Presti overpaying for Deni?

[jayjaysee]

Because Presti never should have let Portland outbid him for a long two way wing locked up on that contract..

Dieng, Topic, 2025 first (Philly?), 2027 Denver first for Deni

Portland - Gave up a 2024 lottery first and a future first for Deni, now they get a 2024 lottery first and two future firsts for Deni. Maybe they hoped Scoot and Sharpe would have developed and be more ready, or look like they might be ready in a year, etc. Maybe they should trade Grant and Simons before Deni, but maybe they should trade all of them and plan on Sharpe, Clingan and the 2025 first being the core.

OKC - They get a great fitting fifth starter, who will be making under the MLE for the first two years of their tax years.

[Mavrelous]

I love this idea, perfect player to overpay for.

[Devilanche]

I don’t mind the price but doesn’t seems like a player blazer might consider moving on from.

[MoneyTalks41890]

I’ve been looking around the league and this is one target that definitely still intrigues me.

Not sure the Blazers want to move him, but definitely a guy worth overpaying for.

A bigger guy with some offensive punch.

[Tim Lehrbach]

Portland doesn't like this, but has to consider it. Deni is probably the team's best player, which makes the optics of flipping him difficult and means another setback to the rebuild. On the other hand, the cost of acquiring Deni is sunk, the rebuild is going nowhere fast, and 2025 is the year to target any and all draft capital.

It's tough. I say no because the Philadelphia pick ultimately is not likely to remain in the lottery. It's a fair idea for consideration, though.

[Blazinaway]

I’ve been looking around the league and this is one target that definitely still intrigues me.

Not sure the Blazers want to move him, but definitely a guy worth overpaying for.

A bigger guy with some offensive punch.

Yeah, after a slow start he's been the Blazers best player and my favorite, just so fun to watch and plays hard both ways. I would hate to see him go but Blazers are in no position to turn down an overpay if offered. His contract is ridiculously cheap, 16 mil this year declining to 12 mil in 2027/2028. He's one of those "glue guys" as well and would be a really good fit in OKC

[Tim Lehrbach]

I’ve been looking around the league and this is one target that definitely still intrigues me.

Not sure the Blazers want to move him, but definitely a guy worth overpaying for.

A bigger guy with some offensive punch.

Yeah, after a slow start he's been the Blazers best player and my favorite, just so fun to watch and plays hard both ways. I would hate to see him go but Blazers are in no position to turn down an overpay if offered. His contract is ridiculously cheap, 16 mil this year declining to 12 mil in 2027/2028. He's one of those "glue guys" as well and would be a really good fit in OKC

Agreed, we can't be too attached if the right offer comes along. I'm just not certain the upside is there in the OP. The Sixers are climbing out of the cellar, Denver has struggled but will still be a Jokic-led team in 2027, and I know little of Topic. It's not a bad offer, but is it worth the gamble and the further hit to assembling a credible roster? I just don't know.

[Lucky Once]

We love Bub Carrington but Wizards fans were not happy to see Deni go. Seeing him get flipped for an even better package would certainly sting but I would love him in OKC.

[Tim Lehrbach]

We love Bub Carrington but Wizards fans were not happy to see Deni go. Seeing him get flipped for an even better package would certainly sting but I would love him in OKC.

Yeah, dude is a terrific player. The Blazers wouldn't consider giving him up, probably, except for his being a flight risk by the time the team is even relevant enough to make his play count for something.

[jbk1234]

It's good value, but it's hard for a bad team to give up the only young player that's working out on the roster. It really comes down to what the front office thinks about Topic as he was selected two slots ahead of the pick they traded.

[MoneyTalks41890]

The fit and contract is so good I’d add another protected 1st

[brackdan70]

I think if you make the most favorable of OKCs 2025 picks then it’s a deal. That might end up being Philly late lotto or in the later teens if they remain healthy. Could be Utah with bad lotto luck or Miami in the teens. I think making it the most favorable ensures ( probably ) a pick in the teens for Portland and they would/should make that trade . Deni is great but get two picks and a prospect is a good haul. 16th or 17th pick in this draft would give you a really good shot at a player that’s better than Deni.

[Tim Lehrbach]

The fit and contract is so good I’d add another protected 1st

I think if you make the most favorable of OKCs 2025 picks then it’s a deal. That might end up being Philly late lotto or in the later teens if they remain healthy. Could be Utah with bad lotto luck or Miami in the teens. I think making it the most favorable ensures ( probably ) a pick in the teens for Portland and they would/should make that trade . Deni is great but get two picks and a prospect is a good haul. 16th or 17th pick in this draft would give you a really good shot at a player that’s better than Deni.

