I have asked this question before but haven’t gotten an answer. The Trail Blazers owe Chicago a number one draft choice protected until 2028. If the trailblazers are in the lottery, they don’t have to give the Chicago Bulls their number one draft choice. My question is they have a pick swap opportunity with Milwaukie in 2028. What happens if Milwaukie has a bad record in 2027 and ends up with the number one pick. How can Portland switch places with Milwaukie if their draft choice is owed to Chicago. When I read it, it says up until 2028, Cronin would not have picked 2028 to have an unprotected pic swap opportunity only to not have their number one draft choice available to swap because they owe it to Chicago. It’s very confusing because when I read future Portland draft choices, it’s written differently on different sites. Can anybody explain this to me? I know 2028 it’s a long ways away, but it could be a big deal.
I think RealGM has it right the way they spell it out: 2028 - 1-14 Own or swap for MIL; 15-30 to CHI if not already settled; or Own or swap for MIL if POR has conveyed 1st round pick to CHI by 2027 I think Cronin accepted a 2028 pick swap from Milwaukee with the assumption that we'd make the playoffs and settle the Chicago debt before that point. But yes, conceivably, if the Blazers miss the playoffs in 2025, 2026, & 2027, and then make the playoffs in 2028, and the Bucks are terrible in 2028, then the pick swap could turn out to be nothing.
yeah, disaster could happen. That Olshey allowed the max number of years for that protection has always been amazingly stupid. And Chicago can now see that possibility so buying them off cheap is probably off the table at the same time, that's the next 5 drafts in question; and 4 seasons after this one. If it was the old format, this would be a worry. With the play-in it's less of a worry but it's there.
I don't see how the playin effects the amount of worry - if the Blazers make the playin but lose they will be in the NBA draft lottery and the pick does not convey to Chicago.
Its much more likely this scenario will be irrelevant than relevant, so it doesn't make sense for the Blazers to give up much of any value to Chicago now to make that swap guaranteed. The Blazers also have control over this scenario - they could just tank in 2028 to make sure they miss the playoffs if Cronin really wants that pick swap or the Bucks pick looks like it could be at the top of the lottery. Or the Blazers could push hard for the playoffs in 2027. Or the Blazers could do a deal with Chicago between now and then.... I'd think Chicago is concerned this Blazers pick may never transfer and turn into a 2nd rounder. It will be amusing/interesting if in early 2028 this does looks like a real possibility. Could the Blazers and Chicago change the pick deal at that time so Portland is guaranteed the swap? What would be the cost? Would be Bucks instead try to give something to Chicago so the swap is less likely?
