Ayton, Grant, and Simons for anything?

[JRoy]

Why do I feel like simons would suddenly become an all star in gs?

Is that a province in China?

[Tim Lehrbach]

Grant might fetch a protected 1st...maybe. Timelord might fetch a heavily protected 1st, but only if he stays healthy for several games. Timelord apparently has some interested teams

I like both players, but I remain skeptical. Grant is very average, but matching salaries likely means giving up rotation players, so how big can the upgrade be as to merit spending a first? Timelord, I like even more, but his health just isn't to be trusted.

Ant-Ayton? best case would be an expiring and a 2nd for either. If I was in charge and a team offered an expiring with no 2nd I'd say yes...in a hurry. Cronin won't obviously

I agree here. I think the case is strong that simply subtracting them would be good for the team, especially if it reduces payroll/allows the team to get paid to take on another team's unwanted players.

Thybulle? I'm almost inclined to think he's going to opt out of his deal this summer and sign elsewhere

The idea of Thybulle is awesome: a smart, hustling defender. The Blazers learned the same lesson Philadelphia did: he isn't high-impact enough to justify heavy minutes. At his salary, that's fine, but he's worth a contract, not spending draft capital on. I also think he walks.

[Tim Lehrbach]

Sorry, I'm sure I am bringing stuff up that's been well-covered by everybody already. Just checking in, I guess.

[Pattycakes]

Grant might fetch a protected 1st...maybe. Timelord might fetch a heavily protected 1st, but only if he stays healthy for several games. Timelord apparently has some interested teams

I like both players, but I remain skeptical. Grant is very average, but matching salaries likely means giving up rotation players, so how big can the upgrade be as to merit spending a first? Timelord, I like even more, but his health just isn't to be trusted.

Ant-Ayton? best case would be an expiring and a 2nd for either. If I was in charge and a team offered an expiring with no 2nd I'd say yes...in a hurry. Cronin won't obviously

I agree here. I think the case is strong that simply subtracting them would be good for the team, especially if it reduces payroll/allows the team to get paid to take on another team's unwanted players.

Thybulle? I'm almost inclined to think he's going to opt out of his deal this summer and sign elsewhere

The idea of Thybulle is awesome: a smart, hustling defender. The Blazers learned the same lesson Philadelphia did: he isn't high-impact enough to justify heavy minutes. At his salary, that's fine, but he's worth a contract, not spending draft capital on. I also think he walks.

Appears the consensus is DA/Ant/Grant won’t warrant 1sts in a trade. I don’t agree. I think that’s what Cronin is/will wait for and get. Despite their major flaws on this current team; they do have unlocked potential to several contenders, and considering how many of them “need” severe upgrades, we are in a huge position of power. Everyone gets paid these days, someone will figure out justifying each contract.

[Wizenheimer]

Spoiler:

Grant might fetch a protected 1st...maybe. Timelord might fetch a heavily protected 1st, but only if he stays healthy for several games. Timelord apparently has some interested teams

I like both players, but I remain skeptical. Grant is very average, but matching salaries likely means giving up rotation players, so how big can the upgrade be as to merit spending a first? Timelord, I like even more, but his health just isn't to be trusted.

Ant-Ayton? best case would be an expiring and a 2nd for either. If I was in charge and a team offered an expiring with no 2nd I'd say yes...in a hurry. Cronin won't obviously

I agree here. I think the case is strong that simply subtracting them would be good for the team, especially if it reduces payroll/allows the team to get paid to take on another team's unwanted players.

Thybulle? I'm almost inclined to think he's going to opt out of his deal this summer and sign elsewhere

The idea of Thybulle is awesome: a smart, hustling defender. The Blazers learned the same lesson Philadelphia did: he isn't high-impact enough to justify heavy minutes. At his salary, that's fine, but he's worth a contract, not spending draft capital on. I also think he walks.

Appears the consensus is DA/Ant/Grant won’t warrant 1sts in a trade. I don’t agree. I think that’s what Cronin is/will wait for and get. Despite their major flaws on this current team; they do have unlocked potential to several contenders, and considering how many of them “need” severe upgrades, we are in a huge position of power. Everyone gets paid these days, someone will figure out justifying each contract.

