Season Speculation, Trade Ideas and Discussion

[Saberestar]

I don't think we should be panicking. I don't know about you guys, but these last three games - yes, even the blowout loss to the Clippers - have been extremely entertaining. We're witnessing the growth of our young players, game by game. And we're seeing the resurgence of Bledsoe and Chandler, which is great. The defense has been remarkably improved, despite the fouls. Hold steady. None of these guys we're bandying about - basically, Noel and Okafor - are going to save us. Once again, we need to be patient. Stay the course with this squad, and wait for the right opportunity.

I liked the two games that we were close until the last minute, against OKC and GSW.
I expected a better performance from everyone yesterday, no one on our roster played a good game, not even Ulis or Knight wich had decent numbers on the box score.

I want a win badly now, because a win is always a win and elevates the confidende and hope.

Tomorrow is a good oportunity, because the Blazers play tonight against GSW.

[GetYourPHX]

Here's my attempt at a Len trade.

Phoenix out - Alex Len, Miami 2018 first
Phoenix In - Meyers Leonard, Ja

Blazers out - Leonard, 2017 first
Blazers in - Alex Len

Philly out - Ja
Philly in - POR 2017 1st, Miami 2018 first

Never going to happen but I think the values/wants/needs line up pretty well.

I have to ask--why would Portland trade a better Center AND a 1st for a lesser Center. Yes, Meyer's Leonard is better than Len right now. No way do the Blazer's do this based upon HOPING Len reaches his potential.

That's pretty bold. I live in Portland and watch most of the games, and I can tell you, Leonard is barely going to see the floor this year.

You guys can hate on Len's offensive game all you want, but he's a serviceable rim protecting big - something Portland needs desperately. They need someone like Len to come in and bail out their guards. It's why they spent money on Festus.

Not to mention if they shed a bit of salary, they'd drop under the luxury tax threshold this year and keep themselves from paying the repeat offender tax next year. They'd get Len's bird rights and benefit from him being an RFA. Essentially, they acquire talent that can help them compete now in exchange for guys that might help them two or so years from now.

Pretty much a classic basketball move.

The last thing we should be doing is trading picks that could be pretty good. Also, why on earth would we trade for two centers (I guess Leonard can play pf but why would we want him taking minutes from Chriss/Bender)? Blazers for sure say no too.

That Miami pick is top 7 protected, and I still think Jah is a top 10 talent.

My trade brings in two centers because I'm pretty sure that Len and Chandler are going to be gone by this time next year.

[bwgood77]

Here's my attempt at a Len trade.

Phoenix out - Alex Len, Miami 2018 first
Phoenix In - Meyers Leonard, Ja

Blazers out - Leonard, 2017 first
Blazers in - Alex Len

Philly out - Ja
Philly in - POR 2017 1st, Miami 2018 first

Never going to happen but I think the values/wants/needs line up pretty well.

The last thing we should be doing is trading picks that could be pretty good. Also, why on earth would we trade for two centers (I guess Leonard can play pf but why would we want him taking minutes from Chriss/Bender)? Blazers for sure say no too.

Yeah, Portland trades a 1st for Len when they are way deep into the luxury tax and already have Mason Plumlee?

[bwgood77]

Here's my attempt at a Len trade.

Phoenix out - Alex Len, Miami 2018 first
Phoenix In - Meyers Leonard, Ja

Blazers out - Leonard, 2017 first
Blazers in - Alex Len

Philly out - Ja
Philly in - POR 2017 1st, Miami 2018 first

Never going to happen but I think the values/wants/needs line up pretty well.

I have to ask--why would Portland trade a better Center AND a 1st for a lesser Center. Yes, Meyer's Leonard is better than Len right now. No way do the Blazer's do this based upon HOPING Len reaches his potential.

That's pretty bold. I live in Portland and watch most of the games, and I can tell you, Leonard is barely going to see the floor this year.

You guys can hate on Len's offensive game all you want, but he's a serviceable rim protecting big - something Portland needs desperately. They need someone like Len to come in and bail out their guards. It's why they spent money on Festus.

Not to mention if they shed a bit of salary, they'd drop under the luxury tax threshold this year and keep themselves from paying the repeat offender tax next year. They'd get Len's bird rights and benefit from him being an RFA. Essentially, they acquire talent that can help them compete now in exchange for guys that might help them two or so years from now.

