We got the #3 pick. Discuss the possibilities.

Heat were mediocre all season then as soon as Hero gets dumped out of the lineup for 38 year old Lowry they become the best team in the East. I'd much prefer Ant as well as his contract over Hero.

Now I do think theres a possibility if certain events happen or don't happen the Blazers could explore Dame trades. But theres no way they send him off for a pile of Heat junk.

The Knicks or Nets could actually make realistic offers - they have a ton of picks. But the Heat fantasy is beyond stupid.

 

There are big markets that could put together realistic offers - New York, Brooklyn, Houston, Boston, Golden State. But that Miami idea is ridiculous. We'll probably end up hearing some ridiculous Lakers offers as well.

 

Dame will not be happy if we trade him to Houston

 

I have a feeling that when Dame sees the deals that are being offered for him, staying in Portland will look about the same, even if we keep our pick.

 

“Once Jayson Tatum was injured, was the entire game plan to send Jaylen Brown to his left?” – Dan “That’s always the game plan.” – Caleb Martin

 

We can send Dame to Boston, brown to the rockets, and we get #4 pick and future picks

 

if, as many people are saying, it's a 3 person draft with Scoot/Miller on a tier above the rest...and with that tier having a PG when a lot of teams need a PG; and a wing shooter, when a lot of teams need a wing shooter....well then my thinking is that there would be a lot more calls than normal to a team holding the 3rd pick, especially when it's out there that Portland MIGHT be willing to trade that pick. I think the phones are ringing in Cronin's office

Dame has obviously made his druthers known to Cronin. But I do not believe he's anywhere close to saying 'trade-the-pick-or-else'. He wants some veteran help for sure. Just like he wanted OG a year ago but realized the asking price was too high...in fact, ridiculous.

this is mainly why I'd look at the possibility of Portland chasing a player like DeRozan. His price would be much lower and certainly wouldn't include the #3. But he's a veteran who Dame has a relationship with. He's also still really good as a scorer; and unlike Ant actually has consistent PG and facilitation skills. And he's an actual wing. Yeah, his defense is average at best, and probably worse than that. But you can't have everything. Plus, he offers the opportunity for the Blazers to get rid of that boat-anchor encumbrance on all their first round picks. Also, he'd almost certainly be willing to re-sign in 2024 for a hell of a lot less than Brown/Siakam would

I think adding a player like Derozan would go a long way in mollifying Dame and it would allow the Blazers to add the talent (hopefully) of a 3rd pick.

and I would imagine there are some other possibilities for adding a veteran(s) similar to DeRozan, maybe a little less impact...especially if the Blazers can time things such that they can use their full MLE again

 

I like your post except for this one small part. I think if DeRozan was forced to be the PG for a length of time, he would also struggle with consistency when teams game planned against it.

 

Agree with some things you said, disagree with some of the things you said.

I also don't believe Dame's anywhere close to implying he's gone if we didn't trade the pick.

I don't agree with bringing in Derozan just to appease him. The Blazers already did enough kissing ass by signing his cousin who was a career 7.6ppg through four years of college. Derozan is a decent playmaker but doesn't defend well and can't shoot the 3. He's not someone we need. I'd argue we are just as likely to be a lotto team with him in place of Hart.

 

After Miami gets pummeled, it's time for them to rebuild. Eat it South Beach.

 

That's where I have landed. I think that makes the most sense. But the Rockets are going to need to send out some salary to match up if they want to have the space to get Harden as well.

 

Clyde became all time great blazer, went to the rockets, wins a ring

Dame becomes all time great blazer, goes to the rockets, wins a ring

How poetic

 

This seems fair to me.

Celtics get Dame to pair up with Tatum.
Rockets get Brown to pair up with Harden (if he signs)
We get the 4th pick so we can take one of Miller/Scoot and Amen. We also get Jabari Smith Jr to put with our young core.
We can also flip Simons/Nurk and maybe even Grant in a sign and trade.

Amen
Sharpe
Miller
Smith Jr
???

 

There's always the trade deadline. The Blazers might get an offer they can't refuse for Lillard. Then the GM can snuggle up and smile with his warm blanket of brown nosing media reporters, and blab about using flexibility and cap space to grab future assets while bringing in players we've never heard of that fit Chauncey's system.

 

If we're sending Dame to Boston*, we better damn-well get those BKN picks back...

 

Good idea. Yes I always hear posters here say how untradeable Dame is because team X will give up asset Y that doesn't make sense immediately to Portland.

Thats why there could be 3 or 4 team trades. Dame could be traded entirely for picks or entirely for win now veteran or for a combo in-between. The return the Blazers get could be completely different than what the team acquiring Dame gives up.

 

Dame isn't going to Houston.

Dame is going to Boston. Brown is going to Houston.

 

That's what I get for multitasking... I think the point remains, need those unprotected picks from BKN if we're pushing 'reset'... Love the idea of pairing Smith, Sharpe and Scoot though!

 

Yeah I don't think DeRozen really gets us closer to contend. Maybe it helps with the playoff spot. If we can get off Nurk's contract then I'm for it. If we give up Ant I want assets back.

If you think of DeRozen as more just salary filler to either dump Nurk's deal or get assets for Ant then its probably fine to acquire him. But yes, it shouldn't be because he's a starter to get this team towards contention.

 

I didn't say he could be a full time PG. I'm saying he has the court vision and passing ability of a PG from the wing position. Ant's court vision and passing is remedial at best

When DeRozan was in San Antonio, he averaged 6.5 assists vs 2.4 turnovers. That was a 2.65 assist/turnover ratio...from a wing. Does anybody believe Ant could come anywhere close to that? CJ just had is best season as a PG/assist-man. He averaged 5.7 assists while posting a 2.3 assist/turnover ratio; he had a PER of 15.6 and a TS% of .541. While DeRozan was posting superior PG numbers his last 2 seasons in SA, his PER was around 22.0 and his TS% was around .600

safe to say, at least at this point, CJ is better at the PG things than Ant. Obviously, none of the three are a PG, but having the kind of court vision and facilitation DDR would bring, at the wing, would be a big change for Portland. They haven't had anything like that since Batum, and he was never as good as DDR