton1one]

Teams with available roster spots:

* note every team is over 15 limit, however several teams have non guaranteed contract players in camp, meaning space available to take in guaranteed deals in a 3 for 1 trade

4 - CLE
3 - SAC, IND, GS
2 - BRK - CHA - DET - MEM - MIN - OKC - PHI

Not sure how up-to-date this roster contract information is, with so many moves being made in the last week

[Walton1one]

So here is one:
CLE trades Levert

POR sends Thybulle\Walker\Reath

So this is interesting, by doing this trade CLE is oh so close to getting under the luxury tax. It looks like Craig Porter’s salary is only partially guaranteed, so if waived before January, he only counts for $1mil against the cap which would get them enough to get under luxury tax with this deal.

Levert has only 1yr left, so not like POR is stuck with this contract for anymore than after this year

CLE saves $2.5mil in tax, more importantly, does not start the clock running (consecutive years equal escalating penalties/money in tax)

So what does POR get for doing this?

Well, CLE has (8) 2nd round picks:

25’ own\MIL
26’ own
27’ own\DEN
28’/29’/31’ own


They also have a couple of interesting 2-way players in Emoni Bates & Luke Travers

[Walton1one]

Here is another:

SAC trades Huerter
POR sends 3 listed above

Instead of saving money, This one has more to do with filling roster holes

Thybulle adds a defensive presence

Reath adds a serviceable b/u center to Sabonis, so SAC doesn’t have to rely on Len\Robinson

Walker adds another forward to the bench with Lyles out for awhile

So why for POR, ither than opening up to roster spots that they can’t really take advantage of because they take on $1.8mil in salary with this deal?

Well, I’d be surprised if they offered a 1st, but they do have (4) 2nd’s to offer & they could include one of their 2-way players (I Jones\M Jones\Crawford) if POR has interest

[tester551]

So here is one:
CLE trades Levert

POR sends Thybulle\Walker\Reath

So this is interesting, by doing this trade CLE is oh so close to getting under the luxury tax. It looks like Craig Porter’s salary is only partially guaranteed, so if waived before January, he only counts for $1mil against the cap which would get them enough to get under luxury tax with this deal.

Levert has only 1yr left, so not like POR is stuck with this contract for anymore than after this year

CLE saves $2.5mil in tax, more importantly, does not start the clock running (consecutive years equal escalating penalties/money in tax)

So same scenario as SAC, What else does POR get for doing this?

Well, CLE has (8) 2nd round picks:

25’ own\MIL
26’ own
27’ own\DEN
28’/29’/31’ own

Cleveland made a lot of sense before resigning Okoro.... now Im not so sure.

Maybe something more like this is feasible:

Walker + Reath
for
Wade + Bates (TW) + draft picks

[BlazersBroncos]

Wade is a legit 8-9th playoff worth rotation guys. I don’t see CLE moving him for MT and especially don’t see them adding picks.

[Walton1one]

So, interesting is that after resigning Okoro, that took them into the luxury tax and doing this trade would take them out of it

[Walton1one]

After CLE\SAC, other potential options became more complicated, here is another one though:

MEM trades Clarke
POR trades Thybulle\Walker\Reath

MEM is $5.976mil under luxury tax, by including Clarke in the deal, who may not play a lot coming off of pretty serious injury, and still has 3yrs left, they stay under the luxury tax and get some needed depth

Thybulle adds some size, plus defense to the wing position, nasty defensive pairing with Smart

Reath can fill-in as a back up center to the rookie, Edey, and allows, Jaren Jackson to play PF, which he is better suited for

With GG Jackson out for 1/2 year at minimum, Walker provides some depth behind Jackson\Aldama @ PF

Why for POR?
Again, outside of getting a 1st round pick, which would be a surprise, MEM has some 2nd round picks (5):

25’ own, best b/t HOU\OKC
26’ LAC
27’ ATL
30’/31’ own

They also have (2) intriguing 2-way players in Cam Spencer & Scotty Pippen Jr

They could also do some interesting things where Thybulle gets traded into their $12.6 mil exception & then Walker\Reath are exchanged for Aldama or possibly LaRavia

This would take them over the luxury tax this year, however they can reset the luxury tax timer next year by letting Kennard walk in FA next year

[tester551]

Here is another:

SAC trades Huerter
POR sends 3 listed above

Instead of saving money, This one has more to do with filling roster holes

Thybulle adds a defensive presence

Reath adds a serviceable b/u center to Sabonis, so SAC doesn’t have to rely on Len\Robinson

Walker adds another forward to the bench with Lyles out for awhile

So why for POR, ither than opening up to roster spots that they can’t really take advantage of because they take on $1.8mil in salary with this deal?

