Pre Trade Deadline: Grading Joe Cronin

[Butter]

https://www.basketball-reference.com/executives/cronijo99x.html

This link provides a comprehensive account of Joe Cronin since he took over as interim GM when Neil Olshey was fired on December 3, 2021, and made permanent May 09 2022

I started to itemized Cronin's transactions, but I was pretty much just copying and pasting from the link above.

Based on the mess he inherited from NeO and his draft picks since Shaedon, how would you rate his performance so far?

Obviously, we will have to factor if any trades are made by this trade deadline, this poll is your vote for his performance, so far

[JRoy]

C

His record has been all over the road.

A-didn’t kowtow and send Lillard to MIA, recouped some assets, TBD
B+-Traded for Deni, drafted SS, drafted Clingan
C-got rid of Norm and CJ
D-traded Nurk for DA
F-drafted Scoot

[DaVoiceMaster]

I went with a D. That could change with any future trades or draft picks from the Lillard trade, he hasn't really done much this year.

[Butter]

Cronin has proven that's he will make big trades, but this season has been way too much "wait to bake the cake" for my preference.

The new CBA probably blocked some of his aspirations, but between bringing back Chauncy, and the half in/half out tank, I'm looking for him to make the next big step.

[Myth]

C. I think the actual trades he has made are worthy of a higher grade, but he is lowered by the trades he hasn’t made, particularly keeping big minute vets. We needed to tank hard and we are currently failing at that as Cronin is hoping for slightly better assets. This feels like our summer to draft a star to put next to our younger core, and unless lottery gods are in our favor, we are going to blow it because he can’t get what he wants for Grant/Simons.

[Tim Lehrbach]

On process, Cronin is doing what he seemingly set out to do. The object was a deep rebuild, and he's done it by assembling a putrid roster that loses bushels of games, even while keeping Lillard two season into it. Like everybody else, I would have moved the remaining veterans already, but we don't know what opportunities, if any, he has had to do so.

On results, it's been a disaster. Middling return for Lillard, paying a high price for Deni (who is great but may well be gone by the time his play would even make a difference for a good Blazers team), zero blue chip draftees, and shepherding a franchise that looks no better off than it was when the rebuild began.

I don't trust the process, and results matter. There is no point whatsoever in a teardown-and-tank unless it gives you access to talent in the draft that you'd otherwise never touch as a playoff contender. The Blazers haven't maximized their draft capital and have selected mediocre prospects. I know you can only second-guess the crapshoot of the draft so much, but this roster is in much better shape with Jalen Williams and Amen Thompson over Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson. Having those quality, young forwards in the fold means the Deni trade never happens and Grant probably is moved before tanking his value, leaving the Blazers with even more draft capital for the future. Nurkic and Simons probably could have been shed for expirings and seconds, or whatever, saving the Blazers money and opening possibilities for absorbing contracts with picks... all of this is highly speculative, and we can't know how much of it was ever within the realm of possibility, but it's fair to compare the current situation against alternative outcomes to an extent. Besides, Cronin is paid a massive salary precisely to come up with ideas and have vision that the rest of us don't. What we know is that the team is horrid and has little hope of getting better anytime soon. Draft luck and a shrewd 2026 offseason appear to be the best paths forward. Ain't much to hang one's hat on.

F

[Butter]

On process, Cronin is doing what he seemingly set out to do. The object was a deep rebuild, and he's done it by assembling a putrid roster that loses bushels of games, even while keeping Lillard two season into it. Like everybody else, I would have moved the remaining veterans already, but we don't know what opportunities, if any, he has had to do so.

On results, it's been a disaster. Middling return for Lillard, paying a high price for Deni (who is great but may well be gone by the time his play would even make a difference for a good Blazers team), zero blue chip draftees, and shepherding a franchise that looks no better off than it was when the rebuild began.

I don't trust the process, and results matter. There is no point whatsoever in a teardown-and-tank unless it gives you access to talent in the draft that you'd otherwise never touch as a playoff contender. The Blazers haven't maximized their draft capital and have selected mediocre prospects. I know you can only second-guess the crapshoot of the draft so much, but this roster is in much better shape with Jalen Williams and Amen Thompson over Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson. Having those quality, young forwards in the fold means the Deni trade never happens and Grant probably is moved before tanking his value, leaving the Blazers with even more draft capital for the future. Nurkic and Simons probably could have been shed for expirings and seconds, or whatever, saving the Blazers money and opening possibilities for absorbing contracts with picks... all of this is highly speculative, and we can't know how much of it was ever within the realm of possibility, but it's fair to compare the current situation against alternative outcomes to an extent. Besides, Cronin is paid a massive salary precisely to come up with ideas and have vision that the rest of us don't. What we know is that the team is horrid and has little hope of getting better anytime soon. Draft luck and a shrewd 2026 offseason appear to be the best paths forward. Ain't much to hang one's hat on.

F

TL, great post! I agree with everything you're saying.

I've been a Blazers fan since I was a kid, during the early days of the Drexler, Porter, Kersey years. I literally live on the opposite side of the country, but I still follow the Blazers daily.