I get these two replies and appreciate the attempts to make the package even more enticing. What's going to entice Portland, though, is probably not piling on second-tier value but a roll of the dice at a premium pick. Oklahoma City would probably do it, too, because they are so loaded with talent and future picks and Deni is such an obvious addition to a team that actually matters... but there isn't one out of the available picks that can even potentially become a high 2025 pick. Maybe a 2026 pick instead?

Like I said, it's just tough. But there definitely is a threshold beyond which this becomes too good to refuse.

[brackdan70]

The fit and contract is so good I’d add another protected 1st

I think if you make the most favorable of OKCs 2025 picks then it’s a deal. That might end up being Philly late lotto or in the later teens if they remain healthy. Could be Utah with bad lotto luck or Miami in the teens. I think making it the most favorable ensures ( probably ) a pick in the teens for Portland and they would/should make that trade . Deni is great but get two picks and a prospect is a good haul. 16th or 17th pick in this draft would give you a really good shot at a player that’s better than Deni.

I get these two replies and appreciate the attempts to make the package even more enticing. What's going to entice Portland, though, is probably not piling on second-tier value but a roll of the dice at a premium pick. Oklahoma City would probably do it, too, because they are so loaded with talent and future picks and Deni is such an obvious addition to a team that actually matters... but there isn't one out of the available picks that can even potentially become a high 2025 pick. Maybe a 2026 pick instead?

Like I said, it's just tough. But there definitely is a threshold beyond which this becomes too good to refuse.

Yeah I get that. I think making it the most favorable still gives you a shot at a top 10 if Embiid gets injured… for 2026 it would be most favorable or Houston/OKC/ Clippers….another good draft and maybe the Clippers are ****.
I think the 2025 range of picks has more upside still with utah(top 10 protected), Philly (top 6) Houston and LAC.

[Tim Lehrbach]

The fit and contract is so good I’d add another protected 1st

I think if you make the most favorable of OKCs 2025 picks then it’s a deal. That might end up being Philly late lotto or in the later teens if they remain healthy. Could be Utah with bad lotto luck or Miami in the teens. I think making it the most favorable ensures ( probably ) a pick in the teens for Portland and they would/should make that trade . Deni is great but get two picks and a prospect is a good haul. 16th or 17th pick in this draft would give you a really good shot at a player that’s better than Deni.

I get these two replies and appreciate the attempts to make the package even more enticing. What's going to entice Portland, though, is probably not piling on second-tier value but a roll of the dice at a premium pick. Oklahoma City would probably do it, too, because they are so loaded with talent and future picks and Deni is such an obvious addition to a team that actually matters... but there isn't one out of the available picks that can even potentially become a high 2025 pick. Maybe a 2026 pick instead?

Like I said, it's just tough. But there definitely is a threshold beyond which this becomes too good to refuse.

Yeah I get that. I think making it the most favorable still gives you a shot at a top 10 if Embiid gets injured… for 2026 it would be most favorable or Houston/OKC/ Clippers….another good draft and maybe the Clippers are ****.
I think the 2025 range of picks has more upside still with utah(top 10 protected), Philly (top 6) Houston and LAC.

You are right that there is upside to your version. Making it the highest of all OKC's picks optimizes the range of potential value for Portland, which makes it easier to evaluate. It's almost certainly going to be a pick between 7 (the highest possibility) and, say, 20. So it's a good idea, for sure. Just don't think the Blazers bite. Getting a Deni out of the 7th pick seems less than 50-50, but I welcome correction if my history fails me.

[brackdan70]

I get these two replies and appreciate the attempts to make the package even more enticing. What's going to entice Portland, though, is probably not piling on second-tier value but a roll of the dice at a premium pick. Oklahoma City would probably do it, too, because they are so loaded with talent and future picks and Deni is such an obvious addition to a team that actually matters... but there isn't one out of the available picks that can even potentially become a high 2025 pick. Maybe a 2026 pick instead?

Like I said, it's just tough. But there definitely is a threshold beyond which this becomes too good to refuse.

Yeah I get that. I think making it the most favorable still gives you a shot at a top 10 if Embiid gets injured… for 2026 it would be most favorable or Houston/OKC/ Clippers….another good draft and maybe the Clippers are ****.
I think the 2025 range of picks has more upside still with utah(top 10 protected), Philly (top 6) Houston and LAC.