Portland won Saturday because of Grant & Simons. They won their 1st game of the season when Simons-Ayton-Grant scored 75 of Portland's 125 points. They had their first road win at LAC when their 'big-3' took more than half of the shots and scored half of the points. Same thing when they won at New Orleans; the big-3 took 46 of 84 shots and scored exactly half of Portland's points. That's 4 of Portland's 7 wins that have been generated by Simons-Ayton-Grant....yuck

if Cronin is waiting to move those guys for some heavily protected 1st, what he's really doing is trashing the best chance the Blazers have to land an elite talent, and that's in the next draft.

Blazers have a 7-10 record which is 10th in the lottery. Without that pointless 'Big-3', the Blazers could be 3-14 or 4-13 and in the thick of it for the best odds in the lottery

that's just abjectly stupid management in my view: a GM hoping against hope to land a 23rd pick in 2027 at the same time he's insuring the Blazers drop from a potential #1 pick to a 10th or 11th pick in one of the most loaded top-end drafts in 15-20 years

[dckingsfan]

Spoiler:

I like both players, but I remain skeptical. Grant is very average, but matching salaries likely means giving up rotation players, so how big can the upgrade be as to merit spending a first? Timelord, I like even more, but his health just isn't to be trusted.

I agree here. I think the case is strong that simply subtracting them would be good for the team, especially if it reduces payroll/allows the team to get paid to take on another team's unwanted players.

The idea of Thybulle is awesome: a smart, hustling defender. The Blazers learned the same lesson Philadelphia did: he isn't high-impact enough to justify heavy minutes. At his salary, that's fine, but he's worth a contract, not spending draft capital on. I also think he walks.

Appears the consensus is DA/Ant/Grant won’t warrant 1sts in a trade. I don’t agree. I think that’s what Cronin is/will wait for and get. Despite their major flaws on this current team; they do have unlocked potential to several contenders, and considering how many of them “need” severe upgrades, we are in a huge position of power. Everyone gets paid these days, someone will figure out justifying each contract.

Portland won Saturday because of Grant & Simons. They won their 1st game of the season when Simons-Ayton-Grant scored 75 of Portland's 125 points. They had their first road win at LAC when their 'big-3' took more than half of the shots and scored half of the points. Same thing when they won at New Orleans; the big-3 took 46 of 84 shots and scored exactly half of Portland's points. That's 4 of Portland's 7 wins that have been generated by Simons-Ayton-Grant....yuck

if Cronin is waiting to move those guys for some heavily protected 1st, what he's really doing is trashing the best chance the Blazers have to land an elite talent, and that's in the next draft.

Blazers have a 7-10 record which is 10th in the lottery. Without that pointless 'Big-3', the Blazers could be 3-14 or 4-13 and in the thick of it for the best odds in the lottery

that's just abjectly stupid management in my view: a GM hoping against hope to land a 23rd pick in 2027 at the same time he's ensuring the Blazers drop from a potential #1 pick to a 10th or 11th pick in one of the most loaded top-end drafts in 15-20 years

It is rather mind boggling. They are already 2 games out of the play-in and they aren't going to catch 10 of the 12 teams ahead of them.

So, you have to ask what is the strategy? Maybe the FO is holding out hope for the 10th seed? Maybe they think the current team is young and will evolve into a winning team in the next couple of years? Or there just isn't the appetite for those players and the draft assets the FO wants?

Either way, it is fascinating watching the slow trainwreck.

Edit: Went to tankathon and spun a bunch of times - each time with Portland getting the 10th pick

[cucad8]

Portland won Saturday because of Grant & Simons.

So Sharpe's 24 points didn't help at all. Clingan's stellar defense, 19 boards and 3 blocks weren't a part of the win. Deni giving us 14 and 10 with 4 blocks didn't contribute to the win. Camara's great defense, regardless of his counting stats line also didn't help. Was just Ant and Grant.

