Make Portland a Contender in 2021-22

[BlazersBroncos]

Yes... CJ for Simmons is a pipe dream. If you keep Norm, CJ -> Tobias makes some sense and arguably makes both teams better BUT I think this is a poor use of resources for the 76'rs. CJ would be best suited as a primary PG... Simmons already fills that role, I suspect a team wanting CJ would want him as the primary distributor.

See, I sorta disagree. CJ as the secondary distributor is the best CJ. His issues is that he is in an offense that, when Dame / CJ are healthy, reverts to your-turn-my-turn. Find a coach that knows how to get him to move off ball and he is best as his catch/shoot percentages are insane. And his secondary role is to create when there is an offensive stall. Thats the role he should play IMO. He just doesnt have the vision or instincts to be a primary, ball dominant PG.

On a team with Simmons and Joel I think CJ could average 4.5-5 3PTM per game on 40%+.

[Case2012]

Just posted this in the NYV Dame thread but probably applied here more.

Just Take CJ for Toppin a pick and cap space and be happy. CJ is the same age as Dame and was putting up 30 a game on great efficiency before his injury. CP3 is 36 and took a lotto team to the 1st seed... CJ is in his prime and if he played for NYC they would challenge for the 2nd seed. Not to mention NYK fans would LOVE CJ in the garden, He puts up 25 to 30 every night with 5-6 assists EASY and makes the all star team.

Blazers could then build a package around Toppin, Simons, DJJ and a Pick for Porzingas? Luka throwing lobs to Toppin would be pretty fun to watch. Meanwhile Portland resigns Powell and Rolls out with Dame, Powell, ROCO, KP, Nurk with Melo and a bought out Love off the bench for rebounding and offense. Rondo would be my ideal back up PG as well with his playmaking and defense, plus playoff rondo is real.

I’m not sure about the value for Dallas, but it would be lob city 2.0 with 2 slam dunk champs and a possible 3rd in Toppin, plus a pick. KP is a serious injury risk so it almost feels like an over payment, but Melo and Love could slide into the starting role easily when inevitably gets injured.

CJ for a recent lotto pick, a late first and cap space seems more than fair and makes a lot of sense when your best player and all star plays the same position as Toppin. CJ will be an all star in the east, zero doubts, and easily their best guard in a decade.

We’d still need a back up 2/3, so not sure about that.

Lillard/Rondo
Powell/ Rondo/ ?
ROCO/ Little
KP/ Melo
Nurk/ Love

None of this is possible if we retain our horrible GM, who I pray is fired before we extend a QO to Collins.

[BlazersBroncos]

Lillard/Rondo
Powell/ Rondo/ ?
ROCO/ Little
KP/ Melo
Nurk/ Love

Thats a big man rotation with 2 guys who can defend C, but one is penciled in at PF. The other two cant defend anything. So basically 1 of 4 bigs can defend.

I am not opposed to turning CJ into KP, but it would have to be done in a way that allows KP to eat all the backup C minutes. Something like:

PF - Zinger (10) / Collins (24) / RoCo (14)
C - Nurkic (28) / Zinger (20)

Thats a full big man rotation that can play defense. Thats what we need to aim towards.

It wont be popular, but I would try to something like this:

CJ for KP (Potentially a 3 way)
DJJ + Simons for DeRozan (S&T / 17M starting to equate 125% outgoing salary) (Again a potential 3 way)
QO to ZC
MLE to Rondo (Or a portion of it)
Vet Min to SG 3pt specialist (Galloway?)

G - Damian Lillard (30) / Rajon Rondo (18)
G - Norman Powell (32) / Damian Lillard (4) / 3PT Shooter (12)
F - Robert Covington (16) / Demar DeRozan (32)
F - Kristaps Porzingis (10) / Zach Collins (24) / Robert Covington (14)
C - Jusuf Nurkic (28) / Kristaps Porzingis (20)

I actually really like that team. Rondo + DDR may not provide enough 3PT shooting from the bench but you get that back from the bigs who can open the floor for the slashing of those same 3 3PT deficient guys.

[Myth]

Just posted this in the NYV Dame thread but probably applied here more.

Just Take CJ for Toppin a pick and cap space and be happy. CJ is the same age as Dame and was putting up 30 a game on great efficiency before his injury. CP3 is 36 and took a lotto team to the 1st seed... CJ is in his prime and if he played for NYC they would challenge for the 2nd seed. Not to mention NYK fans would LOVE CJ in the garden, He puts up 25 to 30 every night with 5-6 assists EASY and makes the all star team.

Blazers could then build a package around Toppin, Simons, DJJ and a Pick for Porzingas? Luka throwing lobs to Toppin would be pretty fun to watch. Meanwhile Portland resigns Powell and Rolls out with Dame, Powell, ROCO, KP, Nurk with Melo and a bought out Love off the bench for rebounding and offense. Rondo would be my ideal back up PG as well with his playmaking and defense, plus playoff rondo is real.

I’m not sure about the value for Dallas, but it would be lob city 2.0 with 2 slam dunk champs and a possible 3rd in Toppin, plus a pick. KP is a serious injury risk so it almost feels like an over payment, but Melo and Love could slide into the starting role easily when inevitably gets injured.

CJ for a recent lotto pick, a late first and cap space seems more than fair and makes a lot of sense when your best player and all star plays the same position as Toppin. CJ will be an all star in the east, zero doubts, and easily their best guard in a decade.

We’d still need a back up 2/3, so not sure about that.

Lillard/Rondo
Powell/ Rondo/ ?
ROCO/ Little
KP/ Melo
Nurk/ Love

None of this is possible if we retain our horrible GM, who I pray is fired before we extend a QO to Collins.

