2025 Off-Season Strategy - What will Cronin do?

[MartinsIzAfraud]

Trying to keep it simple and use some offseason whispers for a realistic offseason - here it is -

TRADE 1

PDX OUT - #11
PDX IN - #15 + #44 + PDX FRP Returned + Jevon Carter (Brogdan TPE)

CHI OUT - PDX FRP + Jevon Carter
CHI IN - #24 + Osumane Dieng (LaVine TPE)

OKC OUT - #15 + #24 + #44 + Osumane Dieng
OKC IN - #11

PDX - They identify Demin as their guy and see him slipping a bit - here we trade down and resume control of all future PDX FRP. Jevon is taken into TPE to incentivize CHI, but may be a decent 3-4th guard off the bench - and can play defense.
CHI - They move the future FRP to get another swing in this draft + kick the tires on Dieng while moving off the oft-unused Carter.
OKC - Lack of roster spots lead them to consolidate while moving off Dieng and opening a roster slot.

TRADE 2
PDX OUT - Anfernee Simons + Robert Williams III + Kris Murray
PDX IN - Kentavious Caldwell Pope + Jonathan Isaac + 16

ORL OUT - Kentavious Caldwell-Pope + Jonathan Isaac + 16 + 46
ORL IN - Anfernee Simons + Robert Williams III

SAC OUT - (Jalen McDaniels TPE)
SAC IN - Kris Murray + 46

PDX - They finally move off Simons getting a higher pick than his worth here as they take on 2 longer contracts.
ORL - They finally get their scoring guard while moving off a good deal of money.
SAC - They get a SRP for reuniting the twins

TRADE 3 *** Contingent on Naz Reid leaving via FA ***
PDX OUT - Duop Reath
MIN OUT - 2031 SRP (MIN or GSW - More Favorable) + (Wendell Moore JR TPE)

PDX - Clear a roster slot and get a SRP far into the future
MIN - Cheap swing on a Naz replacement

NBA DRAFT
15 - Egor Demin F - There has been alot of smoke connecting PDX to Egor and in the past this has mean something (IE our DC connection going into 2024) - Tall ballhandler that may have a workable shot and gives PDX the chance to run some really fun jumbo lineups.
16 - Asa Newell F - We brought him in for a workout and his inside / outside game with a +++ motor seems to be the type of guy we have targeted recently. Only player last season to have 50 dunks and 25 3PT shots made. Alot to work with if his frame seems to position lock him at PF.
44 - Tyrese Proctor G - Steady, projectable role player who can play both guard slots.

FREE AGENCY
Full MLE - Chris Paul PG - Another guy there have been some rumors around. I would assume he ring chases but he has shown the past few years to be after a chunk of money more than a ring (IE signing w/ Spurs for full MLE rather than cheaper to ring chase). We offer him a 2 year full MLE w/ a PO on Y2 to secure a elite veteran backup and excellent role model for Scoots game.

G - Scoot Henderson / Chris Paul / Egor Demin
G - Shadeon Sharpe / Kentavious Caldwell-Pope / Tyrese Proctor
F - Toumani Camara / Matisse Thybulle / Rayan Rupert
F - Deni Avdija / Jerami Grant / Asa Newell
C - DeAndre Ayton / Donovan Clingan / Jonathan Isaac

Think Orlando would rather clean that up to KCP + Gary Harris 16 or Isaac + Gary Harris+16 for Simons. Opening it up to Bob W pushes Orlando squarely into the 1st apron something the FO has said they're not wanting to do.

[Case2012]

All of the Simons to Orl stuff has me revisiting this idea i had earlier in the year.

Basically Simons for Suggs.

I think the value is closer than Magic fans want to admit but whatever. Include Sharpe, 11, Ayton, Isaac, and 16 +25 and i think it's fair.


The core of the idea is still Ayton, Simons and Sharpe heading to Florida while Jalen Suggs comes to Portland, but Wagner’s $38 million max kicks in next season, which means Orlando can’t just eat salary anymore. Matching rules apply. The fix is simple: Orlando adds Jonathan Isaac and Gary Harris to Suggs, sending out roughly $65 million, which is more than enough to absorb the $69 million Portland ships back (the CBA lets an over-cap team take in 125 percent of what it exports, plus a sliver). The money works; the trade machine turns green.

