Ant is not a #1 option

[1 Eye Jack]

This is absolutely not a knock on Ant but he is not a number 1 option. We better hope that Sharpe or Scoot are. I love Ant but think we need to trade him this summer to open up time for Scoot and Sharpe to take over this team. I mean I wish Ant could be our 6th man but no way he accepts that and I don’t blame him he’s a starter for 40-50% of the teams.

 

[THE HCP]

You lost me at this “isn’t a knock on Ant”

 

[Strenuus]

I mean, this is obvious.

 

[Phatguysrule]

Ant isn't a guy you build a championship team around. He might be a missing piece to an already established contender at some point.

And that's fine. There is nothing wrong with that.

 

[riverman]

Trade Ant to the east and get a 6'9-7' forward that can shoot with range and rebound or picks. His salary off the books pays for a lot of Banton type players on cheap deals.

 

[Pinwheel1]

This is absolutely not a knock on Ant but he is not a number 1 option. We better hope that Sharpe or Scoot are. I love Ant but think we need to trade him this summer to open up time for Scoot and Sharpe to take over this team. I mean I wish Ant could be our 6th man but no way he accepts that and I don’t blame him he’s a starter for 40-50% of the teams.

Not sure why this keeps being repeated. There is absolutely nothing he has ever said or done to suggest he would not accept that role. But until Sharpe and Scoot stay healthy enough to improve we have to wait and see. Sure if you get a young forward that is worth trading him for you consider it, but will that young player be better than who we draft this year?

 

[e_blazer]

Ant is as close as the Blazers have to a number one option. Grant is in second place. Scoot and Sharpe may be the future, but neither has been healthy enough or consistent enough to justify clearing the roster in front of them. Use Anthony Edwards for comparison. He’s a monster this season and looks every bit the number one option on a contender this season. But this is his third year in the league. I hope Shae and/or Scoot can achieve that level of play by their third season, but they have a lot of growth to do this summer and next season.

 

[MickZagger]

You lost me at this “isn’t a knock on Ant”

He’s not. Sometimes the greatness of a player is based on knowing who they are, or aren’t.

He should be an instant offense, heat check off the bench and I’ve been saying this for a couple years now.

If he’s the #1 option on your team, you’re team more than likely sucks.

 

[1 Eye Jack]

You lost me at this “isn’t a knock on Ant”

doesn’t surprise me you’re easy to lose, JK. I mean I like Ant and don’t want to offend him but IMO he’s not a guy you can count on night in night out being the number 1 option. That said I really like him but feel like keeping him will stunt growth of two other guys who could potentially be a number one option. If Ants starting them Sharpe or Scoot aren’t.

 

[KingSpeed]

Ant is as close as the Blazers have to a number one option. Grant is in second place. Scoot and Sharpe may be the future, but neither has been healthy enough or consistent enough to justify clearing the roster in front of them. Use Anthony Edwards for comparison. He’s a monster this season and looks every bit the number one option on a contender this season. But this is his third year in the league. I hope Shae and/or Scoot can achieve that level of play by their third season, but they have a lot of growth to do this summer and next season.

This is Edwards’ 4th year in the league.

 

[e_blazer]

This is Edwards’ 4th year in the league.

Thanks. That’s what I wrote initially and then thought it was only 3. That actually makes the point better: it takes time to become a true number one option.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I've been one of the biggest Ant supporters here but I agree. Think this season has shown he just can't be that lead guy on a good team.

Maybe Ant will best be suited as a backup long term - who knows.

The larger problem for the Blazers is we don't have one player who projects as an above average starter. Sure I hope Scoot or Sharpe will but that will be a pleasant surprise not something I'm expecting.

We probably need 3-4 of those to eventually contend. We're just so far away from that - even if we draft a stud this summer were multiple moves away from it mattering. It's going to be a long rebuild.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Ant is as close as the Blazers have to a number one option. Grant is in second place. Scoot and Sharpe may be the future, but neither has been healthy enough or consistent enough to justify clearing the roster in front of them. Use Anthony Edwards for comparison. He’s a monster this season and looks every bit the number one option on a contender this season. But this is his third year in the league. I hope Shae and/or Scoot can achieve that level of play by their third season, but they have a lot of growth to do this summer and next season.

This is Edwards’ 4th year in the league.

We saw glimpses from Edward immediately as a rookie. Most of the elite players have those moments their rookie year. SGA had them, Donovan Mitchell had them.