Pretty much a classic basketball move.

So if they spent money on Festus, why trade for Len? Portland's not a team that is going to trade 1st rounders either.

[GetYourPHX]

Here's my attempt at a Len trade.

Phoenix out - Alex Len, Miami 2018 first
Phoenix In - Meyers Leonard, Ja

Blazers out - Leonard, 2017 first
Blazers in - Alex Len

Philly out - Ja
Philly in - POR 2017 1st, Miami 2018 first

Never going to happen but I think the values/wants/needs line up pretty well.

The last thing we should be doing is trading picks that could be pretty good. Also, why on earth would we trade for two centers (I guess Leonard can play pf but why would we want him taking minutes from Chriss/Bender)? Blazers for sure say no too.

Yeah, Portland trades a 1st for Len when they are way deep into the luxury tax and already have Mason Plumlee?

That first is going to be late 20s anyway. Like I said above, Len doesn't have a complete game and I wouldn't be surprised if he never puts it together. Plumlee is a decent offensive big, but he gets absolutely trashed on D. He's just weak. It's why they signed Festus.

The trade would actually drop Portland under the tax threshold and save them from paying repeater tax next year when 3J's contract kicks in. Papa Paul might have quite the piggy bank, but he'd save some serious money in tax bills next year by shedding salary this year.

[GetYourPHX]

I have to ask--why would Portland trade a better Center AND a 1st for a lesser Center. Yes, Meyer's Leonard is better than Len right now. No way do the Blazer's do this based upon HOPING Len reaches his potential.

That's pretty bold. I live in Portland and watch most of the games, and I can tell you, Leonard is barely going to see the floor this year.

You guys can hate on Len's offensive game all you want, but he's a serviceable rim protecting big - something Portland needs desperately. They need someone like Len to come in and bail out their guards. It's why they spent money on Festus.

Not to mention if they shed a bit of salary, they'd drop under the luxury tax threshold this year and keep themselves from paying the repeat offender tax next year. They'd get Len's bird rights and benefit from him being an RFA. Essentially, they acquire talent that can help them compete now in exchange for guys that might help them two or so years from now.

Pretty much a classic basketball move.

So if they spent money on Festus, why trade for Len? Portland's not a team that is going to trade 1st rounders either.

Because it looks like Festus has a chronic knee condition?

Portland just traded their first rounder last year?

You can be dismissive if you want, but at least pay attention to what actually happens in the league before you act like an authority.

[kennydorglas]

no one wants Len, guys. Just get over it and accept we'll pay him next summer.

[bwgood77]

The last thing we should be doing is trading picks that could be pretty good. Also, why on earth would we trade for two centers (I guess Leonard can play pf but why would we want him taking minutes from Chriss/Bender)? Blazers for sure say no too.

Yeah, Portland trades a 1st for Len when they are way deep into the luxury tax and already have Mason Plumlee?

That first is going to be late 20s anyway. Like I said above, Len doesn't have a complete game and I wouldn't be surprised if he never puts it together. Plumlee is a decent offensive big, but he gets absolutely trashed on D. He's just weak. It's why they signed Festus.

The trade would actually drop Portland under the tax threshold and save them from paying repeater tax next year when 3J's contract kicks in. Papa Paul might have quite the piggy bank, but he'd save some serious money in tax bills next year by shedding salary this year.

Well that makes some sense to drop under the tax, but I seriously doubt any team would trade a first for Len. The only way I see Portland even thinking about doing it is if they have no interest in keeping Leonard after developing him throughout his rookie contract and simply signed him for trade value.

[bwgood77]

That's pretty bold. I live in Portland and watch most of the games, and I can tell you, Leonard is barely going to see the floor this year.

You guys can hate on Len's offensive game all you want, but he's a serviceable rim protecting big - something Portland needs desperately. They need someone like Len to come in and bail out their guards. It's why they spent money on Festus.

Not to mention if they shed a bit of salary, they'd drop under the luxury tax threshold this year and keep themselves from paying the repeat offender tax next year. They'd get Len's bird rights and benefit from him being an RFA. Essentially, they acquire talent that can help them compete now in exchange for guys that might help them two or so years from now.

Pretty much a classic basketball move.