From Orlando’s perspective it’s a three-for-three swap of needs. They get Simons, a proven 22-point-per-game half-court scorer who grew up in central Florida; Sharpe, an upside wing who can marinate behind a veteran for a season; and Ayton, an instant upgrade at center so Paolo can stay at the four. Pick 11 fills the defensive hole Suggs leaves—take your choice of a Clifford, Bryant, Murray-Boyles, whoever drops. The new depth chart would open with Simons running point, Sharpe and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope on the wings, Wagner and Banchero at the forward spots and Ayton in the middle. That lineup finally has a primary creator, a vertical big and two young scorers to grow with the stars. Cap-wise, they flip Suggs’s looming $35 million for Ayton’s similar figure, Harris expires, and Isaac’s contract is nonguaranteed after 2025-26, so long-term flexibility isn’t torpedoed.

Portland gets a third legitimate point-of-attack defender who can play next to Scoot without demanding the ball. Suggs’s extension is steep in year one, but it declines eight percent each season, and the Blazers still end up at about $133 million in payroll both this year and next—roughly $23 million under the cap and $46 million below the first apron once the dust settles. Better yet, they wipe Ayton’s max off the books and dodge Simons’s and Sharpe’s inevitable raises.

The draft haul turns #11 into picks #16 and #25, which lets Portland chase Cedric Coward—whose athletic profile looks suspiciously Kawhi-lite—and Walter Clayton Jr., the best shooter in the class and my personal “baby Dame.” Both arrive on rookie deals. Harris is just steady bench shooting for a season.

Defense: Suggs + Camara + Thybulle terrorize guards and switch on everything, Clingan cleans the paint.
Offense: Deni and Grant get all the touches, ball whips through Coward, Clayton, Thybulle spot-ups, lots of transition scoring. Hopefully Scoot takes a step up.

All of this still hinges on how you rate Suggs. He’s elite on defense, but he’s averaged just sixty-four percent availability over four seasons (48, 53, 75 and then 35 games) and the new contract starts at $35 million. Is that better than paying Simons and Sharpe a combined $60 million in their next deals and living with Ayton’s cap-clogging max? I think so, especially when two extra first-rounders come with it.

So that’s the deal: Simons, Sharpe, Ayton and pick 11 for Suggs, Isaac, Harris, 16 and 25. Orlando finally solves its shot-creation problem; Portland locks in a defensive identity, loads up on cheap shooting, and frees its books. Big risk, high reward, and I’m genuinely curious whether Magic fans still balk once they see the math laid out without the bullet-point gloss.

[Goldbum]

All of the Simons to Orl stuff has me revisiting this idea i had earlier in the year.

Basically Simons for Suggs.

I think the value is closer than Magic fans want to admit but whatever. Include Sharpe, 11, Ayton, Isaac, and 16 +25 and i think it's fair.


The core of the idea is still Ayton, Simons and Sharpe heading to Florida while Jalen Suggs comes to Portland, but Wagner’s $38 million max kicks in next season, which means Orlando can’t just eat salary anymore. Matching rules apply. The fix is simple: Orlando adds Jonathan Isaac and Gary Harris to Suggs, sending out roughly $65 million, which is more than enough to absorb the $69 million Portland ships back (the CBA lets an over-cap team take in 125 percent of what it exports, plus a sliver). The money works; the trade machine turns green.

From Orlando’s perspective it’s a three-for-three swap of needs. They get Simons, a proven 22-point-per-game half-court scorer who grew up in central Florida; Sharpe, an upside wing who can marinate behind a veteran for a season; and Ayton, an instant upgrade at center so Paolo can stay at the four. Pick 11 fills the defensive hole Suggs leaves—take your choice of a Clifford, Bryant, Murray-Boyles, whoever drops. The new depth chart would open with Simons running point, Sharpe and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope on the wings, Wagner and Banchero at the forward spots and Ayton in the middle. That lineup finally has a primary creator, a vertical big and two young scorers to grow with the stars. Cap-wise, they flip Suggs’s looming $35 million for Ayton’s similar figure, Harris expires, and Isaac’s contract is nonguaranteed after 2025-26, so long-term flexibility isn’t torpedoed.

Portland gets a third legitimate point-of-attack defender who can play next to Scoot without demanding the ball. Suggs’s extension is steep in year one, but it declines eight percent each season, and the Blazers still end up at about $133 million in payroll both this year and next—roughly $23 million under the cap and $46 million below the first apron once the dust settles. Better yet, they wipe Ayton’s max off the books and dodge Simons’s and Sharpe’s inevitable raises.