 

[wizenheimer]

I've been one of the biggest Ant supporters here but I agree. Think this season has shown he just can't be that lead guy on a good team.

Maybe Ant will best be suited as a backup long term - who knows.

The larger problem for the Blazers is we don't have one player who projects as an above average starter. Sure I hope Scoot or Sharpe will but that will be a pleasant surprise not something I'm expecting.

We probably need 3-4 of those to eventually contend. We're just so far away from that - even if we draft a stud this summer were multiple moves away from it mattering. It's going to be a long rebuild.

I agree....Ant is a 3rd option type of player because of his limitations. He can certainly get hot and he's been stellar in the clutch this season. But he's a supporting player on any good team

I think Grant is about the same level; maybe a little more versatile because of his length. And Ayton is also about the same level, but I don't believe role-playing bigs ever have a consistent offensive impact

which points out the elephant/room conundrum: Portland is paying over 90M/year for three 3rd-option level players. And we saw with Dame that a contender needs a couple of 1st option players; at minimum, one 1st option and two consistent 2nd options. Portland needs 3 players better than the Ant-Grant-Ayton trio and I don't know they have any, now or in the future, on the current roster

 

[Whyachi]

Trade Ant to the east and get a 6'9-7' forward that can shoot with range and rebound or picks. His salary off the books pays for a lot of Banton type players on cheap deals.

Blazers already have that style of player by trading for Jerami Grant. The money part is a bit different, but Jody Allen is rich, so it's all good.

 

[MrDraftGuy]

Short Point Guards as the lead offensive option rarely win championships, anyway. Steph is the only one in the last 30+ years and that's arguably because he's the GOAT shooter.

That Simons can average 23ppg on a bad team and probably 17ppg on a good team would be a sign that you have depth and a variety of offensive options within your starting five.

The blueprint for most championship squads dictates as such - one MVP contending superstar (usually not a PG) and three All-Stars/borderline All-Stars helping them out (starters that can hit 17+ppg - though, one of those guys could be a defensive type like Ben Wallace or Draymond). 3/5 starters must play defense.

Most championships in history reflect that

In that sense, you keep Simons with the hopes that he comes off the bench as a sixth man or as a potential option if Scoot doesn't pan out. Unless you get Ausar Thompson or Tari Eason back, trading him would probably be a waste.

 

[blazerkor]

I think Ant is gone this off season. I think we'll get to see Scoot and Shae for the last handful of games and I think it will look a lot more cohesive than Scoot and Ant or Ant and Shae have.

I actually think we may have seen the last of Ant in a Blazers uniform. We can likely get good assets for Ant, that will propel the rebuild. I think we'll get a little less return on Jerami and even a little less on Malcolm. The three of them could really give us returns that will lay the groundwork for this team's contending future.

 

[Phatguysrule]

Short Point Guards as the lead offensive option rarely win championships, anyway. Steph is the only one in the last 30+ years and that's arguably because he's the GOAT shooter.

That Simons can average 23ppg on a bad team and probably 17ppg on a good team would be a sign that you have depth and a variety of offensive options within your starting five.

The blueprint for most championship squads dictates as such - one MVP contending superstar (usually not a PG) and three All-Stars/borderline All-Stars helping them out (starters that can hit 17+ppg - though, one of those guys could be a defensive type like Ben Wallace or Draymond). 3/5 starters must play defense.

Most championships in history reflect that

In that sense, you keep Simons with the hopes that he comes off the bench as a sixth man or as a potential option if Scoot doesn't pan out. Unless you get Ausar Thompson or Tari Eason back, trading him would probably be a waste.

Yeah I wouldn't trade Ant unless we're getting a quality player that fits better.

Certainly no fire sale.

 

[AquaXI]

Cronin screwed the pooch on the McCollum trade correct? I'd hate to see him do the same here with Ant.

Hope he has learned from past mistakes. That said I'd keep Ant because the young ones seem to be injury prone thus far.

 

[BassPlaya]

He is just about the deadliest shooting guard in the 4th quarter....in the NBA. Not a #1 option? Ok.

But to then say because he is not, that we need to trade him seems like smashing one's face with their own fist. If he was on a Dame/CJ max contract, I'd get the belly achin.

