The hard cap just complicates things all season. Realistically if we were never in the KD sweepstakes, a KD trade theoretically to certain teams like the Raptors or Suns would lead to a player being available in either scenario that until this point was either untouchable (Mikal Bridges) or the asking price was too high (OG Anunoby). Dame would LOVE to get Mikal. If you take out obvious star players, Mikal would be on the top of Dame's wish list, and it's not even close for 2nd. Phoenix to this point has told anyone calling about Bridges no thanks and wouldn't even consider it. However, since the Pacers ruined any chance of including Ayton in a trade for KD, Mikal for the first time would almost have to be a part of the trade for it to work. The Suns have that connection because they drafted him, watched him grow, and he's been a big part of their success. The Nets would value him too of course, but they wouldn't have the same pride of being "their" guy that the Suns currently have. Same thing applies to OG. Both of those guys become more realistic targets if they're part of a KD trade. Could the Blazers still make it work? Sure, it's still possible to trade say Hart/Nas/Winslow to match and still be under the hard cap, it's just weird that a front office that got credit for being different and not afraid of taking a big risk would essentially eliminate themselves from being able to take said risk.
That’s very true. My biggest fear is they try to salvage the season by trading guys like Nas, Sharpe, etc for a C. I would much rather get a lotto pick in a very deep draft. But with Dame, Ant, and other guys, we’re not gonna suck enough to get a high lotto pick and it likely wouldn’t justify another lotto season. It’s going to be tough. The only guy I would want to give up is Hart atm, only because he has a PO next season.
Injuries will undoubtably hurt some of the projected playoff teams, but today on paper I see both the Blazers & Lakers on the outside looking in. STOMP
Tank-o-Rama: Houston, OKC, San Antonio, Utah Teams we can count on: Sacramento Will be overrated, again: Minnesota Eliminating any optimism on my part, the Blazers finish in the Top 9 in the West. Yet, a number of early predictions rushing to the bottom. Really?
My issue with trading GTJ at the time of the trade was I didn't understand why we would trade a guard for another guard. We had Dame/CJ/Ant. I was hoping we'd move GTJ for a forward. I still don't get it. Neil was a moron.
We all knew that CJ was the player who should have been traded at that point anyway....and yes, for a forward. Trent starting at the 2 with Ant coming off the bench behind him and Dame was what everyone but Neil wanted to see.
I wouldn't gamble on the Blazers on the post-season , but for the regular season I expect a consistent effort on defense and depth are going to win a lot of games.
I know you're joking, but the most we can offer Meyers is about $4 million, so that doesn't work either.
Not if Meyers legally changes his name to Kevin Durant. Then they can be paid the same and we can trade one for the other.