2021-22 Blazers Roster

[boredinsalem]

Since we're doing the trade CJ thing in here, which I obviously love... there's a new trade I've been thinking about. If the Knick are interested in CJ they might be willing to give up what amounts to three late firsts and Toppin for him. If Toronto is ready to let Lowry walk and really start a youth based rebuild, they might be willing to take the haul of Toppin, pick 21, 23 and 32 along with all of the cap space for Siakam.

If that deal went through obviously I'd re-sign Powell using his bird rights, I would try to get Elfrid Payton or maybe Kris Dunn with the MLE, I guess I'd give Zach his QO but I wouldn't match anything higher or at the same cost with more guaranteed years, I'd re-sign Enes using his early-bird rights and then fill the rest of the team with DLeaguers and other min level guys. I'm assuming that DJ stays just because this is the best money he can get.

That gives us Dame, Powell, RoCo, Siakam, Nurk, Payton, DJ, Ant, Nas, Enes, Zach. That's a big upgrade over our current playable roster IMO and would be fantastic with a new head coach.

I could see Lowry fitting well next to Dame (and Powell of course). The other guy from Toronto I'm interested in is Boucher. He is way too thin to play center, but I think he'd be a terror next to Nurk, help erase some of Enes' mistakes, and could play in a switching 3/4/5 lineup with two of Nas, Covington, and Collins. He's also best utilized at the same position as Siakam, so Toronto may be willing to let go of him.

 

[Hoopguru]

We held onto CJ for too long. He's 29 and he's at the point where a franchise isn't going to trade for him to be their main guy for the future. At this point he's really a guy that could help a team take the next step. That's why I'm hoping Philly shits the bed in the first round so we can try to convince them to take CJ.

If they lose the first round they should replace Rivers.

 

[Scalma]

Aka Zach Collins.

They can’t go into next season planning anything around Collins. Whatever they get from him is a bonus. He’s had too many injuries, bad luck or not.

 

[BonesJones]

A) He has to be healthy

B) I'm not convinced he's mobile enough.

A of course.

B - He definitely is. People overrate jus thow mobile you have to be to effectively trap. It's extremely hard to find mobile Cs with size that can hit 3s as well, especially ones for cheap. That's what he could be for us next year.

 

[BonesJones]

They can’t go into next season planning anything around Collins. Whatever they get from him is a bonus. He’s had too many injuries, bad luck or not.

He's only had 2 injuries. Not encouraging but not damning either. I think I you go in with a solid 3rd string C behind him that could step up up to 2nd string if needed, and a 4 that could play some 5 (Like a Thad Young).

 

[BonesJones]

I wish DJJ and Elleby wasnt 28K short of matching Thad Young this offseason. A Thad Young and Zach Collins 4/5 pairing off the bench would be perfect.

 

[Scalma]

He's only had 2 injuries. Not encouraging but not damning either. I think I you go in with a solid 3rd string C behind him that could step up up to 2nd string if needed, and a 4 that could play some 5 (Like a Thad Young).

he’s only had two, but those two essentially cost him two seasons, and the ankle one he had is a pretty serious one. The good thing about Collins is he can play two positions so even if they invest in another center, they can still find playing time for Collins if he’s fit, as I don’t expect Melo to be back.

 

[JDC]

Mobility for a big it's more of a prerequisite if you're asking them to be at the level of the screen and in a back pedal.

Trapping is more a couple quick slides and being able to recover back in a sprint.

I feel like the lack of a secondary rim protector (with most teams only playing with one big on the floor), and the amount of shooting that teams are putting out on the floor is why we don't see really any team trap with any consistency. Besides maybe Denver with Jokic and the Lakers with AD at center which they rarely go to in the reg season.

If a team doesn't have a lot of shooting on the floor, you see it more though, including from us.

Obviously because more prevalent in the playoffs when you're dealing with the elite off the dribble creators and you have teams that have the personnel to pull off the scheme consistently.

The best defensive teams still drop to some degree with their center I'd say roughly 85% of the time in the regular season though.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

If you're DJJ, and you're not in the rotation anymore, would you want to stay on a team that might not even play you next year? That's not going to help his contract options. I think he is going to leave.

For centers, you're listing conventional bigs. I'm not talking about big bigs. Maybe Collins can be that guy. I'm not convinced though, honestly.

DJJ decision to stay or go depends on what his agent thinks offers are. Is he looking at earning under $5million? Then he's opting in for one year. If a team is gonna pay closer to his $10 million I agree he leaves. If he opts in he will still only be 25 before the 2022-23 season... so he has plenty of time to build his value and earn more large contracts the 7 years. He hasn't earned a huge rookie deal as lottery picks do so he's going to be weary of giving up $10 million in salary. He talked about this in multiple stories, interviews, and recaps of free agency; how this is life altering money for him.

Players don't pass up multiple millions just to get a change of scenery. They request a trade, they think next year will be different, etc.

With centers, maybe you could give examples of new centers that shoot threes and trap. I just cant think of them. That seems to be a very narrow rare skill so I don't see the point in trying to target such a specialized role. If the team gets more talent they should get it at any position or role.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Shouldn't we have this discussion after we win the championship?

 

[James lamphear]

A) He has to be healthy

B) I'm not convinced he's mobile enough.

Collins is the best mobile big man we got.

 

[Scalma]

Kind of a weird time to be talking about next year but as of right now here are some free agent centers I would target (I don’t think Kanter should be brought back)

McGee
Dieng
Theis

Im assuming we’re only gonna have the tax payer MLE btw.

 

[Natebishop3]

Collins is the best mobile big man we got.

That's like saying I have the biggest penis in my house..... I'm the only dude here.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

They can’t go into next season planning anything around Collins. Whatever they get from him is a bonus. He’s had too many injuries, bad luck or not.

Seems like the Ws are planning on quite a bit on Klay.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Seems like the Ws are planning on quite a bit on Klay.

One is an all nba all star multi time champion on a max contract. The other has never had a full season with a consistent role. Makes sense to plan differently for them.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Shouldn't we have this discussion after we win the championship?

Before, during, and after

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Blazers are in a difficult salary situation. They are paying Blevins and his cousin over $32 mil this year, and over $43 mil next year.

 

[James lamphear]

That's like saying I have the biggest penis in my house..... I'm the only dude here.

Hopefully your the only guy in your house.

 

[crandc]

Portland lucked out on draft. With three teams having same record, Dallas picks forest, them Lakers, then Blazers.

 

[crandc]

Crap. Dallas picks first. Got to watch auto correct like a hawk.

 

[B-Roy]

Portland lucked out on draft. With three teams having same record, Dallas picks forest, them Lakers, then Blazers.

Doesn't matter because we don't have our pick.

 

[crandc]

Doesn't matter because we don't have our pick.

You are correct, realized later it goes to Houston. Indirectly hurts as playoff teams get potentially better picks.