The draft haul turns #11 into picks #16 and #25, which lets Portland chase Cedric Coward—whose athletic profile looks suspiciously Kawhi-lite—and Walter Clayton Jr., the best shooter in the class and my personal “baby Dame.” Both arrive on rookie deals. Harris is just steady bench shooting for a season.

Defense: Suggs + Camara + Thybulle terrorize guards and switch on everything, Clingan cleans the paint.
Offense: Deni and Grant get all the touches, ball whips through Coward, Clayton, Thybulle spot-ups, lots of transition scoring. Hopefully Scoot takes a step up.

All of this still hinges on how you rate Suggs. He’s elite on defense, but he’s averaged just sixty-four percent availability over four seasons (48, 53, 75 and then 35 games) and the new contract starts at $35 million. Is that better than paying Simons and Sharpe a combined $60 million in their next deals and living with Ayton’s cap-clogging max? I think so, especially when two extra first-rounders come with it.

So that’s the deal: Simons, Sharpe, Ayton and pick 11 for Suggs, Isaac, Harris, 16 and 25. Orlando finally solves its shot-creation problem; Portland locks in a defensive identity, loads up on cheap shooting, and frees its books. Big risk, high reward, and I’m genuinely curious whether Magic fans still balk once they see the math laid out without the bullet-point gloss.

This is fun, but you’re over thinking it.

[Goldbum]

If we can get the JSJ deal done we won’t be looking at drafting a forward/wing. The Denim love is real but there are other guys in that range being strongly considered, some over Denim but the discourse (from what I heard) has been sort of “player x or Igor? Player y or Igor?”. Kasparas is very high too. I’m not sure who they take with both on the board. From what I’m hearing do NOT expect them to trade Ayton for an iffy return. They value him and think he can still be “unlocked”. The consensus is that if he just returns to the “good Sun’s Ayton” it would make this team very competitive.

[dckingsfan]

Think Orlando would rather clean that up to KCP + Gary Harris 16 or Isaac + Gary Harris+16 for Simons. Opening it up to Bob W pushes Orlando squarely into the 1st apron something the FO has said they're not wanting to do.

If you do that, you want additional draft assets to take on the contracts of KCP & Harris or KCP & Isaac. 16 alone doesn't do the trick (IMO).

[Wizenheimer]

If we can get the JSJ deal done we won’t be looking at drafting a forward/wing. The Denim love is real but there are other guys in that range being strongly considered, some over Denim but the discourse (from what I heard) has been sort of “player x or Igor? Player y or Igor?”. Kasparas is very high too. I’m not sure who they take with both on the board. From what I’m hearing do NOT expect them to trade Ayton for an iffy return. They value him and think he can still be “unlocked”. The consensus is that if he just returns to the “good Sun’s Ayton” it would make this team very competitive.

I missed it or am just dumb...but who is JSJ?

also, if the F.O. still (idiotically) believes so strongly in Ayton, why the hell would they invest a 7th pick in Clingan?

[tester551]

Think Orlando would rather clean that up to KCP + Gary Harris 16 or Isaac + Gary Harris+16 for Simons. Opening it up to Bob W pushes Orlando squarely into the 1st apron something the FO has said they're not wanting to do.

If you do that, you want additional draft assets to take on the contracts of KCP & Harris or KCP & Isaac. 16 alone doesn't do the trick (IMO).

Orlando has a salary crunch coming next season. They need to decline Harris' contract... so he will not be included in any trade.

I'm thinking it would be KCP+Anthony or KCP+Howard as the outgoing salary.

[Walton1one]

If we can get the JSJ deal done we won’t be looking at drafting a forward/wing. The Denim love is real but there are other guys in that range being strongly considered, some over Denim but the discourse (from what I heard) has been sort of “player x or Igor? Player y or Igor?”. Kasparas is very high too. I’m not sure who they take with both on the board. From what I’m hearing do NOT expect them to trade Ayton for an iffy return. They value him and think he can still be “unlocked”. The consensus is that if he just returns to the “good Sun’s Ayton” it would make this team very competitive.

I missed it or am just dumb...but who is JSJ?

also, if the F.O. still (idiotically) believes so strongly in Ayton, why the hell would they invest a 7th pick in Clingan?