You are right that there is upside to your version. Making it the highest of all OKC's picks optimizes the range of potential value for Portland, which makes it easier to evaluate. It's almost certainly going to be a pick between 7 (the highest possibility) and, say, 20. So it's a good idea, for sure. Just don't think the Blazers bite. Getting a Deni out of the 7th pick seems less than 50-50, but I welcome correction if my history fails me.

I think it comes down to how much you like this draft. To me it’s deeper than most and you have a better chance at getting player as good as Deni. But historically in a typical draft you are right. Deni has outplayed most late lotto picks…and at 24 yo on a friendly contract I can see the Blazers saying no as well.

[Skybox]

Really clever for OKC...they've stockpiled so much draft capital that they can knowingly "lose" value in a trade but add a guy who's underpaid to their about to be exploding payroll. Topic could be an All-Star (or not) but they shift that bet for someone else to make and solidify their existing contending core.

I really am intrigued by Topic, I wonder what POR would see...they've already got the big question mark of Scoot and Avidja is a really good fit...but if they saw something special in Topic - you pounce. I'd bet POR holds on to Avidja, to pair with Scoot, Sharpe, Clingan -unless they lined something better up for a simultaneous Scoot for a forward deal.

[MoneyTalks41890]

Yeah I get that. I think making it the most favorable still gives you a shot at a top 10 if Embiid gets injured… for 2026 it would be most favorable or Houston/OKC/ Clippers….another good draft and maybe the Clippers are ****.
I think the 2025 range of picks has more upside still with utah(top 10 protected), Philly (top 6) Houston and LAC.

You are right that there is upside to your version. Making it the highest of all OKC's picks optimizes the range of potential value for Portland, which makes it easier to evaluate. It's almost certainly going to be a pick between 7 (the highest possibility) and, say, 20. So it's a good idea, for sure. Just don't think the Blazers bite. Getting a Deni out of the 7th pick seems less than 50-50, but I welcome correction if my history fails me.

I think it comes down to how much you like this draft. To me it’s deeper than most and you have a better chance at getting player as good as Deni. But historically in a typical draft you are right. Deni has outplayed most late lotto picks…and at 24 yo on a friendly contract I can see the Blazers saying no as well.

I’m a fan of trying to narrow the range on value where desirable. I think it could be something like reverse protected best 1st, if 18 or later then best of 2026 1st top 3 prot or something.

[jayjaysee]

The fit and contract is so good I’d add another protected 1st

I think if you make the most favorable of OKCs 2025 picks then it’s a deal. That might end up being Philly late lotto or in the later teens if they remain healthy. Could be Utah with bad lotto luck or Miami in the teens. I think making it the most favorable ensures ( probably ) a pick in the teens for Portland and they would/should make that trade . Deni is great but get two picks and a prospect is a good haul. 16th or 17th pick in this draft would give you a really good shot at a player that’s better than Deni.

I get these two replies and appreciate the attempts to make the package even more enticing. What's going to entice Portland, though, is probably not piling on second-tier value but a roll of the dice at a premium pick. Oklahoma City would probably do it, too, because they are so loaded with talent and future picks and Deni is such an obvious addition to a team that actually matters... but there isn't one out of the available picks that can even potentially become a high 2025 pick. Maybe a 2026 pick instead?

Like I said, it's just tough. But there definitely is a threshold beyond which this becomes too good to refuse.

I feel like Topic offers a lot of upside, especially with Scoot not looking like what was hoped. Scoot is still so young, so not a time to give up on him but Topic coming in behind him and Sharpe feels like it should be valued.

Think you can make it the best 2025 first like some are saying…But if I wanted to add value, I’d make it the best 2026 first instead. That gives a lot more upside, you get the chance of Miami pick ending up unprotected, chance of LAC falling apart, chance of Utah coming out of the rebuild and their pick only being top 8 protected.

And maybe make it the 2029 Denver first instead of the 2027? No idea if Joker will still be in Denver or still be the best player in the world at 33.

Still only two firsts, but two much more valuable firsts. Maybe OKC can squeeze a little protection (top 2? 4?) on the 2026 first, and if it doesn’t convey they give their own 2027 first unprotected (which is a swap with the Clippers)

[BlazersBroncos]

Deni is one of the only guys in PDX playing team basketball, he is young and cheap.

That being said, there is a point where an offer is too good to refuse. My (distant) 2nd team is OKC and the Deni fit is undeniable. He would fit that system like a glove - much similar to Hartenstein in that regard.

I would need to see something like Dieng, Topic, highest 2026 FRP, DEN 2029 FRP and a few SRP for Deni and Walker or Reath (OKC choice).

I dont think the PDX FO has Deni anywhere close to the market though - but I would hope they would listen if a deal like the above was put on the table.