LAC/LAL.....and BLAZERS?

Astaluego · Post #1 » by **Astaluego** » Sun Feb 9, 2025 10:55 am

LAC
In:R.Williams/Knecht/Milton/Reath/Lakers31
Out:K.Brown/I Zubac/2 SRP

The only contract they have after KL expires is Zubac's...so they completely clean the books for when Leonard expires...they lack future assets and surely this summer, Zubac will have his maximum value...also the fact that although they are a good team, they lack at least one step to compete for the ring and given the age of their stars (and availability) the normal thing would be a drop in level.. In this trade they get a prospect at the beginning of his rookie contract, an FRP and a more than decent center, to continue competing, fill the stadium and try not to give away lottery picks

LAL
In:Zubac
Out:Maxi/Milton/Knecht/FRP 31/SRP

perfect fit on the court...Zubac is in his best moment, he is close to Luka and knows the house...another fact to take into account is his availability, Zubac has been very durable considering his size/position

BLAZERS
In:Maxi/K.Brown 2 SRP(Clippers)+SRP(Lakers)
Out: Williams/Reath

They sell what should be their expiring 3 string center and get 3 SRP..which I think is a good value..they could send Maxi along with some SRP to save a few million

Captain Ballmer · Post #2 » by **Captain Ballmer** » Sun Feb 9, 2025 11:37 am

Clippers just traded for Bogi whom has a contract with the Clippers till 2027 now. They also have Norm and just selected sharpshooter Cam Christie in the latest draft. Knecht is the least valuable type of "prospect" you can suggest to Clippers.

Also Zu is a core player, iron man, defensive anchor and improved Offense. I think they trade Kawhi before they trade Zu. It really has to be a talent upgrade to even consider trading him not talent downgrade. Finally, even if they do trade Zu, the last team they sent him is the Luka Lakers obviously.

Astaluego · Post #3 » by **Astaluego** » Sun Feb 9, 2025 12:47 pm

Captain Ballmer wrote:Clippers just traded for Bogi whom has a contract with the Clippers till 2027 now. They also have Norm and just selected sharpshooter Cam Christie in the latest draft. Knecht is the least valuable type of "prospect" you can suggest to Clippers.

Also Zu is a core player, iron man, defensive anchor and improved Offense. I think they trade Kawhi before they trade Zu. It really has to be a talent upgrade to even consider trading him not talent downgrade. Finally, even if they do trade Zu, the last team they sent him is the Luka Lakers obviously.

I understand your point...but if they decide to move him, shouldn't I find the best value? There aren't many teams that need a center . After all, weren't the Lakers the ones who sent him to the CLIPPERS??...you're right about Knecht, but this would give them the chance to move Bogdan+ for some insurance forward to try to preserve KL..(thinking Randle or Barrett)..or simply moving Knech to a team that needs to shoot (Magic for Black?) for a better fit or send him for another late FRP..again Magic for DENVER FRP??

Fitz303 · Post #4 » by **Fitz303** » Sun Feb 9, 2025 1:37 pm

The Blazers aren't trading RWIII for 2nd rd picks. They've said and shown that he means much more to the team than that. He would have been traded already if he was available for 2nds

JRoy · Post #5 » by **JRoy** » Sun Feb 9, 2025 2:58 pm

Pass for POR.

Prefer keeping our guys to this return.

Astaluego · Post #6 » by **Astaluego** » Sun Feb 9, 2025 3:59 pm

Fitz303 wrote:The Blazers aren't trading RWIII for 2nd rd picks. They've said and shown that he means much more to the team than that. He would have been traded already if he was available for 2nds

I understand that you like your players, but what is the plan...? It expires next year...will they extend it or let it go for nothing? If they extend him, what does that mean? You're burying your lottery pick as a 3-string center with no time to develop? What will happen to Ayton, will they extend him too? I don't know the situation closely, but the Blazers are an expensive team for their position in the standings.

ejftw · Post #7 » by **ejftw** » Sun Feb 9, 2025 4:54 pm

Yeah, this is quite the hard no for the Clips. Already have Norm, Bogdan, Jones, Dunn and Christie under contract ahead of where Knecht would be. Then you got Amir, who made Mann expendable as UFA and Jordan, who they really like, as a RFA. Milton and Reath are left over free agents while TimeLord is Time missed Lord.

Zu is a Ironman that has continued to improve and add to his game. A distant first for a team that doesn't control their own picks isn't value, let alone giving up two of it's last four seconds.

tacos · Post #8 » by **tacos** » Sun Feb 9, 2025 6:53 pm

From my blazer standpoint I'd rather keep productive players than trade them for late seconds which are typically only worth cash considerations

Clipsz 4 Life · Post #9 » by **Tim Lehrbach** » Sun Feb 9, 2025 9:24 pm

As the OP even states, the Blazers should be motivated to reroute the return here for savings. If they don't have to take Kleber, this works for me.

Astaluego · Post #10 » by **Astaluego** » Sun Feb 9, 2025 9:54 pm

ejftw wrote:Yeah, this is quite the hard no for the Clips. Already have Norm, Bogdan, Jones, Dunn and Christie under contract ahead of where Knecht would be. Then you got Amir, who made Mann expendable as UFA and Jordan, who they really like, as a RFA. Milton and Reath are left over free agents while TimeLord is Time missed Lord.

Zu is a Ironman that has continued to improve and add to his game. A distant first for a team that doesn't control their own picks isn't value, let alone giving up two of it's last four seconds.

I understand your point, my idea for the Clippers was to get assets (while covering the position) and use them to go after a star like KD or Trae Young..

Harden (exp)/Filler/Knecht/Lakers 31 for T.Young?...
Although I understand that it would be better for the Lakers to look elsewhere,...

just thinking about a move that I think would "ensure" Luka's permanence in L.A. by surrounding him with his trusted guys.

Fitz303 · Post #11 » by **Fitz303** » Mon Feb 10, 2025 5:30 pm

Astaluego wrote:
Fitz303 wrote:The Blazers aren't trading RWIII for 2nd rd picks. They've said and shown that he means much more to the team than that. He would have been traded already if he was available for 2nds

I understand that you like your players, but what is the plan...? It expires next year...will they extend it or let it go for nothing? If they extend him, what does that mean? You're burying your lottery pick as a 3-string center with no time to develop? What will happen to Ayton, will they extend him too? I don't know the situation closely, but the Blazers are an expensive team for their position in the standings.

It's not that I like the Blazers players. It that the Blazers FO has said time and time again that they value RWIII highly and won't be giving him up for much less than an unprotected 1st (likely a top 10 to lotto protected 1st, realistically). He's not burying Clingan in the rotation. Clingan and RWIII are rotating time as the backup C. Clingan has played in far more games than RWIII, but it's clear that he's not yet ready for big minutes from a conditioning stand point. I think they view RWIII as a mentor and leader right now more than anything. What happens after this offseason, who knows? Do they trade Ayton's expiring and roll with Clingan and RWIII as their center rotation? Maybe. Portland seems to be done tanking after this year, and they'll have to make a decision this offseason as to what their long term future looks like for the center rotation, but I don't think you'll be getting him for 2nds. The FO has proven that to this point, and I don't see it changing in a few months.