We got the #3 pick. Discuss the possibilities.

Ant for DeRozan
Nurk and #23 for Draymond or Nurkic, Little and #23 for Ayton
Draft Brandon Miller

 

Yeah, I can't dispute what you are saying. I considered it as well, but it is also the reason Chicago would consider trading an all-star (last year) for Ant.

 

If Little is the price of upgrading from Draymond to Ayton, that's the move

 

Yes, that would be nice, but i think Ayton will be staying once the new coach talks with him.

 

We need size at the center if we had DeRosan and Grant as our forwards. So adding Draymond would not be my preference.
Either keep Nurk or gamble on Ayton.

 

I think Toronto knows. If they can get somebody to overpay substantially for Siakam and OG, then they blow it up. Otherwise they keep their core and try to add a couple small pieces.

“So I think you have a fascinating situation happening in Toronto right now. And the reason it is fascinating is in talking to folks that have been in touch with the Raptors recently, the Raptors don’t seem to know which direction they’re going to take,” ESPN reporter and NBA insider Brian Windhorst said in his podcast recently. “Whether or not they are going to focus on re-signing Fred VanVleet, extending Pascal Siakam, potentially making other roster upgrades. Or whether or not they’re going to send Fred VanVleet in a sign-and-trade, maybe investigate moving other players be it OG Anunoby or Pascal Siakam.”

 

I don't get why they fired Nurse. I know OG didn't like the consistency of his PT, and would pout. But they won a title . Only Masai Ujiri knows.

 

Now THAT is an interesting idea...

 

I don't really agree, but then I don't value Ant that much. He's the worst defender the Blazers have had since Nolan Smith and he's overpaid comparet to production and efficiency. I do get your point about the age gap

what I'd shoot for is Ant for Derozan + dismissing Chicago's claim on future Blazer 1st's. Send the Bulls a 2nd or two if they are hesitant. I do wonder why the Bulls would break up LaVine/Derozan only to combine LaVine/Simons. Doesn't make a lot of sense

in fact, combining rumors, and while I don't like the idea of Ayton:

Ant for Derozan; Nurkic + 23 + filler (Little & Keon?) for Ayton; Portland drafts Miller/Scoot/Amen/Asur

Dame
Sharpe
DeRozan
Grant
Ayton

might be the best of both worlds allowing the Blazers to add a 3rd pick's talent to the roaster

I might even revisit the idea of #3 to Orlando for #6 + Franz Wagner

 

My quick reaction: We're rolling out a worse defensive lineup than last year.

DDR (like Ant) is a below average defender.
Sharpe has a long ways to go on defense, despite having the tools.
Ayton is a worse defender than Nurk IMO.

 

I would like to see if Chicago would give up DDR and Caruso for Ant. I’d love to get a defensive point guard to come off the bench.

 

can't have everything, and to some extent, I don't agree

Ant isn't just a below average defender...he's terrible; and he's a 5 year veteran. He's not going to improve much on that end of the floor. DDR may be below average, but he's a couple tiers above Ant in defense, and he has the size and length to cover SF's. Ant doesn't

Nurk is a better defender than Ayton in the paint; Ayton is better out on the perimeter. They are about the same as shot-blockers and shot-intimidaters since Nurk is much more floor-bound after all the injuries. Which of course brings up the very real factor that Nurkic can't defend when he's injured. Of course, Ayton seems to get lots of minor injuries when he misses a half-dozen games here and there

And, however many mistakes Sharpe makes on defense from inexperience, he's still better than Ant with all sorts of room for improvement

mainly though I was just looking at a relatively inexpensive way to add the veterans Dame wants while also keeping that 3rd pick, AND, eliminating the dumbass obligation to Chicago for future Blazers first's

 

That would provide a lot more options for Portland.

 

The fact that it's even close, means this is a bottom 5 defense, again. Which we all know bottom 5 defenses don't have much success.

 

I don't want DeRozan or Draymond at this point. I think DeMar's best when he is at the 2 and that's where I want Shaedon. I don't want a guy on the team that will sucker punch a teammate knocking him out... for some reason that just doesn't appeal to me, along with all of Draymond's other bullshit. Imagine if Draymond starts getting called for all of the fouls he commits if he leaves the Warriors. We don't need guys that are Dame's age... we can take guys a little younger and a lot younger but we don't want this whole team to be in a decline at the same time. Dame is peaking, I think the other two have peaked.

If Toronto doesn't want to be complete assholes I would want to send them #3, Ant and Nurk for Siakam, #13 and Boucher or Precious... if they want to win every trade or some shit like that they can go fuck themselves.

 

I like that idea but I sure don't think the Bulls would value Ant that much

Ant + Little + 23 for DDR + Caruso + extinguishing Chicago's claim on Blazer 1st's?

 

I don't know that would be the case. Maybe. But it's a suggestion of a beginning of a re-tool based upon what's probably realistic, rather than what's fantasy. Lots of options. Bring DDR off the bench. Do the 3 for 6 + Franz Wagner and use 6 to draft Asur Thompson (or Amen Thompson; or Jarace Walker). Send Ant, Little & 23 for DDR and Caruso. Move Nurk + 3 for 6 + Carter Jr. + future 1st.

I just don't think the option paths are as narrow as the naysayers around here have been insisting

 

I'm not big on DeRozan or Draymond.

I could be sold on some kind of three-way trade involving Ant and DeRozan that brought the Blazers someone else, though.

Also, not sure if Ayton is the way to go there. I think it was Bones who made the argument, and I thought the reasoning was very sound, from an analytics standpoint, Ayton isn't enough of an upgrade over Nurk to justify the large difference in salary. I'm thinking moving Nurk would be good for the Blazers, but I'm not sure Ayton's what I want coming back.

 

I tend to agree with that, but at least it's beginning to look like options like Ayton and DDR are realistically available when options like Bridges aren't, or will be way too expensive

personally I think C is the least important position unless you have a Jokic, Embiid, or Adebayo. If you don't have an elite talent like one of those guys you're better off with C by committee drawn from the bargain bin.

besides that, with the Vulcans in charge, Ayton at 33M/year doesn't seem realistic

 

Absolutely. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Explore all avenues.