[BlazersBroncos]

Some HOU fans seem interested in Simons using the pick they owe that is very confusing to understand - details below -

2025 first round draft pick from Oklahoma City or Phoenix (Houston outgoing to Oklahoma City or Brooklyn)
Oklahoma City has the right to swap its 2025 1st round pick for Houston's 2025 1st round pick protected for selections 1-10 or the L.A. Clippers' 2025 1st round pick; Houston then has the right to swap its pick or the Oklahoma City pick to Brooklyn for Phoenix's 2025 1st round pick; if the Houston pick falls within its protected range, then Houston's obligation to Oklahoma City will be extinguished and Houston will instead have the right to swap its pick to Brooklyn for the Phoenix pick [L.A. Clippers-Oklahoma City, 7/10/2019; Houston-Oklahoma City, 7/16/2019; Brooklyn-Cleveland-Houston-Indiana, 1/16/2021; Brooklyn-Indiana-Milwaukee-Phoenix, 2/9/2023; Brooklyn-Houston, 6/26/2024]

I cant understand that at all but FWIW its the 19th pick right now. I would love that as a return for Simons. Simons + Reath for Adams + Tate + pick works.

Then hope that NO is interested in an Ayton for CJ swap and you have added 2 great locker room vets, dumped the 2 guys that need to be dumped, get a pick and dont add long term salary (Cut some in fact w/ Adams expiring).

G - Scoot Henderson / CJ McCollum / Dalano Banton
G - Shadeon Sharpe / CJ McCollum / Matisse Thybulle
F - Toumari Camara / Deni Avdija / Rayan Rupert / Jae'Sean Tate
F - Jerami Grant / Deni Avdija / Kris Murray / Jabari Walker JR
C - Donovan Clingan / Robert Williams III / Steven Adams

[Wizenheimer]

Portland won Saturday because of Grant & Simons.

So Sharpe's 24 points didn't help at all. Clingan's stellar defense, 19 boards and 3 blocks weren't a part of the win. Deni giving us 14 and 10 with 4 blocks didn't contribute to the win. Camara's great defense, regardless of his counting stats line also didn't help. Was just Ant and Grant.

oh for chrissakes....I didn't say it was "just them". But the Blazers had three guys score 22 or more points, and two of them were Simons/Grant. Those two scored 47 of Portland's 104 points in a game the Blazers won by 6. They were 8-18 on three's and scored 14 of Portland's 31 fourth Q points

so Simons/Grant scored 47 points and the rest of the roster besides Sharpe scored 33 points. Sharpe's career high is 33 points. If he matches that high in the game, the rest of the roster that manged to score 33 points would have had to score 38 additional points than to match the Blazer total. And 33 more points to win assuming that Houston doesn't do anything differently

so absolutely: the Blazers don't win that game without Simons/Grant

[Walton1one]

Wiz is correct, subtract Simons from that game and chances are very good that POR loses that game.

[Walton1one]

BTW, for those saying playing the vets doesn't matter\win uneccssary games

There are at least 3-5? wins where, without the play of vets (Simons\Grant\Ayton) that the team likely does not win

10/27 NO Simons 27, Grant 28, Ayton 17
10/30 LAC Simons 25, Grant 8, Ayton 15
11/4 NO Simons 24, Grant 16, Ayton 19
11/23 HOU Simons 25, Grant 22

[DusterBuster]

Spoiler:

I like both players, but I remain skeptical. Grant is very average, but matching salaries likely means giving up rotation players, so how big can the upgrade be as to merit spending a first? Timelord, I like even more, but his health just isn't to be trusted.



I agree here. I think the case is strong that simply subtracting them would be good for the team, especially if it reduces payroll/allows the team to get paid to take on another team's unwanted players.



The idea of Thybulle is awesome: a smart, hustling defender. The Blazers learned the same lesson Philadelphia did: he isn't high-impact enough to justify heavy minutes. At his salary, that's fine, but he's worth a contract, not spending draft capital on. I also think he walks.

Appears the consensus is DA/Ant/Grant won’t warrant 1sts in a trade. I don’t agree. I think that’s what Cronin is/will wait for and get. Despite their major flaws on this current team; they do have unlocked potential to several contenders, and considering how many of them “need” severe upgrades, we are in a huge position of power. Everyone gets paid these days, someone will figure out justifying each contract.

Portland won Saturday because of Grant & Simons. They won their 1st game of the season when Simons-Ayton-Grant scored 75 of Portland's 125 points. They had their first road win at LAC when their 'big-3' took more than half of the shots and scored half of the points. Same thing when they won at New Orleans; the big-3 took 46 of 84 shots and scored exactly half of Portland's points. That's 4 of Portland's 7 wins that have been generated by Simons-Ayton-Grant....yuck

if Cronin is waiting to move those guys for some heavily protected 1st, what he's really doing is trashing the best chance the Blazers have to land an elite talent, and that's in the next draft.

