DEN/POR/CHA

[HornetJail]

Denver trades Porter, Saric, Nnaji, (any two deep bench players), 2028 1st swap, 2030 1st swap (each top 5 prot, neither guaranteed to convey, see below)
Denver receives Grant Williams, Josh Green, Thybulle, Richards, Micic

Portland trades Ayton, Thybulle
Portland receives Porter, Nnaji, Saric, top 5 prot 2028 and 2030 1st swaps from DEN, 2 2025 2nds from CHA

Charlotte trades Grant Williams, Green, Richards, Micic, 2 2025 2nds (NOLA and worse of DEN/PHI)
Charlotte receives Ayton, (any two deep bench DEN players)

*1st swaps would be:
2028: Portland gets rights to swap better of POR/MIL for DEN (if each team has a pick to use) top 5 prot
2030: Portland gets rights to swap better of POR/MIL for DEN (if Denver owes 2030 to OKC, then Portland gets rights to swap 2031 1sts with DEN) top 5 prot

Denver parts out Porter for several role players to put around Jokic, Green to replace KCP, Grant to be a 3&D forward, Thybulle as a defensive presence, Richards and Micic as low minute reserves as an upgraded DeAndre Jordan and playmaker.

Portland eats contracts for assets, open minutes for Clingan, and hopefully get to showcase Porter's offense.

Charlotte gets a stopgap starter at C as Mark Williams insurance, eating some money next season for it. There isn't an expectation that he makes Charlotte a playoff team, but rostering a center that is better than Taj Gibson will be good for everyone's development.

[BlazersBroncos]

Ya I dont think PDX could turn this down - but its not my money.

[JustBuzzin]

Charlotte gets a stop gap at center?

Bro that massive contract Ayton has he better be the answer at center not the stop gap lol

I think Charlotte easily declines this as this locks them in with a Melo/Miller/Ayton core and I'm not sure that wins many games.

[JRoy]

Hardest of passes from POR.

DA needs to go but MPJr is too expensive and injury prone.

Maybe subtract the picks. DA doesn’t have much interest.

[BlazersBroncos]

Charlotte gets a stop gap at center?

Bro that massive contract Ayton has he better be the answer at center not the stop gap lol

I think Charlotte easily declines this as this locks them in with a Melo/Miller/Ayton core and I'm not sure that wins many games.

Charlotte also shaves a year off the deals of Grant, Josh and Richards (Partial guarantee) here. Ayton expires in 2026. They expire in 2027.

That alone is worth alot IMO.

[JustBuzzin]

Charlotte gets a stop gap at center?

Bro that massive contract Ayton has he better be the answer at center not the stop gap lol

I think Charlotte easily declines this as this locks them in with a Melo/Miller/Ayton core and I'm not sure that wins many games.

Charlotte also shaves a year off the deals of Grant, Josh and Richards (Partial guarantee) here. Ayton expires in 2026. They expire in 2027.

That alone is worth alot IMO.

Well damn! I think you have sold me. I didn't know Ayton expires in 26. Yeah I would definitely consider this now.

[psman2]

Denver is not using assets to turn Porter into that hodgepodge.

[Myth]

I think Blazers pass on this. They take on huge money long term, and it is unlikely any of those swaps convey. In 2028 or 2030, Denver has to be worse than BOTH Blazers and Bucks AND not a top 5 pick. That is a lot that has to go right for it to have value. So this most likely becomes Blazers taking on salary for a big minutes forward when we already have big minute forwards for some 2nd rounders, and it becomes worse if MPJ ever has back issues again.

To elaborate further, that is Blazers taking on over $48M in Porter and Nnaji in 2026-27, which would be after Ayton and Thybulle are both off the books, and our young guys have been up for extensions.

[wemby]

Horrendous for the Nuggets, too good for the Blazers. I'm honestly baffled by the perception of some Blazers fans regarding some of their players (mainly Ayton, Simons, RWIII), it's borderline delusional.

[BlazersBroncos]

Horrendous for the Nuggets, too good for the Blazers. I'm honestly baffled by the perception of some Blazers fans regarding some of their players (mainly Ayton, Simons, RWIII), it's borderline delusional.

Ayton expires a year before MPJ and 2 years before Nnaji.

Thats the holdup for rational Blazers fans - its not the value, its the longer contracts.

