Game Thread 2025-26 GAME #74 - BLAZERS VS BUCKS - MARCH 25, 2026 - WEDNESDAY - 7:00 PM - KUNP - BLAZERVISION

[Chris Craig]

We are victorious, victorious!!!!

 

[blazerkor]

With that 37th win we are making progress with more wins than last season.

I think we'll finish at .500 or even better.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Nobody played over 26 minutes. I like that

 

[Chris Craig]

5 hundy

 

[TYDame]

Don’t mess this up, 2 down 2 more home games. Need to win it all before we head to Los Angeles

 

[BBert]

This would have been a good game for Yang to get some more run. Did the Remix have a game tonight?

 

[TYDame]

This would have been a good game for Yang to get some more run. Did the Remix have a game tonight?

Yep and last I checked he was 9/9 shooting and dunking

 

[blazerfan11]

They don't own the rights to their picks for like the next 6 drafts and they hired him to coach Dame and Giannis.

This season it might pay off because they get the worse of their pick between theirs and the Pels. The Hawks get the better fo the two.

That's crazy how both Milwaukee and New Orleans have struggled this season, and how Atlanta, 9-1 in their last 10 games, could strike gold in the draft, being able to take the better pick between those two teams.
I didn't know that New Orleans not only traded their own first-round pick for Derrick Queen, but also a pick swap with Milwaukee.
The trade for New Orleans has gone pretty much as badly as it could for them, though how bad will be determined by the lottery.

To get Queen, New Orleans also traded Indiana's top-4-protected 2026 1st-round pick back to Indiana (to obtain Indiana's #23 2025 pick which was sent to Atlanta to get their #13 pick) , so if Indiana's pick ends up 5 or worse, it would have gone to New Orleans. Indiana was playing in the NBA finals when that trade happened, so it seemed very unlikely that Indiana's pick would even be in the lottery.

Worst-case scenario for New Orleans is that they gave up the #1 (Milwaukee or New Orleans) and #5 (Indiana) pick in 2026 draft for Queen, the #13 pick in the 2025 draft.

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

Another solid game. Didn't play down to the opponent( after the first five minutes).
Shot well, good team D. Seems the team is coming together more and more every game.

Playoffs baby!!! We’re back and if we can stay healthy, get Shae back? We could be this years Miami Heat Cinderella story!!!!!

Let’s go Blazers!
Rip City for life!!!

 

[SharpesTriumph]

That's crazy how both Milwaukee and New Orleans have struggled this season, and how Atlanta, 9-1 in their last 10 games, could strike gold in the draft, being able to take the better pick between those two teams.
I didn't know that New Orleans not only traded their own first-round pick for Derrick Queen, but also a pick swap with Milwaukee.
The trade for New Orleans has gone pretty much as badly as it could for them, though how bad will be determined by the lottery.

To get Queen, New Orleans also traded Indiana's top-4-protected 2026 1st-round pick back to Indiana (to obtain Indiana's #23 2025 pick which was sent to Atlanta to get their #13 pick) , so if Indiana's pick ends up 5 or worse, it would have gone to New Orleans. Indiana was playing in the NBA finals when that trade happened, so it seemed very unlikely that Indiana's pick would even be in the lottery.

Worst-case scenario for New Orleans is that they gave up the #1 (Milwaukee or New Orleans) and #5 (Indiana) pick in 2026 draft for Queen, the #13 pick in the 2025 draft.

It was an insane trade at the time. Not as bad as Luka trade obviously, but after that it might have been the dumbest trade in the last decade.

Atlanta had hired the former Pelicans assistant GM or something, sounds like that may have helped them.

 

[BlazerBeav]

I won't ever complain about Blazer wins, but I gotta say, I almost nodded off in the third quarter of this one. We should go 4-0 this week and it's somehow an awful product to have paid for.

 

[twobullz]

What I thought was different in the game last night was the Blazers tried to throw at least 5 lobs to either big man and every pass was deflected before it got to them.

 

[wizenheimer]

They don't own the rights to their picks for like the next 6 drafts and they hired him to coach Dame and Giannis.

