Portland - Utah - Sacramento

[Godaddycurse]

Portland trade: Henderson, Grant, Robert Williams, 2028 ORL top 4 protected 1st
Portland receive: Carter, Markkanen

Utah trade: Markkanen, Cody Williams
Utah receive: Henderson, Grant, Robert Williams, 2028 ORL top 4 protected 1st

Sacramento trade: Carter
Sacramento receive: Cody Williams

Why for Portland: Continue their playoff push by adding a star forward to pair with Deni. Free up starting spot for Holiday and get a more cost controlled PG prospect as backup
Why for Utah: cash in Markkanen for a former top 3 pick and a future 1st
Why for Sacramento: replace a disappointing rookie with another disappointing rookie but at a position of need/better roster balance

[babyjax13]

I think Portland is in on Scoot. They've brought in veteran mentorship and he has improved - IMO, this is his year to break out. Now, if they don't think that, then I would be happy to have the foundation of a Lauri trade be a shot on Scoot + a future first. I'd want to keep Williams (as much as he has sucked) and I don't think that is a huge ask?

[JRoy]

No thanks from POR.

I would love to move Scoot in a package for an upgrade, but not for an overpaid one way player.

[SkyHook]

I haven't seen anything from Scoot that leads me to believe that he's got potential to be a foundational piece. A protected FRP doesn't sway me here, lightly protected as it is. I'd much rather have the Jazz hang on to Lauri and I think the FO would agree.

[oldfishermen]

I believe Markkanen is overrated, and waaaay overpaid.

No to Carter. Blazers have developed an allergy to undersized guards.

Blazers not interested.

[tester551]

I believe Markkanen is overrated, and waaaay overpaid.

No to Carter. Blazers have developed an allergy to undersized guards.

Blazers not interested.

90% correct here...

Only quibble is that I think Carter is going to be a decent player. Yes, he's undersized - but he can play. But you also correctly pointed out that Portland doesn't have a place for him.

[Daddy 801]

I’d pass on this. The Jazz have plenty of picks incoming. Taking a gamble on a protected pick isn’t worth it IMO. Rather keep Lauri and if he bounces back and is worth a more we get more for him. If he doesn’t it helps the tank. It’s a win/win from my point of view.

[Village Idiot]

Doesn´t make sense for Portland either.

In isolation, comparing Jerami Grant to Markannen, you either have to give both a pass for having down years on rebuilding teams or demerits. You can't value Grant as overvalued and in decline without viewing Markannen in the same lens. Recall that the prior two seasons Grant averaged 20 points on 40% 3pt shooting and has been an excellent defender. Markannen is a better rebounder but worse defender. Sure, he's three years younger but otherwise I wouldn´t say that he is worth $12 million more or a quarter of the cap, let alone Henderson and the rest of the package presented here.

This is definitely a make or break year for Scoot but he improved a lot and has been working hard this summer, including with Jrue, so it is inconceivable that the Blazers trade him right now, unless a much better player than Lauri Markannen is offered.

[babyjax13]

Doesn´t make sense for Portland either.

In isolation, comparing Jerami Grant to Markannen, you either have to give both a pass for having down years on rebuilding teams or demerits. You can't value Grant as overvalued and in decline without viewing Markannen in the same lens. Recall that the prior two seasons Grant averaged 20 points on 40% 3pt shooting and has been an excellent defender. Markannen is a better rebounder but worse defender. Sure, he's three years younger but otherwise I wouldn´t say that he is worth $12 million more or a quarter of the cap, let alone Henderson and the rest of the package presented here.

This is definitely a make or break year for Scoot but he improved a lot and has been working hard this summer, including with Jrue, so it is inconceivable that the Blazers trade him right now, unless a much better player than Lauri Markannen is offered.

Lauri had two seasons with Utah at 63 and 64% TS and a BPM of over 3.5 in both of those seasons. Grant had a TS of 60 and 57 percent his first two years with Portland and a negative BPM in both years. They really are not comparable as players other than that they both had a regression last season. Even last season Lauri was at 57 percent TS and a -0.3BPM, which means his worst year with Utah is directly comparable to Grant's best season with Portland. That is how far they are away they are as players that Grant at his best is comparable to Lauri at his worst. I still have no problem paying Lauri and we can wait to have him bounce back a bit if we want to move him.

[theBigLip]

Pistons would happily throw a couple of FRPs to Utah for Lauri.

[Village Idiot]

Doesn´t make sense for Portland either.