We all see the issues with Chauncy. This thread is calling out the issues with Cronin. We all see the issues with the owner.

It's tough to dump an owner. As much as we fans want to dump the coach, I'm starting to wonder if the Blazers just need to clear the entire front office AND coaching staff.

[Tim Lehrbach]

TL, great post! I agree with everything you're saying.

I've been a Blazers fan since I was a kid, during the early days of the Drexler, Porter, Kersey years. I literally live on the opposite side of the country, but I still follow the Blazers daily.

We all see the issues with Chauncy. This thread is calling out the issues with Cronin. We all see the issues with the owner.

It's tough to dump an owner. As much as we fans want to dump the coach, I'm starting to wonder if the Blazers just need to clear the entire front office AND coaching staff.

Thanks, yeah. My situation is similar. Born and raised on turn-of-the-90s Blazermania, but adulting has taken me out of Oregon. I don't subscribe to League Pass anymore (because it's terrible IMO), so I don't see many full games, but I still follow the team closely and torture myself by watching lots of lowlights. Things are as bleak now as they were in the mid-2000s. We even have a bust point guard (Scoot Henderson as today's Sebastian Telfair) and hyper-athletic, low-impact wing (Shaedon Sharpe to the previous era's Darius Miles) for our premium disappointments.

The good news is somebody, eventually will come along to rescue the franchise, as Brandon Roy did. But there's no telling how long that takes, nor whether it yields any better results than the first-round-and-out peak of Roy/Aldridge.

[Butter]

TL, great post! I agree with everything you're saying.

I've been a Blazers fan since I was a kid, during the early days of the Drexler, Porter, Kersey years. I literally live on the opposite side of the country, but I still follow the Blazers daily.

We all see the issues with Chauncy. This thread is calling out the issues with Cronin. We all see the issues with the owner.

It's tough to dump an owner. As much as we fans want to dump the coach, I'm starting to wonder if the Blazers just need to clear the entire front office AND coaching staff.

Thanks, yeah. My situation is similar. Born and raised on turn-of-the-90s Blazermania, but adulting has taken me out of Oregon. I don't subscribe to League Pass anymore (because it's terrible IMO), so I don't see many full games, but I still follow the team closely and torture myself by watching lots of lowlights. Things are as bleak now as they were in the mid-2000s. We even have a bust point guard (Scoot Henderson as today's Sebastian Telfair) and hyper-athletic, low-impact wing (Shaedon Sharpe to the previous era's Darius Miles) for our premium disappointments.

The good news is somebody, eventually will come along to rescue the franchise, as Brandon Roy did. But there's no telling how long that takes, nor whether it yields any better results than the first-round-and-out peak of Roy/Aldridge.

Amen. It's crazy to say, but I miss Trader Bob. We need a FO that's willing to take a big shot.

[Tim Lehrbach]

TL, great post! I agree with everything you're saying.

I've been a Blazers fan since I was a kid, during the early days of the Drexler, Porter, Kersey years. I literally live on the opposite side of the country, but I still follow the Blazers daily.

We all see the issues with Chauncy. This thread is calling out the issues with Cronin. We all see the issues with the owner.

It's tough to dump an owner. As much as we fans want to dump the coach, I'm starting to wonder if the Blazers just need to clear the entire front office AND coaching staff.

Thanks, yeah. My situation is similar. Born and raised on turn-of-the-90s Blazermania, but adulting has taken me out of Oregon. I don't subscribe to League Pass anymore (because it's terrible IMO), so I don't see many full games, but I still follow the team closely and torture myself by watching lots of lowlights. Things are as bleak now as they were in the mid-2000s. We even have a bust point guard (Scoot Henderson as today's Sebastian Telfair) and hyper-athletic, low-impact wing (Shaedon Sharpe to the previous era's Darius Miles) for our premium disappointments.

The good news is somebody, eventually will come along to rescue the franchise, as Brandon Roy did. But there's no telling how long that takes, nor whether it yields any better results than the first-round-and-out peak of Roy/Aldridge.

Amen. It's crazy to say, but I miss Trader Bob. We need a FO that's willing to take a big shot.

True, we didn't appreciate Trader Bob and SPAM enough while we had it. They made some unwise moves, but they were always in the direction of maximizing the team's advantages (especially outspending others).

[DusterBuster]

Textbook C.

[DaVoiceMaster]

We need another "Ha knows" thread!!! Not sure many of you know what I'm referring to, but it was amazing at the time!!!

[Butter]

We need another "Ha knows" thread!!! Not sure many of you know what I'm referring to, but it was amazing at the time!!!

https://images.app.goo.gl/rntiDC3xvRpBScJa6

[monopoman]

We haven't even seen the full ramifications of the Lillard trade, if we pick-swap with the Bucks and end up with a top 3 pick that looks like a future all-star or elite player that trade looks great long term.

This is like doing 50% of a project then the boss sets you aside and claims the half-done project is trash, even though the last 50% isn't done.