Well, I’d be surprised if they offered a 1st, but they do have (4) 2nd’s to offer & they could include one of their 2-way players (I Jones\M Jones\Crawford) if POR has interest

I'd really like to take a swing on Hueter. Portland needs some shooters on the roster.

[Walton1one]

Last semi reasonable option, CHA:

CHA trades Grant Williams
POR trades Thybulle\Walker\Reath

So CHA roster is not been updated yet to adding whatever salaries they are going to get in the NYC/MIN deal.

They are currently $16 mil under luxury tax before whomever they receive in the NYK\MIN deal.

By trading Williams, who has 3yrs left on his deal, CHA adds about $3mil in salary however, we don’t know if they are receiving 1 or 2 players back in the NYK/MIN trade, so it appears they would have to cut at minimum 1 player with a guaranteed contract in order to make this deal work.

The players they are receiving back in the MIA/NYC deal will only have a 1yr contract, however it will be slightly above the veteran minimum, so they could cut that player in order to make this deal work with minimal cap hit

As for a reason, why? Well, that is a little more complicated to justify. Williams hasn’t necessarily endeared himself to teams lately. DAL paid a 1st to get rid of him. Maybe CHA wants to out of from him\his contract as well? Doesn’t really bode well for why POR would take him to unless the incentives were worthwhile.

Reath can make some sense for CHA, M. Williams has been injured & Richards is kind of a question mark, so Reath could be another big man in that rotation and some insurance against either player

I think Thybulle could benefit this team, as a defensive presence, for a team, when I look at their roster, does not appear to have much of one

By trading G. Williams, it would open up some b/u playing time for Salaun as a backup to Bridges (Bridges & Miller likely starters w/Ball & Green), Walker provides added depth

Like I said, this one feels like more of a reach, there are reasons, but I’m not sure they’re compelling enough

Why for POR?
They like G. Williams and still believe in his potential? He is only 25yrs old.

CHA does have (11) 2nd round picks available to trade

25’ NO\PHI
26’ own
27’ own\best b/t POR\NO
28’ own
29’ own\DEN
30’ own\DEN
31’ own

Maybe CHA is also willing to offer a pick swap to offload him?

2-way players are: KJ Simpson, Leaky Black & Diabate

** EDIT: so it appears is taking (3!!!) players back via S&T, approx $6.7mil in salary, so $$$ would not be an issue, but they would have to cut (2) salaried players to execute this deal

[DaVoiceMaster]

I would keep any contracts coming back between 1-2 years. No 3-4 year contracts. If Portland can move Grant, Simons, and Thybulle for expiring or 2-year contracts, they could have a ton of money in 2026-27.

[Walton1one]

Here is a recent observation I just thought about, POR\MIL:

Would it not make a lot of sense if POR traded Grant to MIL for Middleton?

Grant for Middleton & 31st (unprotected) & 31’ 2nd

Reasons why this could be ideal:
* POR and MIL, have already dealt with each other and have a familiarity

* After watching both PHI & now NYK trade\load up to try and compete vs BOS, MIL is in trouble of being left behind, and trying to rely on an oft injured, aging player to retain his form is not a good start

* Middleton had two ankle surgeries in July, and still isn’t practicing with the team yet. He has 2yrs left in his deal, he is 33 years old, Grant is 29. More concerning is that Middleton has played 33/55 games the last 2 seasons, career lows in minutes, and his production has definitely fallen off. It is not pessimistic to think that that trend will continue.

* We know Dame likes and values Grant

* With this deal POR would hold MIL picks in 29’/31’ & swaps in 28’/30’ - meaning if things go south for MIL these next few (2? 3?)years and they wanted to pull the plug, they could deal with 1 team (POR) to get their draft capital back, just like BRK did recently & how HOU has consolidated PHX draft capital, for potential leverage on a PHX sell off down the road. It is a way for MIL to hedge its’ bets a little IMO.

If POR wanted something more in this deal, let’s say additional draft capital. they could involve a 3rd team with cap space or a trade exception for one of MIL young players

If instead, POR wanted one of those players for themselves, they could swap any one of Reath, Walker or Banton for Beauchamp, AJ Johnson or AJ Green (could only be swapped for Banton)

MIL is $4.166mil over right now, Another option would be trading Connaughton for Murray and either Reath or Walker that would clear them $4.3mil, meaning they then could aggregate another player in the deal for Grant. That would take POR over the luxury tax though, so I can’t really see that as an option

[tester551]

Grant for Middleton & 31st (unprotected) & 31’ 2nd

I like this ONLY if there was a trade set up to re-route Middleton to.

I'm not sure what team that would be