I noticed that myself, my thought is Jabari Smith Jr

I would add on here, that HOU is thought to be open to trading their pick, of course there are rumors about Giannis, maybe Durant, I doubt Booker, but looping POR in, if it was MIL, would seem like a wise thing to do here and POR trades back, some\all of 29 pick, 28/30 swaps and peels off Jabari Smith.

The other benefit is that this keeps BRK out of the netting a 2nd pick in the Top 10 business, b\c they have been sniffing around TOR @ #9 & HOU @ #10.

I am not surprised by the POR interest in Demin, they were one of the few teams to have a long meeting with Demin at the combine. Another team that also had a long interview with him? Brooklyn.

So it would not surprise me in the least that BRK knows POR likes him and are trying to leapfrog POR to pick up Demin @ #9/#10, and still get whomever their guy is at #8. Maybe it is Fears who had a good workout there or Knueppel, who also worked out there or Essengue whom they have been linked to.

I doubt TOR trades back from #9 that is not what Ujiri has tended to do and I doubt other teams higher up would either, HOU would be the target and POR looping into a MIL\HOU deal takes the #10 out of play for BRK IMO. Just speculation, but fun to guess.

On a good note, maybe Simons will be dealt? Working out Newell\Riley\Richardson\Mcneeley\Fleming could be in case they acquire #16 or maybe it means nothing other than they missed out on Demin\Jakucionis.

[tblazrdude]

If we can get the JSJ deal done we won’t be looking at drafting a forward/wing. The Denim love is real but there are other guys in that range being strongly considered, some over Denim but the discourse (from what I heard) has been sort of “player x or Igor? Player y or Igor?”. Kasparas is very high too. I’m not sure who they take with both on the board. From what I’m hearing do NOT expect them to trade Ayton for an iffy return. They value him and think he can still be “unlocked”. The consensus is that if he just returns to the “good Sun’s Ayton” it would make this team very competitive.

I missed it or am just dumb...but who is JSJ?

also, if the F.O. still (idiotically) believes so strongly in Ayton, why the hell would they invest a 7th pick in Clingan?

houston's jabari smith jr.

[tester551]

If we can get the JSJ deal done we won’t be looking at drafting a forward/wing. The Denim love is real but there are other guys in that range being strongly considered, some over Denim but the discourse (from what I heard) has been sort of “player x or Igor? Player y or Igor?”. Kasparas is very high too. I’m not sure who they take with both on the board. From what I’m hearing do NOT expect them to trade Ayton for an iffy return. They value him and think he can still be “unlocked”. The consensus is that if he just returns to the “good Sun’s Ayton” it would make this team very competitive.

I missed it or am just dumb...but who is JSJ?

also, if the F.O. still (idiotically) believes so strongly in Ayton, why the hell would they invest a 7th pick in Clingan?

Using AI to help figure that out... It looks like Jabari Smith Jr is the one that fits.

Presumably, that would be part of Giannis trade, where Portland would give up pick swaps?

*** EDIT -> I guess using AI slows some people down... ***

[Wizenheimer]

If we can get the JSJ deal done we won’t be looking at drafting a forward/wing. The Denim love is real but there are other guys in that range being strongly considered, some over Denim but the discourse (from what I heard) has been sort of “player x or Igor? Player y or Igor?”. Kasparas is very high too. I’m not sure who they take with both on the board. From what I’m hearing do NOT expect them to trade Ayton for an iffy return. They value him and think he can still be “unlocked”. The consensus is that if he just returns to the “good Sun’s Ayton” it would make this team very competitive.

I missed it or am just dumb...but who is JSJ?

also, if the F.O. still (idiotically) believes so strongly in Ayton, why the hell would they invest a 7th pick in Clingan?

Using AI to help figure that out... It looks like Jabari Smith Jr is the one that fits.

Presumably, that would be part of Giannis trade, where Portland would give up pick swaps?

*** EDIT -> I guess using AI slows some people down... ***

so then...Portland's big move in the off-season depends on Milwaukee trading Giannis to Houston?...LOL

don't get me wrong, Smith would be an interesting addition for the 4/5 rotation. But a Giannis-->Houston deal seems like a long shot. Otherwise it would need to be something like Thybulle + 11 for Smith. That's too steep a price IMO

[MartinsIzAfraud]

Think Orlando would rather clean that up to KCP + Gary Harris 16 or Isaac + Gary Harris+16 for Simons. Opening it up to Bob W pushes Orlando squarely into the 1st apron something the FO has said they're not wanting to do.