Blazers have a 7-10 record which is 10th in the lottery. Without that pointless 'Big-3', the Blazers could be 3-14 or 4-13 and in the thick of it for the best odds in the lottery

that's just abjectly stupid management in my view: a GM hoping against hope to land a 23rd pick in 2027 at the same time he's insuring the Blazers drop from a potential #1 pick to a 10th or 11th pick in one of the most loaded top-end drafts in 15-20 years

I'm gonna print and frame this post.

[Norm2953]

Let's not get carried away with the elite talent in the 2025 draft for its going to be a guard
heavy draft and some of the guys thought to be top 5 picks have struggled in the early going.

Think about the makeup of the roster with Donovan, Deni, Toumani and Shaedon as big pieces
moving forward. Let's see if Scoot develops this season and whether young players like Rayan
improve their games.

Evaluate the roster to see where/if the vets fit for one think with Donovan, Ayton isn't needed
and if Scoot can make enough progress to finally make Simons the sixth man.

This season is all about evaluating what they have. I'm all for dumping Ayton/Simons if it makes
sense moving forward. Grant actually makes some sense for neither Donovan/Deni are going to
be scorers and unless Ace really improves this season, he's going to be a project leaving just Flagg
as the only real fit from this draft, who is not a project.

[tblazrdude]

asa newell and will riley are interesting players to keep an eye on, in terms of 2-3-4 bucket getters.

[PDXKnight]

Why do I feel like simons would suddenly become an all star in gs?

Is that a province in China?

[zzaj]

asa newell and will riley are interesting players to keep an eye on, in terms of 2-3-4 bucket getters.

From the very first time he came onto my radar, I had a sneaking suspicion that the Blazers were going to end up with Asa Newell. He's TOTALLY a Schmitz and Cronin type player.

[Norm2953]

Can he be the next LA?

[Butter]

asa newell and will riley are interesting players to keep an eye on, in terms of 2-3-4 bucket getters.

From the very first time he came onto my radar, I had a sneaking suspicion that the Blazers were going to end up with Asa Newell. He's TOTALLY a Schmitz and Cronin type player.

He does stand out as a position of need in a guard dominant draft.

He also raised an interesting question. If the Blazers maintain their current draft position throughout the year, is Newell the best player available, or just a reach at a position of need?

Finally, playing 7'2 Cling Kong next to 6'10 Newell is intriguing. Ideally their PF would have the speed and agility to compliment Donovan's mass.

[Butter]

I think I've changed my mind on my personal priority list for who needs to be traded.

It used to be Ant and Ayton ( and I still believe that), but realistically, I'm wondering if the Blazers have better luck trading Ayton during the off-season when he's an expiring deal. The financial realities of the new CBA and 2nd apron could theoretically work out in the Blazers favor IF they are willing to take on salary from another team. And since the Blazers have such a tough time attracting FAs, cap space is almost less valuable for them, instead, they could trade their expiring contracts for other teams higher priced players that fit into the Blazers rebuild timeline.

So - between now and this year's trade deadline, here is my priorities for a trade:

1) ANT........$25,892,857 $27,678,571
2) Grant.....$29,793,104 $32,000,001 $34,206,898 $36,413,790
3) Ayton....$34,005,126 $35,550,814
4) Matice..$11,025,000 $11,550,000

[zzaj]

asa newell and will riley are interesting players to keep an eye on, in terms of 2-3-4 bucket getters.

From the very first time he came onto my radar, I had a sneaking suspicion that the Blazers were going to end up with Asa Newell. He's TOTALLY a Schmitz and Cronin type player.

He does stand out as a position of need in a guard dominant draft.

He also raised an interesting question. If the Blazers maintain their current draft position throughout the year, is Newell the best player available, or just a reach at a position of need?

Finally, playing 7'2 Cling Kong next to 6'10 Newell is intriguing. Ideally their PF would have the speed and agility to compliment Donovan's mass.

I'm of the opinion that, barring being able to draft Flagg or Bailey, they are going to draft Grant's replacement. Newell is basically that. At this stage, I'd rather Demin as a target...but it's still early. If Demin keeps playing as he is now, he'll be in the conversation for Top 3.