Hornets/Blazers... Ayton

[Astaluego]

HORNETS
In:Ayton
Out: Nurkic/Jeffries/FRP26(received from Suns)

Hornets send the package they received from the Suns, to get a starting level center, who should fit perfectly long term with Ball/Miller...Ayton is waiting and they could probably extend him by a more reasonable number

BLAZERS
In:Nurkic/Jeffries/FRP 26
Out:Ayton

gets an FRP for expiring Ayton (who wouldn't make sense to extend with Clingan and even Rob Williams under contract) and save some good money

[jbk1234]

I think we should let the season play out on this one. Ayton managed to put together 10 games of inspired ball before the deadline. His motivation for doing so, and whether he's likely to sustain it, will be matters of intense debate. As he can't be traded until the season is over anyway, there's no point in setting a price now.

[MasterIchiro]

Right team wrong center???

I prefer Josh Green (13.66) for RWIII (13.285).

I only trade for RWIII if the Hornets can't trade back into the first round 2025 with the Nets (Bucks-20) or (Rockets 24) using this 2026 1st (Memphis currently profiles as the least favorable and their current position is 27).

Target is Danny Wolf - C.

Nets might be willing to punt one of their 4 first round picks and if a C prospect like Wolf is the target, Nets would be fine passing on him given their status at the position: Claxton, Sharpe, Clowney.

I'd be fine starting the year with Nurkic - Moussa - Wolf as my center rotation. At the deadline, look at using Nurkic as matching plus draft capital.

But I'm looking at 2026 as a re-entry point to 2025 with Nets given their 4 picks. BKN could bundle and trade up but can also punt and trade one year forward.

[JRoy]

POR has no interest in Josh Green.

CHA shouldn’t be interested in Ayton.

[MasterIchiro]

POR has no interest in Josh Green.

CHA shouldn’t be interested in Ayton.

Yeah, no duh.

The interest is in draft capital. Matching is less important here.

[MasterIchiro]

POR has no interest in Josh Green.

CHA shouldn’t be interested in Ayton.

Yeah, no duh.

The interest is in draft capital. Matching is less important here.

And I agree Hornets should also be more interested in draft capital heading into the 2025 draft, and using 2026 1st to double-dip rather than acquire an expiring contract.

Hornets are testing luxury tax.

[kdawg32086]

As a Blazer fan, I would do this trade but I don't see why Charlotte would.

Assuming Charlotte does this deal, it would have been great if Portland could've added this onto the Nurkic to Charlotte trade at the deadline and then moved Williams for another FRP.

[MasterIchiro]

As a Blazer fan, I would do this trade but I don't see why Charlotte would.

Assuming Charlotte does this deal, it would have been great if Portland could've added this onto the Nurkic to Charlotte trade at the deadline and then moved Williams for another FRP.

Blazers have been winning.

Seems Portland made a choice to lock in the roster for a run at the playoffs next year.

So I can see why Blazers would hold Ayton with him helping the team compete.

You added Avdija, and couldn't move Grant, didn't want to move Simons or RWIII either.

Next year Scoot and Sharpe will be further along, as will Camara. Clingan needs seasoning.

Reassess buying and selling next trade deadline when trading Ayton and/or some of the other win-now players wouldn't diminish your playoff positioning.

[Myth]

So this is mostly swapping Ayton’s expiring for Nurkic’s cheaper expiring, and Portland getting a first. Obvious yes for Portland. I don’t care if Ayton is playing well, we shouldn’t be re-signing him unless he is willing to accept a cheaper deal and fewer minutes, and I just don’t see him and Blazers on the same page of what that would be. But since the trade deadline is over, we technically have a couple months just to make sure Ayton’s play isn’t sustainable.

[Pattycakes]

In my eyes we’re committing to Ayton through the end of his contract. He’s shown he can be a leader here

[HornetJail]

i think we'll be operating over the cap, so this doesn't work.

offload Green and I'm happy with this though