A lot of Blazers fans are hesitant about a CJ for Porzingis swap. You essentially made this CJ, Simons, DJJ for Porzingis. I don't think Portland will be trying to use Simons simply to unload DJJ.

[DaVoiceMaster]

Just posted this in the NYV Dame thread but probably applied here more.

Just Take CJ for Toppin a pick and cap space and be happy. CJ is the same age as Dame and was putting up 30 a game on great efficiency before his injury. CP3 is 36 and took a lotto team to the 1st seed... CJ is in his prime and if he played for NYC they would challenge for the 2nd seed. Not to mention NYK fans would LOVE CJ in the garden, He puts up 25 to 30 every night with 5-6 assists EASY and makes the all star team.

Blazers could then build a package around Toppin, Simons, DJJ and a Pick for Porzingas? Luka throwing lobs to Toppin would be pretty fun to watch. Meanwhile Portland resigns Powell and Rolls out with Dame, Powell, ROCO, KP, Nurk with Melo and a bought out Love off the bench for rebounding and offense. Rondo would be my ideal back up PG as well with his playmaking and defense, plus playoff rondo is real.

I’m not sure about the value for Dallas, but it would be lob city 2.0 with 2 slam dunk champs and a possible 3rd in Toppin, plus a pick. KP is a serious injury risk so it almost feels like an over payment, but Melo and Love could slide into the starting role easily when inevitably gets injured.

CJ for a recent lotto pick, a late first and cap space seems more than fair and makes a lot of sense when your best player and all star plays the same position as Toppin. CJ will be an all star in the east, zero doubts, and easily their best guard in a decade.

We’d still need a back up 2/3, so not sure about that.

Lillard/Rondo
Powell/ Rondo/ ?
ROCO/ Little
KP/ Melo
Nurk/ Love

None of this is possible if we retain our horrible GM, who I pray is fired before we extend a QO to Collins.

A lot of Blazers fans are hesitant about a CJ for Porzingis swap. You essentially made this CJ, Simons, DJJ for Porzingis. I don't think Portland will be trying to use Simons simply to unload DJJ.

Agreed. Simons could be dealt, but I don't see Porzingas as the prize.

[Case2012]

Just posted this in the NYV Dame thread but probably applied here more.

Just Take CJ for Toppin a pick and cap space and be happy. CJ is the same age as Dame and was putting up 30 a game on great efficiency before his injury. CP3 is 36 and took a lotto team to the 1st seed... CJ is in his prime and if he played for NYC they would challenge for the 2nd seed. Not to mention NYK fans would LOVE CJ in the garden, He puts up 25 to 30 every night with 5-6 assists EASY and makes the all star team.

Blazers could then build a package around Toppin, Simons, DJJ and a Pick for Porzingas? Luka throwing lobs to Toppin would be pretty fun to watch. Meanwhile Portland resigns Powell and Rolls out with Dame, Powell, ROCO, KP, Nurk with Melo and a bought out Love off the bench for rebounding and offense. Rondo would be my ideal back up PG as well with his playmaking and defense, plus playoff rondo is real.

I’m not sure about the value for Dallas, but it would be lob city 2.0 with 2 slam dunk champs and a possible 3rd in Toppin, plus a pick. KP is a serious injury risk so it almost feels like an over payment, but Melo and Love could slide into the starting role easily when inevitably gets injured.

CJ for a recent lotto pick, a late first and cap space seems more than fair and makes a lot of sense when your best player and all star plays the same position as Toppin. CJ will be an all star in the east, zero doubts, and easily their best guard in a decade.

We’d still need a back up 2/3, so not sure about that.

Lillard/Rondo
Powell/ Rondo/ ?
ROCO/ Little
KP/ Melo
Nurk/ Love

None of this is possible if we retain our horrible GM, who I pray is fired before we extend a QO to Collins.

A lot of Blazers fans are hesitant about a CJ for Porzingis swap. You essentially made this CJ, Simons, DJJ for Porzingis. I don't think Portland will be trying to use Simons simply to unload DJJ.

Agreed. Simons could be dealt, but I don't see Porzingas as the prize.

Why would you consider Simons a prize? Not a fan. But if he has value, use it.

[BlazersBroncos]

Why would you consider Simons a prize? Not a fan. But if he has value, use it.

He is on pace to be a pretty special shooter, even if nearly every other aspect of his game is below average to average. 44% on high volume (For his minutes) at age 22 is a pretty good indication that he has a very high chance to being a perennial Seth Curry level shooter.

Additionally, all his advanced metrics this season have improve immensely. He was overvalued after his rookie year, rightly lost tons of value after a horrid sophomore year but at this point his improvements have not caught up with the Trade Board and he is now undervalued IMO.

I mean, any player who if extrapolated from 17 to 30 minutes a game would be on pace for 3.5 3PM to 7.9 3PA is a player that should be valued in this current state of the NBA. Adding his age and the athletic potential (Which I personally dont think is as functional as one would hope) and he is a guy that carries value. More than most would think IMO.

[DaVoiceMaster]

A lot of Blazers fans are hesitant about a CJ for Porzingis swap. You essentially made this CJ, Simons, DJJ for Porzingis. I don't think Portland will be trying to use Simons simply to unload DJJ.

Agreed. Simons could be dealt, but I don't see Porzingas as the prize.

Why would you consider Simons a prize? Not a fan. But if he has value, use it.

It has nothing to do with Simon's. I've never been a fan of his as my previous posts show. I wouldn't trade for Porzingas period.

I will say though... I am liking the Simon's we've seen lately compare to the last few years. I hope he continues going to the hole like he has been doing and not simply jacking up 3 point shots.