Notice 2023 Blazers Free Agency (2 Viewers)

[B-Roy]

Marcus Smart just got Porzingis and a couple of firsts, partially due to his amazingly team friendly contract at 3/60M left for a 29y/o. Ant's at 3/77M at 23, not nearly as accomplished, but way more accomplished than Smart was at 23.

I believe most of the league values Smart's skill set a lot more than Ants.

 

[illmatic99]

Having 0 leads or noise on Ant trades is concerning. Ya it could be happening behind the scenes but Jake is usually up on even whispers this time of yr.

Leads me my question last week if their phones still work at the PF.

 

[PDXFonz]

How the hell did JR Rider and Jim Jackson get us Steve Smith back in the day...

Allen Crabbe

But JR was a better player

 

[BrianFromWA]

I believe most of the league values Smart's skill set a lot more than Ants.

I don't doubt it, and I don't think we're going to get a potential all-nba center and two firsts for him.
But we're also not getting the John Collins pu-pu platter.
But ORL has been in need of a shooter like Ant for years. I thought for sure they were taking Dick or Hawkins with their stated needs at not having a shooter around Wagner and Banchero.

 

[PDXFonz]

Having 0 leads or noise on Ant trades is concerning. Ya it could be happening behind the scenes but Jake is usually up on even whispers this time of yr.

Leads me my question last week if their phones still work at the PF.

It is interesting, but is it concerning?

Would you be surprised to wake up and find out that Simons is no longer a Blazer?

I would not. I wouldn’t expect every trade or signing which happens to be talked about in major headlines. How many of the ones which are actually end up happening?

There could be a Simons trade waiting to be completed and the people who know are the people involved.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Tbh maybe our school system bodes well too. What’s the dude from Boston who went to West Linn? Payton Pritchard? Oregon schools have both produced athletes and for the most part is a good place to raise children. Bro that conference has two players in the League today, one won a championship and the other has been in the finals with their team. Don’t sleep on the 3 rivers league.

Did you really just imply 3 Rivers League high schools are going to attract NBA stars?

I know many Blazers fans have a warped perception of how appealing Portland is to NBA free agents; but this takes the cake.

 

[B-Roy]

I don't doubt it, and I don't think we're going to get a potential all-nba center and two firsts for him.
But we're also not getting the John Collins pu-pu platter.
But ORL has been in need of a shooter like Ant for years. I thought for sure they were taking Dick or Hawkins with their stated needs at not having a shooter around Wagner and Banchero.

I think something centered around Isaac and Harris would be interesting. There were talks of #11 but I think those conversations are out the door after the draft.

Does Isaac and Harris do anything for you? It's high risk, but if Isaac returns to his pre-injury play he's exactly the type of player we need.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Having 0 leads or noise on Ant trades is concerning. Ya it could be happening behind the scenes but Jake is usually up on even whispers this time of yr.

Leads me my question last week if their phones still work at the PF.

Yeah I question if the Blazers even want to make an effort to put starters around Dame.

Yes the Blazers might be tight lipped and not leak anything - but if they were making calls we would be hearing about some of it from the other teams. There has been crickets on the Blazers before the draft, at the draft and now.

I think the Blazers might just throw out some MLE offers and wait for Dame to ask out. Wouldn't be shocked if we hear Grant agrees to go to the Kings or Spurs or Rockets on Saturday.

 

[illmatic99]

It is interesting, but is it concerning?

Would you be surprised to wake up and find out that Simons is no longer a Blazer?

I would not. I wouldn’t expect every trade or signing which happens to be talked about in major headlines. How many of the ones which are actually end up happening?

There could be a Simons trade waiting to be completed and the people who know are the people involved.

Concerning. It also could indicate reluctance from Cronin to give him up. This could be for two reasons:

1. Dame might still ask out in which case Ant could be useful to have on the roster.

2. Cronin is simply too scared to make moves or to give up home grown talent like his predecessor.


Either way, I don't like it.

 

[B-Roy]

This would be an awesome deal. I would even add picks to do it. I don't think Orlando considers it though.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

If Ant has little to no value and the Blazers are keeping Sharpe/Scoot how can the Blazers add any starting level forward to this roster to get a competitive team around Dame?

Taking emotion out of it from a pure asset perspective it seems better to hold onto Ant for the chance his value is higher in a year, Blazers get something for Grant in a sign and trade, Blazers get a bunch of good picks for Dame, and work to rebuild this thing for a number of years down the line.

Yeah it will be sad as hell to see Dame go but I'm just not seeing any path to keep him happy here or have a roster that makes any sense.