If you do that, you want additional draft assets to take on the contracts of KCP & Harris or KCP & Isaac. 16 alone doesn't do the trick (IMO).

Orlando has a salary crunch coming next season. They need to decline Harris' contract... so he will not be included in any trade.

I'm thinking it would be KCP+Anthony or KCP+Howard as the outgoing salary.

Orlando's summer will be very interesting for sure, new rumors mentions them dumping contracts as well to stay under 1st apron. They're probably knee deep in negotiations on what guard is obtainable and for what then they can figure out what to do to stay under.

It's not an easy path and since the FO refused to even find a guard capable of fitting with paolo/franz this is the bed they've made. I could very well see them dump a contract like Cole for a fake pick in future years.

[dckingsfan]

Think Orlando would rather clean that up to KCP + Gary Harris 16 or Isaac + Gary Harris+16 for Simons. Opening it up to Bob W pushes Orlando squarely into the 1st apron something the FO has said they're not wanting to do.

If you do that, you want additional draft assets to take on the contracts of KCP & Harris or KCP & Isaac. 16 alone doesn't do the trick (IMO).

Orlando has a salary crunch coming next season. They need to decline Harris' contract... so he will not be included in any trade.

I'm thinking it would be KCP+Anthony or KCP+Howard as the outgoing salary.

Very good point. And Orlando has flexibility with a bunch of players where they have team options. Their situation isn't nearly as dire as some other teams (see Phoenix or Milwaukee). If they wanted, they could waive Moritz Wagner, Gary Harris, Cory Joseph and Caleb Houston saving ~$24M. They could then add their 2 FRPs and take a UFA PG and call it a day.

Or they could do one of the trades as you suggested would be more likely. I am not sure I would trade away the cap flexibility for 16 unless a player I really like is there at 16.

[MartinsIzAfraud]

If you do that, you want additional draft assets to take on the contracts of KCP & Harris or KCP & Isaac. 16 alone doesn't do the trick (IMO).

Orlando has a salary crunch coming next season. They need to decline Harris' contract... so he will not be included in any trade.

I'm thinking it would be KCP+Anthony or KCP+Howard as the outgoing salary.

Very good point. And Orlando has flexibility with a bunch of players where they have team options. Their situation isn't nearly as dire as some other teams (see Phoenix or Milwaukee). If they wanted, they could waive Moritz Wagner, Gary Harris, Cory Joseph and Caleb Houston saving ~$24M. They could then add their 2 FRPs in and call it a day.

Or they could do one of the trades as you suggested would be more likely. I am not sure I would trade away the cap flexibility for 16 unless a player I really like is there at 16.

yeah, this is where Anthony Black's name has come up. I think Isaac is likely being moved with a pick and player salary.. who that player is has been the question

[Walton1one]

If you do that, you want additional draft assets to take on the contracts of KCP & Harris or KCP & Isaac. 16 alone doesn't do the trick (IMO).

Orlando has a salary crunch coming next season. They need to decline Harris' contract... so he will not be included in any trade.

I'm thinking it would be KCP+Anthony or KCP+Howard as the outgoing salary.

Orlando's summer will be very interesting for sure, new rumors mentions them dumping contracts as well to stay under 1st apron. They're probably knee deep in negotiations on what guard is obtainable and for what then they can figure out what to do to stay under.

It's not an easy path and since the FO refused to even find a guard capable of fitting with paolo/franz this is the bed they've made. I could very well see them dump a contract like Cole for a fake pick in future years.

There is a path for a POR\ORL trade that keeps ORL out of the tax for next year, basically pausing the clock before the Banchero deal hits and send then into tax\apron land.

I don't think ORL has worked out any players yet who are viewed to be around #16, have they?

[dckingsfan]

Orlando has a salary crunch coming next season. They need to decline Harris' contract... so he will not be included in any trade.

I'm thinking it would be KCP+Anthony or KCP+Howard as the outgoing salary.

Orlando's summer will be very interesting for sure, new rumors mentions them dumping contracts as well to stay under 1st apron. They're probably knee deep in negotiations on what guard is obtainable and for what then they can figure out what to do to stay under.

It's not an easy path and since the FO refused to even find a guard capable of fitting with paolo/franz this is the bed they've made. I could very well see them dump a contract like Cole for a fake pick in future years.