In isolation, comparing Jerami Grant to Markannen, you either have to give both a pass for having down years on rebuilding teams or demerits. You can't value Grant as overvalued and in decline without viewing Markannen in the same lens. Recall that the prior two seasons Grant averaged 20 points on 40% 3pt shooting and has been an excellent defender. Markannen is a better rebounder but worse defender. Sure, he's three years younger but otherwise I wouldn´t say that he is worth $12 million more or a quarter of the cap, let alone Henderson and the rest of the package presented here.

This is definitely a make or break year for Scoot but he improved a lot and has been working hard this summer, including with Jrue, so it is inconceivable that the Blazers trade him right now, unless a much better player than Lauri Markannen is offered.

Lauri had two seasons with Utah at 63 and 64% TS and a BPM of over 3.5 in both of those seasons. Grant had a TS of 60 and 57 percent his first two years with Portland and a negative BPM in both years. They really are not comparable as players other than that they both had a regression last season. Even last season Lauri was at 57 percent TS and a -0.3BPM, which means his worst year with Utah is directly comparable to Grant's best season with Portland. That is how far they are away they are as players that Grant at his best is comparable to Lauri at his worst. I still have no problem paying Lauri and we can wait to have him bounce back a bit if we want to move him.

No question that Lauri is a better player on the offensive side of the ball. He has a much more complete game than Grant. Also no question that Grant is the better defender. 1:1, paid the same, I would prefer Lauri. I would love to have Markannen and am not a fan of Jerami Grant. The issue is that he's making 25% of the cap and the rest of the package tips the scale heavily in favor of declining, both in my personal opinion and my guess on how the Blazers front-office is thinking.

[longfellow44]

As a kings fan I'm good with this. This seems like a flyer worth taking for us positionally. I think Carter can be very good but he isn't a point guard, he should be treated as an undersized shooting guard with massive defensive potential which can be very valuable in the NBA if he develops.

[Myth]

I hate it for Portland. Lauri is better than Grant, but close to equal in terms of value given his contract size IMO. No way I hand Scoot and a 1st to make that swap. Protected first, salary filler, and Grant is the most I’d be fine with to swap Grant for Lauri, and even then I hesitate. Especially since any lineup in the future where Lauri and Dame share the floor would get killed on defense.

[longfellow44]

I hate it for Portland. Lauri is better than Grant, but close to equal in terms of value given his contract size IMO. No way I hand Scoot and a 1st to make that swap. Protected first, salary filler, and Grant is the most I’d be fine with to swap Grant for Lauri, and even then I hesitate. Especially since any lineup in the future where Lauri and Dame share the floor would get killed on defense.

Grant is a significantly negative contract you would need to give up those sort of assets just to get off his deal, getting lauri does necessitate that you also give up additional value.

[BlazersBroncos]

I am a fan of Lauri to PDX but not at this cost.

Grant + MT + 2028 ORL FRP Top-8 is the highest I would go.

[LightTheBeam]

I see the vision all the way around.
Portland cashes in on Scoot and goes for the playoffs this year. Would be a solid team across the board with Dame getting healthy next year also. I see some Lauri is overpaid etc.. The fact that Grant is going out off-sets a ton of that contract the next 3 years for a massive upgrade.

Utah continues the tank and hopes Scoot can become a building block.
Kings get a guy who is 6'7 lol.

[Malapropism]

I don't see the reason Portland does this.

[Mavrelous]

The notion that Markannen and Grant are close in value is ridiculous.

[Tim Lehrbach]

The notion that Markannen and Grant are close in value is ridiculous.

With my usual caveat that trade value is only realized by actual trades and we don't know who would trade what for which guy... this, though. It does not follow from accepting that one player had a down year that you must believe the other is equally likely to bounce back or improve over last year's returns. Lauri is and will be a better player than Grant. Not saying Portland should do this trade, but they would most definitely need to pay a substantial price to upgrade Grant to Markkanen. I wouldn't pay it, but that is more about my opinion of the Portland roster than my opinion of Lauri.

[Myth]

I hate it for Portland. Lauri is better than Grant, but close to equal in terms of value given his contract size IMO. No way I hand Scoot and a 1st to make that swap. Protected first, salary filler, and Grant is the most I’d be fine with to swap Grant for Lauri, and even then I hesitate. Especially since any lineup in the future where Lauri and Dame share the floor would get killed on defense.

Grant is a significantly negative contract you would need to give up those sort of assets just to get off his deal, getting lauri does necessitate that you also give up additional value.

I consider Lauri a negative on that contract.