Goldbum wrote:If we blow it all up I really like Cam Reddish as a reclamation project...
Same, have him involved in my Portland Blows Up plan. See below:
TRADE 1
Portland Trades
Damian Lillard
New York Trades
RJ Barrett
Kevin Knox
#19
2023 DAL FRP (Protected 1-10)
2024 NYK FRP (Unprotected)
2025 NYK FRP SWAP (Unprotected)
2026 NYK FRP (Unprotected)
2027 NYK FRP SWAP (Unprotected)
2028 NYK FRP (Unprotected)
WHY FOR PORTLAND
If they cant put the squad around Dame that he deserves, this is as good as I could expect in return for him. They get a guy in RJ that has the maturity you want in a player experiencing a rebuild (Similar to SGA in that accord) and who, IMO, projects as a low tier #2 / high tier #3 on a good playoff team. I view his talent level as similar to Middleton. The picks are purposefully pushed out to the post-Dame prime as any picks during the Dame NYK prime years will be near worthless. #19 in a strong draft is decent and Knox was once seen as a talent so there is that.
WHY FOR NYK
They make the big move to maximize the Randle years and get a superstar. Dame and Randle are great, but they also are left with enough cap space to sign another high caliber talent. PDX taking Knox helps open more cap space and they keep both IQ and Obi. They still have loads of cap space after this and Dame recruits his buddy DDR, while using the remaining money on the sharpshooting Duncan Robinson. The Room MLE is used on Bullock., VM for Gibson.
G – Damian Lillard / Immanuel Quickley / Luca Vildoza
G – Demar DeRozan / Immanuel Quickley / BJ Boston (32)
F – Duncan Robinson / Reggie Bullock / Trey Murphy (21)
F – Julius Randle / Obi Toppin / Trey Murphy (21)
C – Mitchell Robinson / Taj Gibson / Norvel Pelle
TRADE 2
Portland Trades
CJ McCollum
Jusuf Nurkic
New Orleans Trades
Steven Adams
Eric Bledsoe
#10
2022 LAL FRP
2022 NO SRP
2024 NO SRP
WHY FOR PORTLAND
With Dame gone, they go into full rebuild mode. CJ and Nurkic are no longer in the plans. Here they get a lotto pick and 3 future picks (One a FRP) while taking on some bad salary. Bledsoe is bought out but Adams is kept around as a good locker room leader for the youngsters.
WHY FOR NO
They need to build around Zion in a hurry and get the shot creating guard they lack here in CJ. Jusuf is a very talented defensive C who is developing a 3 and will be basically just a much better version of Adams, and younger to boot. Sign a versatile forward for the full MLE like Nicolas Batum and your sitting pretty IMO.
G – CJ McCollum / Kira Lewis Jr / Rokas Jokubaitis (40)
G – Josh Hart / NAW / Wes Iwundu
F – Brandon Ingram / Nicolas Batum / Didi Louzada
F – Zion Williamson / Nicolas Batum / Weynen Gabriel
C – Jusuf Nurkic / Jaxton Hayes / Neemias Queta (35)
TRADE 3
Portland Trades
Robert Covington
Atlanta Trades
Kris Dunn
Cam Reddish
#20
WHY FOR PORTLAND
Again, its youth time so they move RoCo to a team in win-now mode and get a lanky 3/D prospect who flashes, albeit not nearly enough to justify minutes on a good team. Well, PDX wont be too good and they can let him work through his ups-and-downs with volume. Dunn is a nice defensive deep bench guy who will give hell in practices and they obtain a FRP
WHY FOR ATLANTA
They obtain an excellent 3/D veteran who helps their already deep team take the next step in 21/22. He helps cover for the injury histories of Hunter and Danilo. I would resign Lou after his playoff run, Tony Snell to the BAE and draft a developmental backup PG.
G – Trae Young / Lou Williams / Daishen Nix (48)
G – Kevin Huerter / Bogdan Bogdanovic / Tony Snell
F – De’Andre Hunter / Robert Covington / Tony Snell
F – John Collins / Danilo Gallinari / Robert Covington
C – Clint Capella / Onyeka Okongwu / Bruno Fernando
2021 NBA DRAFT
10 – Jalen Johnson F – I have been high on Johnson for some time and view him as a guy with the potential to be a middle tier #2 option. He can score in a variety of ways, has upper tier athleticism, is great handling the ball in the open court, possesses underrated passing skills and a workable 3PT shot. I think he is an ideal guy for a full rebuilding team to target and spoon feed usage early on to maximize his skillset. He has some character murmurs, but I believe in the Blazers org and the otherwise high character team sorting those out.
19 – Jaden Springer G – Another underrated prospect IMO, Springer is crafty around the rim and able to score at all 3 levels. He tested tremendously and was apparently playing injured in 20/21. He may be more of a CG than a true 1 or 2, but I believe he can find a long term fit on this team. Part of me sees him as the player we thought Jerryd Bayless was.
20 – Usman Garuba CF – Every team in this era is looking for a low usage switchy defender that can hit a 3, and I believe Usman has a great chance to become that guy. He is going to get tons of minutes, mentored by Adams and can be allowed to make mistakes as he carves out his long term fit as a 3/D, switchy, low usage big.
FREE AGENCY
TJ McConnell PG *** Full MLE 3Y – PO Y3 *** I am a big believer that you cant just go with youth. You need to have some veterans around to help the development and show them how to be hardworking professionals. That is TJ, a guy who plays every possession like he could be cut after the game. He knows how to run an offense and will get guys open looks while setting the tone with his hustle and locker room professionalism. I think he, Adams and the older-than-his-years RJ can help build a good culture
even while in development (IE Tank) mode.
Mortiz Wagner CF *** Vet Min 1Y *** PDX plans to spoon feed Garuba but takes a flyer on Wagner if the youngster is just not NBA ready. He can spread the floor at least.
Zach Collins C *** 3/6M – TO Y2 + TO Y3 *** The kids career may be cooked, but PDX takes a(nother) chance on him recovering and offers to pay for his rehab this season. The tradeoff is two extremely cheap years if he recovers. It’s a decent gamble a player of his talent IMO.
G – Anfernee Simons (20) / TJ McConnell (28)
G – RJ Barrett (16) / Jaden Springer (24) / Anfernee Simons (8)
F – Cam Reddish (28) / RJ Barrett (16) / Nassir Little (4)
F – Jalen Johnson (28) / Nassir Little (20)
C – Steven Adams (24) / Usman Garuba (24)
DEEP BENCH : Kris Dunn, CJ Elleby, Kevin Knox, Mortiz Wagner, Zach Collins
Owned Picks
2022 LAL FRP
2022 NO SRP
2023 DAL FRP (Protected 1-10)
2024 NYK FRP (Unprotected)
2024 NO SRP
2025 NYK FRP SWAP (Unprotected)
2026 NYK FRP (Unprotected)
2027 NYK FRP SWAP (Unprotected)
2028 NYK FRP (Unprotected)