Or he can be used as salary filler along with future picks?

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I don't doubt it, and I don't think we're going to get a potential all-nba center and two firsts for him.
But we're also not getting the John Collins pu-pu platter.
But ORL has been in need of a shooter like Ant for years. I thought for sure they were taking Dick or Hawkins with their stated needs at not having a shooter around Wagner and Banchero.

Orlando has cap room and can just sign Max Streus to get shooting without having to give us anything.

 

[PDXFonz]

Did you really just imply 3 Rivers League high schools are going to attract NBA stars?

I know many Blazers fans have a warped perception of how appealing Portland is to NBA free agents; but this takes the cake.

LOL!

I guess in some sense I did. But I’ll stand by my belief that Portland(and the metro area) is a good place to raise kids.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I think something centered around Isaac and Harris would be interesting. There were talks of #11 but I think those conversations are out the door after the draft.

Does Isaac and Harris do anything for you? It's high risk, but if Isaac returns to his pre-injury play he's exactly the type of player we need.

I'm irrationally an Isaac fan. He's Samuel Jackson-level Breakable, but if you just wrote down what we need (size, defensive chops, dawg mentality, hard worker) you're getting it all in one package. And his latest injury is an adductor thing similar to what Dame went through. He's 2+ years from the ACL injur(ies). I would probably ask for more, but Isaac fits timeline and need more than Ant.

 

[illmatic99]

View attachment 56405

This would be an awesome deal. I would even add picks to do it. I don't think Orlando considers it though.

Awesome? Sheesh.

Nurk and WCJ are a wash, so we trade Ant for an overpaid guy who never plays and another guard?

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Concerning. It also could indicate reluctance from Cronin to give him up. This could be for two reasons:

1. Dame might still ask out in which case Ant could be useful to have on the roster.

2. Cronin is simply too scared to make moves or to give up home grown talent like his predecessor.


Either way, I don't like it.

I'm a big pro Ant guy - but still just for the due diligence I'd be making all sorts of inquiries of what starting forwards I could get in a trade for Ant. You at least have to explorer that possibility of having Dame and a forward next year even if you ultimately decide to not pull the trigger and keep Ant.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

View attachment 56405

This would be an awesome deal. I would even add picks to do it. I don't think Orlando considers it though.

How does this get us a starting forward?

Yeah I could buy the idea of upgrading Nurk to WCJ. But any Ant trade needs to get the Blazers at least a below average starting forward.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

LOL!

I guess in some sense I did. But I’ll stand by my belief that Portland(and the metro area) is a good place to raise kids.

I don't disagree with this statement about kids; thats a totally separate discussion. I think many NBA players actually live in Portland after a few months then eventually start to really enjoy it.

But its one of the worst cities to attract NBA free agents, also that the only 3 months of great weather are the NBA offseason when players would leave. They are used to road trips in the season with depressing rain and little to do. So the Blazers will never enjoy the benefits of being able to build talent through free agency as some other NBA cities can.

 

[PDXFonz]

Its hard to know. If Cronin doesn't improve the immediate win now talent on the team it seems like the Blazers are pushing Dame into a corner and calling his bluff. His requests and demands start to be pretty meaningless if there is never any action from himself to back them up.

We traded away Hart and got Dame to help the team tank for two seasons with the rhetoric this would eventually lead to a more veteran competitive team. It's arguably less competitive in a win now sense today than at last trade deadline, at last offseason, at the trade deadline prior, or at any point of Olshey's tenure.

I don't think Dame wants to ask out but I think he wants better vets on the team as well as management working to win now. Some might suspect the Blazers are so blatantly going against Dame's requests they are trying to push him to ask out.

I personally love some of the long term potential of our players. But Scoot is going to have major learning moments. Sharpe is going to have major holes. Ant is still not in his prime. If the Blazers were selling Dame on the idea he is a vet leading a bunch of young kids thats one thing. But this roster is clearly not setup to win now with Dame as has been preached publicly, thus I totally understand Dame's frusteration.

I don’t think they are playing poker against each other.

Why are we just calling national headlines fact instead of asking whether or not somebody is going to write an article as soon as Portland drafts a PG?

Some well to do’s probably had it pre-written thinking Wenbenyama goes first and then if CHA doesn’t draft Scoot, Portland will.

 

[Natebishop3]

View attachment 56405

This would be an awesome deal. I would even add picks to do it. I don't think Orlando considers it though.

I guess I'm just not clear... are we dumping Ant just to dump him? This kind of trade brings back talent, but is it the level of talent that Dame wants?

