I think the plan is to trade the pick

I guess you need to start with the notion the Pels are done waiting for Zion to stay healthy. Even subtracting Zion they have a kind of awkward roster going forward. I imagine they'd like to dump CJ. Of course that's assuming they are heading for a rebuild; but trading Zion would indicate that. Their not-really-a-core is Murray, Murphy, and Jones. But next season, Murray will be 29; Jones will be 27; Murphy will be 25. That's a pretty old rebuilding not-core

I'd imagine salary & cap reduction would be priorities. I don't think they would need or want Ayton but I do think they'd like his expiring contract. So, if they have a top-5 pick + a 9th/10th pick in this draft and an expiring contract, that might get them leaning strongly toward a Blazer offer. That 2029 pick might tip them over into saying yes

but I don't have a clue how the incoming new management would view things. I would be a little surprised if any team would substantially outbid that hypothetical Blazers offer

as far as the ubiquitous Simons-->Orlando trade, part of me believes if that was a possibility it would have already been done. Orlando signed Suggs to a long term extension that goes thru 2029-30. They have KCP, Cole Antony and Black signed for at least 2 more seasons. Now, they had the 2nd rated defense but the 27th ranked offense. That alwys seems to be the lever Blazer fans talk about. Maybe it's a good lever; maybe there's no fulcrum

 

I'd probably even add in another first rounder to make that happen.

 

I think they’d want players like, Scoot, Sharpe, Camara plus picks. Not all of those players, but most likely 2 of them

 

I feel like that's not really a swing that's just taking advantage of a market inefficiency (a top 40 guy becoming available for cheap).

I think it'll be more in the 3+ firsts and a young player range. I think he gets a richer package than Deni did, right or wrong.

(I think this is the type of move you walk away from if you have to start including guys like Scoot or Shaedon). There will be other guys that become available in the future that don't have Zion-level risk attached, and waiting another year on Scoot/Shaedon makes sense.

 

At this point you say no. Maybe there will be a team desperate enough to give them more - but Zion is damaged goods now. He is not available to play enough, he has a big contract that will not be easy to get out of - If NOP really want to get out of this - they will need to reconsider their asking price.

Only way I can see this happening is if NOP win the lottery and want to start fresh with a new cornerstone - and want to get Zion out of the way. Otherwise, I suspect they will just take that swing on Zion themselves.

 

If we had a second FRP i'd be down with that but probably not where we're selecting. I'd put small ball five down the list of priorities, though.

 

In 6 seasons, Zion has missed 258 games due to injury.

He has appeared in 214 games.

Why would it be any different in Portland? Unless he comes for cheap, no thanks.

 

It's a swing on the "buyer" because Zion is not available enough and has a long, rich contract to contend with. A guy like that can propel a team to contention if you get the magical season from him, or he can put you in financial hell for a long time - that's why it's a swing.

 

If they think they're getting young talent like that from any team, I think they're tripping. Zion is such a huge risk that I think they'll have to take their compensation for him in picks and expiring contracts or less wanted vets.

Again, I think it would be hard for them to turn down two FRPs one in this draft and one guaranteed to convey and an expiring contract of a guy like Ayton who still isn't close to old and they get a free look at and Bird rights to.

I understand that when Zion has shown his best he looks like a superstar but the guy is just a huge gamble.

 

I don't think we know what our positional need is yet.

We won 36 games.

We need a lot.

Hopefully that need becomes obvious by this time next season.

 

I think we could have a mid to late FRP in this draft from an Ant trade. In that case I would take Fleming with that pick and swing for the highest upside with our pick.

 

I think Zion would be worth the risk as long as you don’t have to give up scoot, Sharpe or Deni. He definitely has the potential to turn a team into a contender. Sometimes players just need a change.

 

I wouldn't give up Camara or Clingan for him either.

 

I see people use Ayton for trade idea's but what team's out there with assets the Blazers MIGHT want and do not have a center would really want him and that contract ?? Now I will admit it might be easier to move then Grant but not sure by much cause both players have issues outside of the money on the contract. This is why i am so critical of Cronin because he does not think of the ramifications of his deal at least it seems like that but could be wrong hopefully he will make others and me eat our words when we get on him. I am semi confident in Cronin to be able to move one of the 3 vets ( Grant , Ayton or Ant ) but if he can find a home for at least one more of these three without giving up too much then that would be a small miracle.

 

You mean that contract that expires at the end of next season???

The only idea I've floated for trading Deandre was for Zion where the value we are sending is in draft picks we're sending out and the cap space after the upcoming season they'd get... along with a look at Deandre who any team who gets him will have full Bird rights on. Not to say they'd sign him to some max deal but to say they could re-sign him even if they're over the cap, to whatever deal they come to without it eating up any of their MLE money.

I think most likely we'll start the season with Deandre unless there's a deal for a superstar in which he's a useful salary filler.

I think Ant was probably the player Joe had a deal for at the deadline, that Joe alluded to pushing to before the draft, so I think it's likely that he's gone. I think Jerami sounded like he'd be interested in moving on and if you get Joe, Jerami and Jerami's agent (as Jerami suggested) working on a trade for him, they'll find something that works for us, probably won't net us much of anything but likely won't cost us either. So I actually think we'll see two of those three gone and if someone wants to throw us a bone for Rob, he'll be gone too.

 

eternal optimist

 

i'm down with that. my dream scenario is kon and carter or fleming.

 

How about this:
We send this years pick to Miami. Might take another first as well, but I would still do it. Simons/Williams and 2 firsts for Bam



Then we offload Grant:


This is 83K off, but I'm sure it can be worked out.

Then we offload Ayton:




Don't ask me why the other teams would do it, because I have no clue other than its about damned time we were gifted something good for once! lol.


Scoot/Brooks/Sheppard
Sharpe/Tumani/Rupert
Deni/Johnson/Thybulle
Bam/Walker/Murray
Clingan/Bam/Walker

Does that get us to contender status?

 

Kings are about to break this shit up. i don't want anyone they have.

or maybe they want to continue their madness with overpaid, non-impact vets???

 

Jerami said what he said about possibly needing to get with Joe and his agent... that hadn't happened before. I really do think Ant was the trade that Joe was talking about in his post deadline presser, he really has said he planted seeds and then pulled off the trade before the draft three times now. That's all I got. It is optimistic but it's also true that Joe has been making this roster more and more sensible. Like always, we'll see soon enough.