This season it might pay off because they get the worse of their pick between theirs and the Pels. The Hawks get the better fo the two.

they have real remote shots at decent picks after this upcoming draft, but there are so many contingent and encumbered steps between empty hands and a pick it's kind of a joke

I mean, look at the obligation tree on their 2028 first round:

2028 first round draft pick to Portland or Washington (Portland, Washington, Brooklyn, Philadelphia or Phoenix incoming)
Portland will receive the more favorable of its 2028 1st round pick, protected for selections 15-30 if Portland has not conveyed a 1st round pick to Chicago by 2027, and Milwaukee's 2028 1st round pick [or neither if the Portland pick is not conveyable]; Washington will receive the more favorable of (i) the more favorable of (a) its 2028 1st round pick and (b) the least / less favorable of Brooklyn's 2028 1st round pick, Philadelphia's 2028 1st round pick, which would be protected for selections 1-8 and otherwise conveyable if Philadelphia conveys a 1st round pick to Oklahoma City in 2026, and Phoenix's 2028 1st round pick and (ii) the less favorable of the Milwaukee pick and the Portland pick if conveyable [or (ii) the Milwaukee pick if the Portland pick is not conveyable] and Milwaukee will receive the less favorable of (i) and (ii) (if the Portland pick is not conveyable, then Milwaukee's obligation to Portland will be extinguished) (via Portland's right to swap for Milwaukee; via Washington's right to swap Washington, Brooklyn, Philadelphia or Phoenix for Milwaukee or Portland) [Milwaukee-Phoenix-Portland, 9/27/2023; Milwaukee-New York-Washington, 2/6/2025]

say wut?

 

[Chris Craig]

they have real remote shots at decent picks after this upcoming draft, but there are so many contingent and encumbered steps between empty hands and a pick it's kind of a joke

I mean, look at the obligation tree on their 2028 first round:

2028 first round draft pick to Portland or Washington (Portland, Washington, Brooklyn, Philadelphia or Phoenix incoming)
Portland will receive the more favorable of its 2028 1st round pick, protected for selections 15-30 if Portland has not conveyed a 1st round pick to Chicago by 2027, and Milwaukee's 2028 1st round pick [or neither if the Portland pick is not conveyable]; Washington will receive the more favorable of (i) the more favorable of (a) its 2028 1st round pick and (b) the least / less favorable of Brooklyn's 2028 1st round pick, Philadelphia's 2028 1st round pick, which would be protected for selections 1-8 and otherwise conveyable if Philadelphia conveys a 1st round pick to Oklahoma City in 2026, and Phoenix's 2028 1st round pick and (ii) the less favorable of the Milwaukee pick and the Portland pick if conveyable [or (ii) the Milwaukee pick if the Portland pick is not conveyable] and Milwaukee will receive the less favorable of (i) and (ii) (if the Portland pick is not conveyable, then Milwaukee's obligation to Portland will be extinguished) (via Portland's right to swap for Milwaukee; via Washington's right to swap Washington, Brooklyn, Philadelphia or Phoenix for Milwaukee or Portland) [Milwaukee-Phoenix-Portland, 9/27/2023; Milwaukee-New York-Washington, 2/6/2025]

say wut?

Wait, so if Chicago gets out pick, we don't get Milwaukees?

 

[Everything Beagle]

Yep and last I checked he was 9/9 shooting and dunking

God the G-League stinks so bad. I'm glad he's dominating there.

 

[RR7]

Wait, so if Chicago gets out pick, we don't get Milwaukees?

That's correct. Because we have to swap OUR pick to the Bucks. Just adding the Magic pick in 2028 doesn't matter, because the bucks didn't agree to a magic pick, they agreed to our pick. If we don't have one, there is no swap. Which is why many want to just fulfill the pick obligation finally and get it over with

 

[wizenheimer]

That's correct. Because we have to swap OUR pick to the Bucks. Just adding the Magic pick in 2028 doesn't matter, because the bucks didn't agree to a magic pick, they agreed to our pick. If we don't have one, there is no swap. Which is why many want to just fulfill the pick obligation finally and get it over with

true

but, that Orlando pick may be enough leverage to work a deal with Chicago if Portland needs their pick to make the swap

for instance, say the Milwaukee pick is the 3rd pick; the Blazer pick is the 17th; and the Orlando pick is the 20th (or vice-versa). The Blazers might be able to get Chicago to agree to accept the Orlando pick instead of the Blazer pick if Portland adds a future lottery protected 1st, or that worst 2029 1st they have.

and if it was vice-versa and Portland had 20 and Orlando 17, I'd think Chicago would be fine accepting the better pick.

 

[RR7]

true

but, that Orlando pick may be enough leverage to work a deal with Chicago if Portland needs their pick to make the swap

for instance, say the Milwaukee pick is the 3rd pick; the Blazer pick is the 17th; and the Orlando pick is the 20th (or vice-versa). The Blazers might be able to get Chicago to agree to accept the Orlando pick instead of the Blazer pick if Portland adds a future lottery protected 1st, or that worst 2029 1st they have.

and if it was vice-versa and Portland had 20 and Orlando 17, I'd think Chicago would be fine accepting the better pick.