[wemby]

Horrendous for the Nuggets, too good for the Blazers. I'm honestly baffled by the perception of some Blazers fans regarding some of their players (mainly Ayton, Simons, RWIII), it's borderline delusional.

Ayton expires a year before MPJ and 2 years before Nnaji.

Thats the holdup for rational Blazers fans - its not the value, its the longer contracts.

Ayton is garbage and MPJ may be a bad contract but is actually a very useful player on a contender. MPJ's contract has 2 more seasons beyond this one (36, 38, 41) while Ayton has 1 more season beyond this one (34, 36) so the only real difference is the last year but they're NOWHERE near value wise. They can probably use him or flip MPJ elsewhere if he's the trouble. Besides, do you really think Blazers are going to attract a better FA than him in the duration of his contract? Please.

[MasterIchiro]

My proposal with the Blazers is:

Hornets get Donavan Clingan
Blazers get Tidjane Salaun.

Who says no?

[MasterIchiro]

Too soon?

[daoneandonly]

Not remotely shocked to see Charlotte fans already having buyer's remorse on Josh Green.

[JRoy]

Horrendous for the Nuggets, too good for the Blazers. I'm honestly baffled by the perception of some Blazers fans regarding some of their players (mainly Ayton, Simons, RWIII), it's borderline delusional.

Ayton expires a year before MPJ and 2 years before Nnaji.

Thats the holdup for rational Blazers fans - its not the value, its the longer contracts.

Ayton is garbage and MPJ may be a bad contract but is actually a very useful player on a contender. MPJ's contract has 2 more seasons beyond this one (36, 38, 41) while Ayton has 1 more season beyond this one (34, 36) so the only real difference is the last year but they're NOWHERE near value wise. They can probably use him or flip MPJ elsewhere if he's the trouble. Besides, do you really think Blazers are going to attract a better FA than him in the duration of his contract? Please.

POR does not sign quality FA.

POR needs to acquire talent through the draft or trades.

POR might not sign a better player but can probably sign one that plays more than MPJr.

[JRoy]

My proposal with the Blazers is:

Hornets get Donavan Clingan
Blazers get Tidjane Salaun.

Who says no?

Trolling?

[MasterIchiro]

My proposal with the Blazers is:

Hornets get Donavan Clingan
Blazers get Tidjane Salaun.

Who says no?

Trolling?

No I just want a redo on our unfortunate draft.

[DiegoChara]

Horrendous for the Nuggets, too good for the Blazers. I'm honestly baffled by the perception of some Blazers fans regarding some of their players (mainly Ayton, Simons, RWIII), it's borderline delusional.

Ayton expires a year before MPJ and 2 years before Nnaji.

Thats the holdup for rational Blazers fans - its not the value, its the longer contracts.

Ayton is garbage and MPJ may be a bad contract but is actually a very useful player on a contender. MPJ's contract has 2 more seasons beyond this one (36, 38, 41) while Ayton has 1 more season beyond this one (34, 36) so the only real difference is the last year but they're NOWHERE near value wise. They can probably use him or flip MPJ elsewhere if he's the trouble. Besides, do you really think Blazers are going to attract a better FA than him in the duration of his contract? Please.

This is ridiculous hyperbole. Ayton is overpaid. He is not a bad basketball player.

[MasterIchiro]

Not remotely shocked to see Charlotte fans already having buyer's remorse on Josh Green.

This is a scoring league, so few teams can afford to start an absolute zero on offense, it drags down the value of that defensive specialist big time.

Injuries happen too, so lose one key scorer and the handicap of the zero just gets magnified.

[wemby]

Ayton expires a year before MPJ and 2 years before Nnaji.

Thats the holdup for rational Blazers fans - its not the value, its the longer contracts.

Ayton is garbage and MPJ may be a bad contract but is actually a very useful player on a contender. MPJ's contract has 2 more seasons beyond this one (36, 38, 41) while Ayton has 1 more season beyond this one (34, 36) so the only real difference is the last year but they're NOWHERE near value wise. They can probably use him or flip MPJ elsewhere if he's the trouble. Besides, do you really think Blazers are going to attract a better FA than him in the duration of his contract? Please.

This is ridiculous hyperbole. Ayton is overpaid. He is not a bad basketball player.

Ayton is empty calories, can't put up numbers given minutes but doesn't really affect winning. He's a below average starting center making 3x what he should. Not really good at anything in particular, and Blazers would do well to rid themselves of hiim at the first opportunity they have in favor of Clingan (their actual future center).