Game 34 Portland vs Detroit 4:00pm

[zzaj]

That's not the question(s)

He’s among the worst in the league every year on d.

He has low bbiq on that end, and nothing special on the other end.

So you saying Simons is stupid? Does not compete? Does not give effort? Second time asking

Lol, are you trying to build a strawman that Simons has a high BBIQ, and competes every night with full effort?

Come on man. Simons is what he is. An undersized SG getting used as a PG, who also happens to be a very poor defender.

[Norm2953]

It doesn't help that Portland has opted to tank since the 2021-22 season.

Losing does breed more losing for a player like Simons has played on one team that finished
over .500. Playing in Portland can't be much fun for him and he's likely counting the days when
he can leave in free agency. Sharpe in his three seasons in Portland has never played on a team
that has had a winning record. He can't be thrilled even if Portland agrees to sign him to a max
contract. Scoot is a guy who likely needs to start and have the ball in his hands to be effective.

47 games to go before the season finally ends.

[DaVoiceMaster]

Surprised RW3 is not getting any minutes. They saving him for the trade deadline?

[zzaj]

Surprised RW3 is not getting any minutes. They saving him for the trade deadline?

Probably, but who knows. I find it a little suss that Grant is still out with a jaw contusion as well…

[Walton1one]

Yes, RW3 healthy but not playing is odd

Grant misses 4th game with face contusion, probably nothing, but it is odd

[PDXKnight]

Yes, RW3 healthy but not playing is odd

Grant misses 4th game with face contusion, probably nothing, but it is odd

Probably more like saving both just in case something comes. But I don't have faith joe will be proactive at the deadline

[Norm2953]

Quite possibly, all Joe will be doing is allowing Simons and Ayton to expire in the summer of 2026.

It might be Portland's best move but sucks for the fan who have to tolerate more years of 25 win seasons.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

I expect the team to use pretty much any excuse to hold out vets. If Grant and Williams play and we win this game it doesn't really help us at all.

[DusterBuster]

Quite possibly, all Joe will be doing is allowing Simons and Ayton to expire in the summer of 2026.

It might be Portland's best move but sucks for the fan who have to tolerate more years of 25 win seasons.

This honestly feels like the most likely scenario.

[Walton1one]

I seriously question what Cronin intends to do with that space? Knowing that POR is not a free agent destination.

What is he going to do, overpay a mediocre vet (Olshey\Evan Turner) like his predecessor did? Seems like a stupid waste of cap space (and tradeable assets) to me.

Also, likely Sharpe's new contract will be coming into the first year (I think he is eligible for up to 5 years\$224mil, yeah people get ready for that Cronin decision)

26/27 POR will have

Grant $34.2
Avdija $13.1
Scoot $13.6 (club option)
DC $7.5 (club option
Sharpe - Eligible for up around $224mil\5yrs ($45mil) or they take a risk with RFA @ $25.2mil - Best case scenario slightly under max? 40mil?
Murray $5.3 (club option)
Banton? who knows, if they keep him $8-10mil?
Camara $2.4mil
Rupert - $3mil (RFA, unless they re-sign him to another deal before)
2025 pick - Currently #6 ($6.9)
2026 pick - Similar to above ($7.5)

CAP PROJECTED @ $170.2 million

$101.5 million not including Sharpe
RFA Sharpe $126.7
Re-sign Sharpe, close or at max (let's say close, $40mil, this is POR\Cronin after all) = $141.5

Approximately $28.7 million under the cap

BUT, to get there they have to let the following players walk for nothing:

Ayton
Simons
RW3
Thybulle
Walker (I am assuming they let him walk this offseason to make space for 25' pick)
Reath (or they RFA him @ cost of $3mil, or resign him to multi-year deal)

When you look this, my question is, why in the heck would you CHOOSE to do this?

You cannot, if you are POR, let Ayton\Simons\RW3 walk for nothing but cap space.

Do you REALLY believe that they are going to draw a big-name FA to Portland? That is just not realistic at all given the history of this franchise.

2026 UNRESTRICTED Free agents of note.
Coby White, Jaren Jackson Jr, Naz Reid, Collin Sexton, Daniel Gafford, PJ Washington, SGA, Rui Hachimura, DeAaron Fox, John Collins, Mo Wagner, Mikal Bridges, Aaron Gordon, Kristaps Porzingis, Julius Randle

I am not listing RFA, because anyone who has followed POR (or FA for that matter) long enough knows that chasing RFA is dumb, as if the player is worth a large contract that team is 99% of the time matching to keep them

Fans are dreaming if they think any of the bigger name players listed would CHOOSE to sign with POR, especially at the amount that POR could offer. Even IF, let's say POR elects to leave Sharpe as an RFA, which could get them to around $43.5mil (or a little more) of cap space.

SGA\Fox\JJ jr\Randle (why would you want him anyway?)\Bridges\White\Reid, these guys are not coming here, that is a pipedream.

So what are we realistically talking about? Overpaying a "C-level" vet like Rui Hachimura, John Collins or Kelly Oubre Jr?

This is why letting those players expire for nothing is not a good idea.

1) They give up any possible assets they could get for them, even if those are not much
2) Their cap space is not going to be enough, if they re-sign Sharpe (a given) to lure any FA of note
3) Even IF they take the risk and RFA Sharpe, they STILL won't be able to attract an A\B tier FA here, which means (as before) re-signing marginal vet for VASTLY more than they are worth (and other teams are willing to pay

....and, we are back to Square 1, again....

[zzaj]

Walton1, not to mention that some of those "Players walk for nothing" were part of trades...if those players indeed walk for nothing it makes the trades associated completely lopsided...and not in Portland's favor.

[m0ng0]

He’s among the worst in the league every year on d.

He has low bbiq on that end, and nothing special on the other end.

So you saying Simons is stupid? Does not compete? Does not give effort? Second time asking

Lol, are you trying to build a strawman that Simons has a high BBIQ, and competes every night with full effort?

Come on man. Simons is what he is. An undersized SG getting used as a PG, who also happens to be a very poor defender.

I have never said he was even remotely close to a good defender, you can't wrap your head around the fact he is a stud on offense. And he is the best point guard on this team, by a mile which ain't saying much.

[zzaj]

So you saying Simons is stupid? Does not compete? Does not give effort? Second time asking

Lol, are you trying to build a strawman that Simons has a high BBIQ, and competes every night with full effort?

Come on man. Simons is what he is. An undersized SG getting used as a PG, who also happens to be a very poor defender.

I have never said he was even remotely close to a good defender, you can't wrap your head around the fact he is a stud on offense. And he is the best point guard on this team, by a mile which ain't saying much.

You’re not answering the question!

Seriously though, change my mind. Show me how he’s a “stud” on offense. Give me your stats that back that up.

If you can show me somehow that he makes players around him perform better and contributes to wins with his offense, even better.

You say Simons is an offensive “stud”? Back it up.