So if they spent money on Festus, why trade for Len? Portland's not a team that is going to trade 1st rounders either.

Because it looks like Festus has a chronic knee condition?

Portland just traded their first rounder last year?

You can be dismissive if you want, but at least pay attention to what actually happens in the league before you act like an authority.

OK, well it will be interesting to see if you are right and it happens.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

no one wants Len, guys. Just get over it and accept we'll pay him next summer.

I see we're all listening to our home announcers. Announcers for opposing teams have frequently noted how mismatched their centers appear next to Alex.

His biggest failings have been (1) Rudy Gobert, and (2) continuing to take and miss jumpers. As long as we're not playing the Jazz, and as soon as our coaching staff tells him to keep that J to himself, we have ourselves a damn useful player.

[darealjuice]

Opposing team's announcers don't have to watch him play 82 times a year. They just look at his stat sheets from the end of last year when he was getting double-doubles and think that's who he is, when in reality the only reason he produced was because we had a decimated roster and he got a lot more opportunity to fill the stat sheet than he would have on a decent team.

Through 4 games his stat line is 20 mpg, 7.5 ppg, 5 rpg, 1 apg, 1 bpg, and 4.3 fouls on 33 FG% and 71 FT%, and the eye test definitely matches those mediocre numbers. Once his defender realizes he doesn't even have to try blocking his shot and just keeps his hands up without fouling or letting Len get close enough to dunk, he's effectively out of the game on offense because he has literally no touch around the rim and teams want us to have him shooting 15-20 foot jump shots. Same thing happened last night, he makes 2 decent up and under post moves to get 2 dunks in the post pretty early in the game, and the rest of the game their defense adjusted and let him go for contested double clutch hook shots in the lane and mid-range jump shots, of which he air balled 2 by a mile.

[LukasBMW]

When I heard the Clipper announcers last night call Knight "our best player" and praise Len, I thought just maybe there still might be a way for us to unload both of them for an asset.

[Saberestar]

no one wants Len, guys. Just get over it and accept we'll pay him next summer.

I see we're all listening to our home announcers. Announcers for opposing teams have frequently noted how mismatched their centers appear next to Alex.

His biggest failings have been (1) Rudy Gobert, and (2) continuing to take and miss jumpers. As long as we're not playing the Jazz, and as soon as our coaching staff tells him to keep that J to himself, we have ourselves a damn useful player.

Not sure about that, those things are not that easy to change. Do you think that no one asked Josh Smith to stop shooting threes/long twos all his career? It's just an example...the style of play is difficult to change, Alex has been shooting this mid range jumper since his Mayland days, the bad news is that he doesn't progress at all.

I am really concerned about Len, in these 4 games he didn't play against Gobert and he has played terrible basket on both ends and sometimes he is just comical in the post...

[thamadkant]

Suns / Nets

Knight, Len and Tucker
For
Lopez, filler


Atleast...Lopez will score 15 plus a night given the amount of touches similar to Len down low.

[thamadkant]

Len's main problem is that he rushes shots and his hard release.

When he was faking his defenders up and not rushing shots... He nailed them.

Also Suns are not known for developing big men with post moves.

[NavLDO]

The last thing we should be doing is trading picks that could be pretty good. Also, why on earth would we trade for two centers (I guess Leonard can play pf but why would we want him taking minutes from Chriss/Bender)? Blazers for sure say no too.

Yeah, Portland trades a 1st for Len when they are way deep into the luxury tax and already have Mason Plumlee?

That first is going to be late 20s anyway. Like I said above, Len doesn't have a complete game and I wouldn't be surprised if he never puts it together. Plumlee is a decent offensive big, but he gets absolutely trashed on D. He's just weak. It's why they signed Festus.

The trade would actually drop Portland under the tax threshold and save them from paying repeater tax next year when 3J's contract kicks in. Papa Paul might have quite the piggy bank, but he'd save some serious money in tax bills next year by shedding salary this year.

So, out of one side of your mouth, you state the above, and out of the other, you say this:

That's pretty bold. I live in Portland and watch most of the games, and I can tell you, Leonard is barely going to see the floor this year.

You guys can hate on Len's offensive game all you want, but he's a serviceable rim protecting big...