There is a path for a POR\ORL trade that keeps ORL out of the tax for next year, basically pausing the clock before the Banchero deal hits and send then into tax\apron land.

I don't think ORL has worked out any players yet who are viewed to be around #16, have they?

Even then, they can waive enough players to be well below the first apron and sign Paolo. If they take on Simons, maybe not so much?

Basically their core would be Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, KCP, Wendell Carter, Jonathan Isaac and Goga Bitadze for ~$135M + Paolo. If you extend Simons at say $25M - then you are in first apron hell.

[MartinsIzAfraud]

Orlando's summer will be very interesting for sure, new rumors mentions them dumping contracts as well to stay under 1st apron. They're probably knee deep in negotiations on what guard is obtainable and for what then they can figure out what to do to stay under.

It's not an easy path and since the FO refused to even find a guard capable of fitting with paolo/franz this is the bed they've made. I could very well see them dump a contract like Cole for a fake pick in future years.

There is a path for a POR\ORL trade that keeps ORL out of the tax for next year, basically pausing the clock before the Banchero deal hits and send then into tax\apron land.

I don't think ORL has worked out any players yet who are viewed to be around #16, have they?

Even then, they can waive enough players to be well below the first apron and sign Paolo. If they take on Simons, maybe not so much?

Basically their core would be Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, KCP, Wendell Carter, Jonathan Isaac and Goga Bitadze for ~$135M + Paolo. If you extend Simons at say $25M - then you are in first apron hell.

yeah which is why one of KCP/Isaac will be gone on draft night with either Gary or Cole or Jett or TDS or Cole and a pick or two. If they absolutely had to I could also see them packaging Isaac Black and 16 for a guard. You then only deal with tax for 1 year and dump KCP as an expiring next year.

[MartinsIzAfraud]

Orlando has a salary crunch coming next season. They need to decline Harris' contract... so he will not be included in any trade.

I'm thinking it would be KCP+Anthony or KCP+Howard as the outgoing salary.

Orlando's summer will be very interesting for sure, new rumors mentions them dumping contracts as well to stay under 1st apron. They're probably knee deep in negotiations on what guard is obtainable and for what then they can figure out what to do to stay under.

It's not an easy path and since the FO refused to even find a guard capable of fitting with paolo/franz this is the bed they've made. I could very well see them dump a contract like Cole for a fake pick in future years.

There is a path for a POR\ORL trade that keeps ORL out of the tax for next year, basically pausing the clock before the Banchero deal hits and send then into tax\apron land.

I don't think ORL has worked out any players yet who are viewed to be around #16, have they?

from what we've heard which is always hella quiet it's been mainly 2nd round picks. Orlando doesn't really provide who they've worked out until the week of and then it's a dump of 12 dudes having post workout interviews but you have no idea when they had the workout.

[Walton1one]

Regarding Orlando, they can definitely acquire Simons and stay out of the tax next year and possibly 26/27 as well, but to your point, eventually Isaac likely has to go.


Luxury tax is $187.7
1st Apron is $195.9

ORL is sitting around $175mil in salary obligations for (11) players and they have team options on (4) players:

M.Wagner @ $11mil
G. Harris @ $7.5mil
C.Joseph @ $3.5mil
C.Houstan @ $2.2mil

If they picked up all options, that would put them @ $199mil and they still have (2) 1st round picks

Pick #16 is $3.7
Pick # 25 is $2.5

They can't do all that, so somebody is going and if they want to add a shooter, let's say Simons, whose salary is $27.7 next year, something has to go out. It is why IMO a framework of KCP for Simons makes sense.

Removing KCP & adding Simons puts them around $181.2. My guess is they would prefer to pick up the options on Wagner\Joseph? That would put them at $195.76, for (13) players, letting Harris\Houston walk and backfilling them with #25 or from players chosen at (#46/#57) most likely.

Picking up an option on Harris and sending him to POR makes no sense here, they are already over Tax, so Harris is let go (TO not picked up).

Either Anthony ($13.1), Isaac ($15) make the most sense or maybe Bitadze ($8.3) whom POR might prefer, but it would be tight, too tight IMO, they would have to include another player, Howard maybe?