That's a good add on. It definitely does give us options to send to Chicago, for sure. I just think I saw someone a while back speculating that we could just unilaterally swap in the Orlando pick instead of our pick, and was just throwing out that that isn't an option. Of course, if the Bucks pick in 2028 ends up a good one(top 3, like you said), Chicago really has us over a barrel in what they can ask for to give us our pick back, which is why I'd love to get it done before then.

 

[blazerfan11]

That's a good add on. It definitely does give us options to send to Chicago, for sure. I just think I saw someone a while back speculating that we could just unilaterally swap in the Orlando pick instead of our pick, and was just throwing out that that isn't an option. Of course, if the Bucks pick in 2028 ends up a good one(top 3, like you said), Chicago really has us over a barrel in what they can ask for to give us our pick back, which is why I'd love to get it done before then.

That would be a very bad position for Portland where Chicago can hold a draft pick hostage.

Forget about the #3 pick. What if it's the #1 pick?

The Blazers would absolutely have to tank the 2027-28 season if the 1st round pick hasn't conveyed to Chicago by then.

edit: So for the people that think it's worthless for the Blazers to make the playoffs this season and convey that pick, no it is not worthless.

Making the playoffs automatically means the Blazers won't have to tank the 2027-28 season.

 

[HailBlazers]

The Blazers would absolutely have to tank the 2027-28 season if the 1st round pick hasn't conveyed to Chicago by then.

edit: So for the people that think it's worthless for the Blazers to make the playoffs this season and convey that pick, no it is not worthless.

Making the playoffs automatically means the Blazers won't have to tank the 2027-28 season.

Yeah we got Dame's comeback to think about.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

That would be a very bad position for Portland where Chicago can hold a draft pick hostage.

Forget about the #3 pick. What if it's the #1 pick?

The Blazers would absolutely have to tank the 2027-28 season if the 1st round pick hasn't conveyed to Chicago by then.

edit: So for the people that think it's worthless for the Blazers to make the playoffs this season and convey that pick, no it is not worthless.

Making the playoffs automatically means the Blazers won't have to tank the 2027-28 season.

Also I'm not sure when doing a trade to satisfy Chicago pick debt would change to fully guarantee give us the Bucks 2028 pick swap?

Seems it depends on exactly how Bucks trade is worded, but I don't know how any of us would know exactly how its written out. All these websites and reports are just media summary of the trade, not an official binding NBA document.

For instance Wiz post above says the Blazers get the swap if the Bulls pick debt is settled by 2027. So even if we were in 2028 and agreed to give the Bulls the Orlando pick would that make a difference? It might not matter at that point if the condition was based on what happens with the Bulls the prior year in 2027.

Lets say we are in the lottery again in a month and offer the Bulls our 2026 lottery pick to extinguish the debt. Would that guarantee we get the 2028 swap? Or is the swap based off what would have happened from exact draft picks held back when we did the Dame trade, not what ultimately happens with 2028 picks at a later date.

I'm rooting for us to just make the playoffs and then none of those hypotheticals matter.

 

[blazerfan11]

Also I'm not sure when doing a trade to satisfy Chicago pick debt would change to fully guarantee give us the Bucks 2028 pick swap?

Seems it depends on exactly how Bucks trade is worded, but I don't know how any of us would know exactly how its written out. All these websites and reports are just media summary of the trade, not an official binding NBA document.

For instance Wiz post above says the Blazers get the swap if the Bulls pick debt is settled by 2027. So even if we were in 2028 and agreed to give the Bulls the Orlando pick would that make a difference? It might not matter at that point if the condition was based on what happens with the Bulls the prior year in 2027.

Lets say we are in the lottery again in a month and offer the Bulls our 2026 lottery pick to extinguish the debt. Would that guarantee we get the 2028 swap? Or is the swap based off what would have happened from exact draft picks held back when we did the Dame trade, not what ultimately happens with 2028 picks at a later date.

I'm rooting for us to just make the playoffs and then none of those hypotheticals matter.

Hell, why are we even talking about trading a 2028 unrestricted 1st-round pick (not a swap) anyway?

We won't know what it might be until the end of the 2027-28 season. Orlando could fall off a cliff. It is certainly not an asset that should be thought of as tradable at this point.

As New Orleans found out the hard way, that team could be in the NBA finals the previous year then be in last place the next season.
(Would Indiana still be in last place if they thought they might lose their draft pick if it landed outside the top 4? I think they would have done exactly the same thing, tank hard, to try to get the pick to land from 1 to 4. )