So, which is it? Is Len worthy of a pick in the 20s and a better offensive Center than himself because he's a serviceable rim protecting 'big'...or is he a Center that doesn't have a complete game who likely won't ever "put it together"?

Because if I'm an NBA GM, why would I trade a better offensively minded Center who's ideal to play '2nd fiddle' behind Mason Plumlee AND a 1st Rd pick, that will likely, at worst, be a low 20s picks, for a supposed Defensive minded/Rim-protecting Center that is shooting 30%, yet really isn't all that great defensively, himself?

I know I wouldn't, and if I'm McD, I'm jumping all over that deal.

[sunsbum]

I also live in portland and meyers is not a guy this team needs and or should want. Hes like a better rebounding worse shooting version of channing frye.

Plus hes a mental midget. Nice guy though.

[ATTL]

Cody Zeller with a 14 million per year contract. This is the new NBA.

[NavLDO]

I don't think we should be panicking. I don't know about you guys, but these last three games - yes, even the blowout loss to the Clippers - have been extremely entertaining. We're witnessing the growth of our young players, game by game. And we're seeing the resurgence of Bledsoe and Chandler, which is great. The defense has been remarkably improved, despite the fouls. Hold steady. None of these guys we're bandying about - basically, Noel and Okafor - are going to save us. Once again, we need to be patient. Stay the course with this squad, and wait for the right opportunity.

While I agree with you, there are some pieces that we've known, and still know, can be upgraded, so if the right opportunity does come along, we should be considering these pieces for trade--Tucker, Knight, Len.

I agree that we shouldn't make a panic move, and we shouldn't be seeking one specific player, but there are probably 20-30 guys that McD likely has his eyes on, and if the opportunity presents itself, like a different player on that squad going down, and Knight, Tucker, or Len might be able to fill in for said team, it doesn't hurt to give said team a call and attempt to pry one of these players that McD likes by offering Len, Knight, or Tucker in a pkg.

I'm definitely not panicking, and am glad our rooks are getting some burn, and if we lose a few games because of it, so be it. But if we can get a Noel, or another young Center/PF, and the price is Len and Knight or Tucker, then I say go for it.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

I don't think we should be panicking. I don't know about you guys, but these last three games - yes, even the blowout loss to the Clippers - have been extremely entertaining. We're witnessing the growth of our young players, game by game. And we're seeing the resurgence of Bledsoe and Chandler, which is great. The defense has been remarkably improved, despite the fouls. Hold steady. None of these guys we're bandying about - basically, Noel and Okafor - are going to save us. Once again, we need to be patient. Stay the course with this squad, and wait for the right opportunity.

While I agree with you, there are some pieces that we've known, and still know, can be upgraded, so if the right opportunity does come along, we should be considering these pieces for trade--Tucker, Knight, Len.

I agree that we shouldn't make a panic move, and we shouldn't be seeking one specific player, but there are probably 20-30 guys that McD likely has his eyes on, and if the opportunity presents itself, like a different player on that squad going down, and Knight, Tucker, or Len might be able to fill in for said team, it doesn't hurt to give said team a call and attempt to pry one of these players that McD likes by offering Len, Knight, or Tucker in a pkg.

I'm definitely not panicking, and am glad our rooks are getting some burn, and if we lose a few games because of it, so be it. But if we can get a Noel, or another young Center/PF, and the price is Len and Knight or Tucker, then I say go for it.

I somewhat agree with your conclusion, but I'm not sold on Noel. His injury history is scary, and he's too light to bang with the next-generation C's that are about to be unleashed on the league (Embiid, Dayton). Defensively, he's actually pretty much what we hope and want Marquese Chriss to be. Plus, he's going to want some serious money. I just don't think he's a good target.

I would rather ride it out with Chandler as the starter for the next few seasons, while possibly keeping Len around on a bargain contract, and try to draft an anchor for our core. If we fail, but the rest of our squad continues to grow, we can look into signing the final piece in free agency. I just don't see the guy we need out there.

So if we're talking trade, I'm more keen on trying to land a high pick so we can take another shot at drafting our future starting center. I'd also be happy if we could somehow land Richaun Holmes, who, while undersized, has more beef with which to contend down low. We're talking Jah and Nerlens, but there's another big on that roster who needs to breathe free air, and I wonder if he wouldn't be a much better fit.