Deni was a great trade, and overall the picks have been quite good in the Cronin era like Clingan, and Sharpe. We haven't won a huge lottery to get a can't miss prospect like Wemby but that's lottery balls not on the GM. I also am not giving up on Scoot yet he has shown real good flashes and has had some impressive games especially recently.

[Butter]

We haven't even seen the full ramifications of the Lillard trade, if we pick-swap with the Bucks and end up with a top 3 pick that looks like a future all-star or elite player that trade looks great long term.

This is like doing 50% of a project then the boss sets you aside and claims the half-done project is trash, even though the last 50% isn't done.

Deni was a great trade, and overall the picks have been quite good in the Cronin era like Clingan, and Sharpe. We haven't won a huge lottery to get a can't miss prospect like Wemby but that's lottery balls not on the GM. I also am not giving up on Scoot yet he has shown real good flashes and has had some impressive games especially recently.

Are you Joe Cronin? No judgements...

[monopoman]

We haven't even seen the full ramifications of the Lillard trade, if we pick-swap with the Bucks and end up with a top 3 pick that looks like a future all-star or elite player that trade looks great long term.

This is like doing 50% of a project then the boss sets you aside and claims the half-done project is trash, even though the last 50% isn't done.

Deni was a great trade, and overall the picks have been quite good in the Cronin era like Clingan, and Sharpe. We haven't won a huge lottery to get a can't miss prospect like Wemby but that's lottery balls not on the GM. I also am not giving up on Scoot yet he has shown real good flashes and has had some impressive games especially recently.

Are you Joe Cronin? No judgements...

I assure you I am not, I wouldn't mind making his salary though. I just hate when a fairly good GM is getting drug through the mud for stuff that I feel is bull.

****, even with the Lillard deal the Miami one would have turned out to be near trash, I can only imagine having Herro on this team and some other random pick they might have thrown in.

[Butter]

We haven't even seen the full ramifications of the Lillard trade, if we pick-swap with the Bucks and end up with a top 3 pick that looks like a future all-star or elite player that trade looks great long term.

This is like doing 50% of a project then the boss sets you aside and claims the half-done project is trash, even though the last 50% isn't done.

Deni was a great trade, and overall the picks have been quite good in the Cronin era like Clingan, and Sharpe. We haven't won a huge lottery to get a can't miss prospect like Wemby but that's lottery balls not on the GM. I also am not giving up on Scoot yet he has shown real good flashes and has had some impressive games especially recently.

Are you Joe Cronin? No judgements...

I assure you I am not, I wouldn't mind making his salary though. I just hate when a fairly good GM is getting drug through the mud for stuff that I feel is bull.

****, even with the Lillard deal the Miami one would have turned out to be near trash, I can only imagine having Herro on this team and some other random pick they might have thrown in.

Reading through the comprehensive list of transactions in the link from the original post, Cronin has proven he's willing to make "big trades".

His draft picks are also understandable.

-Shaedon was exactly what most fans here are asking for, the big swing, high upside option.

- Scoot was once considered an option at #1 if Wemby wasn't in that draft.

My big issue is mostly this season. Who knows what opportunities Cronin had this year, but his luke warm, patient approach isn't going to get it done.

[Kobewade11]

lol

[zzaj]

If I take a step back and look at the Lillard trade on it's own, I actually like the way Cronin handled it...at least according to what we know definitively. Of course the role he played in the lead up to Lillard wanting out can't be ignored. But the trade itself will be an incomplete until we know what the actual return will be--and that's not going to happen soon. Props to Joe for making a decision that will likely impact the team AFTER he's done with his tenure.

I liked the Deni trade. If the Blazers drafted a 23 year old and he was playing like Deni currently, we'd be ecstatic.

I didn't love the Scoot pick, but understood why it was done. At the end of the day it I probably would have done the same if I were GM (I didn't love the Thompson twins either).

I liked the Clingan pick, but wasn't as high on him as a prospect as some others. FWIW, I think Clingan tops out as a journey-man double double center...which isn't terrible with where he was picked.

The main reason I'm giving Cronin a "D" is because he hasn't embraced a rebuild, when it's very clear that it's the prudent thing to do for a franchise...

[Wizenheimer]

On results, it's been a disaster. Middling return for Lillard, paying a high price for Deni (who is great but may well be gone by the time his play would even make a difference for a good Blazers team), zero blue chip draftees, and shepherding a franchise that looks no better off than it was when the rebuild began.

I agree with your sentiments. I especially agree with the notion that Avdija is the kind of player you add to a playoff team, but it's kind of a waste adding him to a team as bad as the Blazers. He's an entertaining player so he gets a lot of praise from Blazer fans desperately searching to a positive.

and no matter how many times people say it was a great trade, the reality is it could be a high price paid; and maybe too high. That 2029 first could be a 5th pick in a loaded draft

not only that, the Blazers will have to ship their 2028 second, that 2029 first, and their 2030 second to Washington. That's the remaining balance of that trade. And guess what folks: Avdija could walk away as a free agent in 2028. In other words, the Blazers could be shipping out two second's and a first AFTER Avdija signs with another team. Judging this a good trade before we know all those future outcomes is way premature