And if Dame ultimately decides that what we can bring in is not enough, did we dump Ant for no reason?

 

[PDXFonz]

Bro I heard that LaLa was playing Dames newest album today and that can only mean one thing….

MELO BACK TO PDXXXXXXXXXXXXX

LETSSSSS GOOOOOOOOOOO

 

[BrianFromWA]

I guess I'm just not clear... are we dumping Ant just to dump him? This kind of trade brings back talent, but is it the level of talent that Dame wants?

And if Dame ultimately decides that what we can bring in is not enough, did we dump Ant for no reason?

It's kind of a challenge trade. Good stuff (but flawed) that we may not need for good stuff (but flawed) that they may not need. Not a dump, not a haul, just a trade.

 

[Irish Trader]

Here is a new deal being thrown around today in the press. I think we could do worse. yea or nay
Trade Details
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Jaime Jaquez Jr, Nikola Jovic, Malik Beasley, Mo Bamba, Victor Oladipo, 2024 First-Round Pick (MIA), 2028 First-Round Pick (MIA), 2024 Second-Round Pick (LAC)

Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Tyler Herro

Miami Heat Receive: Damian Lillard

 

[Chris Craig]

Here is a new deal being thrown around today in the press. I think we could do worse. yea or nay
Trade Details
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Jaime Jaquez Jr, Nikola Jovic, Malik Beasley, Mo Bamba, Victor Oladipo, 2024 First-Round Pick (MIA), 2028 First-Round Pick (MIA), 2024 Second-Round Pick (LAC)

Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Tyler Herro

Miami Heat Receive: Damian Lillard

No.

 

[PDXFonz]

I don't disagree with this statement about kids; thats a totally separate discussion. I think many NBA players actually live in Portland after a few months then eventually start to really enjoy it.

But its one of the worst cities to attract NBA free agents, also that the only 3 months of great weather are the NBA offseason when players would leave. They are used to road trips in the season with depressing rain and little to do. So the Blazers will never enjoy the benefits of being able to build talent through free agency as some other NBA cities can.

I don’t even follow Draymond on IG but I looked at his today and his last post was of his wife and kids at some Hollywood something.

Lot of factors for players in FA, because any FA has been in the league and played for a team for a few years. In this case for their entire career.

If Draymond were all about winning would you honestly expect him to want to sign here?

As far as anything else, you’ve got 3-4 months to be anywhere in the world that you want to be.

 

[B-Roy]

Awesome? Sheesh.

Nurk and WCJ are a wash, so we trade Ant for an overpaid guy who never plays and another guard?

WCJ > Nurk, both play and contract wise. Ant to make up the difference in value.

I'm still an Isaac believer, but I can understand why some folks think he's super negative.

I still think people are too picky about what options are available. There's no magic (pun intended) for us without moving off at least one of Dame/Scoot/Sharpe.

 

[Chris Craig]

I don’t even follow Draymond on IG but I looked at his today and his last post was of his wife and kids at some Hollywood something.

Lot of factors for players in FA, because any FA has been in the league and played for a team for a few years. In this case for their entire career.

If Draymond were all about winning would you honestly expect him to want to sign here?

Probably staying with GS or going to LAL.

 

[B-Roy]

How does this get us a starting forward?

Yeah I could buy the idea of upgrading Nurk to WCJ. But any Ant trade needs to get the Blazers at least a below average starting forward.

Who is a below average starting forward that you would be okay with?

 

[Natebishop3]

Here is a new deal being thrown around today in the press. I think we could do worse. yea or nay
Trade Details
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Jaime Jaquez Jr, Nikola Jovic, Malik Beasley, Mo Bamba, Victor Oladipo, 2024 First-Round Pick (MIA), 2028 First-Round Pick (MIA), 2024 Second-Round Pick (LAC)

Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Tyler Herro

Miami Heat Receive: Damian Lillard

Yuck. If Simons doesn't have any trade value, I bet Herro doesn't have much either.

 

[wizenheimer]

I think two things:

1.) Players have more value to teams that are calling about them.
2.) Teams haven't been calling about Ant.

Ant's value is quite different to a team calling about him versus a team where we call them about Ant. I read this as there's no teams that would value him enough to give the Blazers a call. If we offered him to teams, maybe we could get some value, but it's probably not as much as people think. Personally, I don't see the market for him. I've checked the status of all 29 other teams in the league and I can't come up with a good enough argument for any of those teams to give up any assets of significance for Ant. I'll eat my words if something happens and I'm wrong.

I think that's an accurate evaluation

if Portland wants their assets to have good value they need to stop investing heavily in 6'3 SG's who play bad defense