 

[wizenheimer]

Cronin screwed the pooch on the McCollum trade correct? .

actually no...that was probably his best trade, IMO

gauged in a non-simultaneous manner (which is how you really need to gauge trades, IMO), it yielded Josh Hart, a future 1st, and the TPE sufficient to take Jermai Grant. So it was CJ+Nance for Hart+Grant+2 second round picks. Which became CJ+Nance for Grant+Thybulle+Murray+two 2nd's. There were other players involved like Snell, Louzada, & Reddish, but they were insignificant salary filler

it wasn't some lopsided trade in Portland's favor, but considering that just about every other significant trade that Portland made since landing Nurkic in 2017 saw Portland getting screwed at some substantial level, it was at least a fair trade.

In fact, since Olshey was hired in 2012, I can only recall 3 significant trades where the Blazers came out ahead: 1) a TPE + two 2nd's for Robin Lopez; 2) Mason Plumlee + a 2nd for Nurkic + a 1st; 3) the CJ for Grant trade. And Olshey tainted the Nurkic trade by wasting the 1st round pick in the 2017 draft day disaster. I'm probably forgetting a trade, and I'm sure others will have a different take.

 

[Tince]

Agreed Ant isn't a #1 option on a good team. I don't believe there are any #1 options on this roster, which is why I spend zero time worrying about if we'll keep Banton over Murray as our 13th option. Until we get a legit #1 and #2 option, the bench guys won't matter much. And the type of role players you want will greatly depend on the strengths of the #1 and #2 options.

 

[BlazerWookee]

He’s not. Sometimes the greatness of a player is based on knowing who they are, or aren’t.

He should be an instant offense, heat check off the bench and I’ve been saying this for a couple years now.

If he’s the #1 option on your team, you’re team more than likely sucks.

*coughJamaalCrawfordcough*

 

[HoopsFanAZ]

Ant was a good pick at 24, in 2018, in what turned out as a strong draft. Good value. Becoming Lillard’s apprentice, he’s earned his contract despite defensive liabilities. As others have said, he’d be great to have with strong defenders on a connected team.

I like Grant a lot … on Sacramento to go with soon to be 28 Sabonis on a team that could compete next year but needs to keep momentum from recent (relative) success. With older stars on the decline — Lakers, Warriors, Clippers, Suns — SAC has a shot sooner than later amongst Den, OKC, Minn, NewO, and eventually the Wemby Spurs.

[Grant = Murray + Huerter or expand it to include Time Lord to help their size and D returning Lyles + Vezenkof … trade-able players in Lyles and Huerter.]

 

[Strenuus]

Cronin screwed the pooch on the McCollum trade correct? I'd hate to see him do the same here with Ant.

Hope he has learned from past mistakes. That said I'd keep Ant because the young ones seem to be injury prone thus far.

I hardly blame the guy who cleans up the mess for making the mess.

 

[TBpup]

Ant is a tremendous shooter, but even though he is improved on the other side of the ball, he is still a big liability on the defensive side. So for the 10th year in a row, a smallish SG who can score, but often gives up as much as they get. Nice stats, but not leading any team anywhere from a contending standpoint. So let him score, get what you can get for him and move on.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Yeah I wouldn't trade Ant unless we're getting a quality player that fits better.

Certainly no fire sale.

If you’re not trading Ant then why make a player like Sharpe so untouchable? It doesn’t make much sense but I guess that’s the typical Blazers thing to do is just keep holding onto players.

 

[THE HCP]

He’s not. Sometimes the greatness of a player is based on knowing who they are, or aren’t.

He should be an instant offense, heat check off the bench and I’ve been saying this for a couple years now.

If he’s the #1 option on your team, you’re team more than likely sucks.

If he's the #1 option on a team playing 8 G-Leaguers in the rotation, sure, there won't be much success. Put him on a roster with a bunch of healthy quality vets, I think there's an argument to be had.
Any clown on here making judgments on players to coaches based on the talent level of the past 36 months is ridiculous. How do you know what Billups can do with a roster like Milwaukee? Or Ant running point for the Nuggets? Quite sure there would be some different opinions.

 

[THE HCP]

This is Edwards’ 4th year in the league.

I just LOVE that THIS is wha the Uber Driver got out of that entire post.

 

[Phatguysrule]

If you’re not trading Ant then why make a player like Sharpe so untouchable? It doesn’t make much sense but I guess that’s the typical Blazers thing to do is just keep holding onto players.

I didn't say I wouldn't trade Ant at all. Just not for anything less than equal value.

I would also trade Sharpe for the right value.

I don't think anybody on this team should be untouchable.