Bitadze\Howard could get them to $182 or so, but now they are at (11) players and need to fill at minimum (2) roster spots and only $5mil to do so? Not going to work

So Anthony or Isaac make the most sense. Isaac alone, takes them down to $180 for (12) players enough to fit in (2) rookies + another minimum player back from POR (could be Reath, Rupert, Murray (maybe, would be tight) or pick up the option on Houstan. A trade for KCP\Isaac would require a minimum salary from POR coming back (I think).

Here is how all that breaks out ($180 w\KCP\Isaac out and Simons in, TO on Wagner/Joseph picked up - 12 player/ 3 slots to fill, approx $7.7mil):

Adding Reath + $2.2 back
Adding Rupert (POR picks up TO) + $2.2 back
Adding Murray + $3.3 back
Picking up TO on Houstan + $2.2 back
Adding #25 pick + $2.5 back
Adding either or both #46/#57 + $1.27 back\each
* 2nd round picks can sign 3yr or 4yr deals, minimum for a player with 0yrs of service is $1.27mil

Approx. $7.7 for 3 players, doable.

If Anthony goes instead of Isaac, it gets a little tighter, approx. $5.8 for (3) players. Of course, they can get wiggle room by just having a roster of (14) instead of (15) and utilizing 2-way players for that 15th spot

This keeps them under the tax and sets them up for 26/27 when Banchero's deal comes into play ($247+ for 5yrs? $49.4)

26/27 Tax is $206.6, 1st Apron $215.5

Banchero\Wagner\Suggs = $123.5

Let's assume they traded Anthony (probably preferred) instead of Isaac.

Adding Carter\Bitadze\Isaac\Black(TO)\Da Silva TO) = $178 for (8) players

Probably more like $183 for (10) if they keep a couple of minimum guys around (#46 and\or #57 on 3/4yr deal - 2nd year is @ $2mil)

That leaves $23mil or so under the tax with Simons to resign + some decisions on Howard (TO for $7.3), M.Wagner, Joseph & Houstan (if they kept him) or #25 if they kept that pick

Retaining Joseph to min deal ($3.7 or so is the minimum amount based on service)
Retaining Wagner to min deal (approx $3.3mil)
Retaining Houstan to min deal (approx $2.5mil)
#25 2nd year + $3mil

So it is within the realm of possibility that they could resign Simons & stay under the tax for 26/27. It would require trading away Isaac and\or Howard (or declining TO)

Just trading away Issac for expiring and letting Howard walk gives them $38mil under the cap, more than enough to resign Simons, Wagner & Joseph, retain #25 and add #26 1st

[Walton1one]

Trade ideas are a dime a dozen, but this is an intriguing idea. If Giannis is moved and if they would prefer to get their picks back, NO is likely the first call given they own 26/27 from MIL, but what if MIL\NO\3rd team roped in POR and spun of an asset that POR liked to get some (all?) of MIL 28/29/30 back as well?

Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor reports that there are no untouchable players on the Pelicans' roster. "League sources say the Pelicans are gauging the market for everyone on their roster," said O'Connor. "They very well could end up keeping their core pieces, but it appears the Pelicans are looking into taking different paths this summer depending on what opportunities become available."

Milwaukee's future draft picks have suddenly become one of the most coveted assets in the league. If Portland decides to cash that chip in this summer, it must be worth it. And there may be no up-and-coming player who checks all of Portland's boxes better than Murphy.

Murphy is 24 years old and would fit perfectly with what the Trail Blazers have been building the past few seasons. He'd be integral to a versatile wing trio in Rip City, aligning with the timelines of building blocks Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara.

A career 38.3 percent three-point shooter, Murphy would help address the Trail Blazers' biggest roster weakness, while his 6-foot-8 frame would also help bolster a strength. That alone makes Murphy a valuable 3-and-D wing, which is highly coveted in today's NBA. But he also possesses an improving and underrated skill set as a shot-creator, giving him an All-Star-level ceiling.

Portland could dangle this year's No. 11 overall pick, but there's also one common thread between the two teams: the Milwaukee Bucks' future draft picks.

Because of that, both teams have leverage as facilitators in any potential blockbuster Giannis Antetokounmpo trade. Perhaps Portland could benefit from a multi-team trade where they include the Bucks' picks as part of a larger deal that lands them Murphy.

https://ripcityproject.com/blazers-ideal-trade-target-surging-rumors-true-trey-murphy#:~:text=Portland%20could%20dangle%20this%20year's,by%20latest%20NBA%20Finals%20trend