Trade CJ McCollum to New Orleans

[BrianFromWA]

So if it’s top 5 does that mean the next year we get it?

Likely. I don't know how long they're stringing it out, but you don't normally go from a potential lotto pick to nothing in one year. NOP have enough picks of their own going forward to keep the protections going.

 

[BrianFromWA]

When is the last time a star player came to Portland in FA?

Evan Turner says to shut your mouth.

 

[TBpup]

The ultimate CJ 'screw you'.

CJ drags the Pelicans into the Playin, beats the Lakers, LA's pick is now a Lottery pick, and then it jumps into the Top-3.

Can see it happening right now.

 

[BrianFromWA]

The Pels now have 3 top tier offensive threats. Zion is impossible to stop, Cj is a tough stop and his fade away in the lane is brutal when he's on, and finally BI with his silly length and shooting is trouble for defenses. Could be an exciting team, especially if/when Zion comes back 100%

Hopefully next year, after they give us the #5 pick

 

[blazerkor]

I'm with you. I actually like this deal all things considered for following reasons:

1. While Hart is a lesser player than CJ, I think he might be a better fit next to Dame if that's the plan. He can play 2-4 depending on the situation as well.
2. Nance hurts on paper... but can anyone trust him to stay healthy??? Could he have recouped a first somewhere else? Perhaps, but in making him, theoretically, part of this trade you can arrange it so that you have no salary coming back (and perhaps he was worth the additional second as well).
3. That first round pick is really intriguing and there is a fairly strong chance that it conveys this year. The Blazers could very well be looking at having two lotto picks (to either use or trade) this upcoming draft. The two returning seconds at least provide additional flexible assets, which we absolutely did not have previously.
4. Yes, I know that cap space is overrated in Portland, but it gives you significant flexibility this coming summer.

Honestly, I'd rather be in our shoes than the Pelicans... I'm not sure where they think they are going in taking on CJ and his bloated extended contract.

No... no no no no no. We don't know what the fuck the first round pick is yet but I don't think it's getting conveyed to us this year. The trade isn't bad because we didn't get enough back for CJ and Nance. I mean yeah it is, we should have got far more back for the two of them but more so we traded a PF, we were already loaded with guards and all we got back were guards. Yeah one of them is 6'7" but he's only ever played guard. Yeah one of them is 6'5" and has played small ball PF but he's not a small ball PF... we were already playing with small ball posts RoCo and Larry but they're gone now. This roster is a mess. The tank is most definitely on. We will see Nurk gone before noon Thursday hopefully we'll get some size back for him or who cares. The rest of this season is going to look really weird and we better be able to out tank some teams.

 

[Graduate32]

Meh, I'd be shocked if CJ ever had as much value as Blazers fans would have liked to have hoped. Maybe after that Denver semifinal playoff series? But there was no way we were trading him after that.

Perhaps we could have gotten a touch more value when CJ was 26-27 rather than 30, but let's be honest, he's always been an undersized, ball-dominant shooting guard who doesn't get to the line and is an average-at-best playmaker for others. Honestly, given his contract, this feels about right.

 

[Norman Dale]

Beal is not CJ 2.0.
But Lavine is also a FA.
Hopefully Dame was doing some recruiting last summer.

 

[MickZagger]

Quick, someone grab me a free agent list for next year. So I can tell you whose not coming here.

 

[e_blazer]

The Pels now have 3 top tier offensive threats. Zion is impossible to stop, Cj is a tough stop and his fade away in the lane is brutal when he's on, and finally BI with his silly length and shooting is trouble for defenses. Could be an exciting team, especially if/when Zion comes back 100%

Cronin has achieved making both the Clippers and Pelicans major contenders for next season. The Blazers, not so much.

 

[illmatic99]

It's not just about FAs, but also the ability to take on salary in trades without giving up anything in return.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

The Pels now have 3 top tier offensive threats. Zion is impossible to stop, Cj is a tough stop and his fade away in the lane is brutal when he's on, and finally BI with his silly length and shooting is trouble for defenses. Could be an exciting team, especially if/when Zion comes back 100%

The problem is Zion will come back at 200% of the player he was.

#FatJoke

 

[GrandpaBlaze]

Should be interesting I do my next "Current Blazers on the All-Time List". There will be Dame, Ant, Nas....Watford, Smith Jr, Elleby & Blevins all heading the list.

 

[Natebishop3]

Cronin has achieved making both the Clippers and Pelicans major contenders for next season. The Blazers, not so much.

GM of the year.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I mean, I didn't know a bandaid rip could last 4 days, but sho' nuff, Cronin cleaned house. And there are still assets to move (Bledsoe, and especially Hart, can still help someone).

Honestly, I might call ATL and ask for something like Hart + for Collins. He'd look good and cover up Trae's faults.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

The Pels now have 3 top tier offensive threats. Zion is impossible to stop, Cj is a tough stop and his fade away in the lane is brutal when he's on, and finally BI with his silly length and shooting is trouble for defenses. Could be an exciting team, especially if/when Zion comes back 100%

Let's hope that CJ is not really any more productive than Hart, that Nance stays injured and that the team is demoralized for a couple weeks.

 

[GrandpaBlaze]

GM of the year.

True! How many GM's can say they made two teams contenders within a week! But wait! There is time for him to help more teams!

 

[MickZagger]

It's not just about FAs, but also the ability to take on salary in trades without giving up anything in return.

Part of making trades is having something that other teams want.

 

[Graduate32]

No... no no no no no. We don't know what the fuck the first round pick is yet but I don't think it's getting conveyed to us this year. The trade isn't bad because we didn't get enough back for CJ and Nance. I mean yeah it is, we should have got far more back for the two of them but more so we traded a PF, we were already loaded with guards and all we got back were guards. Yeah one of them is 6'7" but he's only ever played guard. Yeah one of them is 6'5" and has played small ball PF but he's not a small ball PF... we were already playing with small ball posts RoCo and Larry but they're gone now. This roster is a mess. The tank is most definitely on. We will see Nurk gone before noon Thursday hopefully we'll get some size back for him or who cares. The rest of this season is going to look really weird and we better be able to out tank some teams.

I'd honestly surprised if the pick doesn't get conveyed this year. New Orleans is five games behind the Clippers for 8th (which, we also helped out recently, if you recall). They would need to pass the Lakers, as well as hold off Sacramento and San Antonio who are not too far behind either (and Sacramento certainly seems like they are not interested in tanking). You'd have to believe that the addition of CJ and an-oft injured Nance is enough to get them into the playoffs. If they miss the playoffs, the pick is likely ours (as it would be very unlikely they jump into the top 4). I'd say the odds are very much in our favor to receive the pick this year, and it will likely be in between 8-14. Not a great pick, but certainly nothing to scoff at.

 

[illmatic99]

I mean, I didn't know a bandaid rip could last 4 days, but sho' nuff, Cronin cleaned house. And there are still assets to move (Bledsoe, and especially Hart, can still help someone).

Honestly, I might call ATL and ask for something like Hart + for Collins. He'd look good and cover up Trae's faults.

i don't think we have any desire to get players who can help us this year. Guessing we might be done.

 

[illmatic99]

Part of making trades is having something that people want.

Potentially two lottery picks, NAW, Hart.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Cronin has achieved making both the Clippers and Pelicans major contenders for next season. The Blazers, not so much.

Better big 3 (when healthy)--Powell/George/Kawhi or CJ/Ingram/Zion?

 

[Hoopguru]

Bruh.

Lillard’s never been able to do that. Not sure why it would start now unless we just massively over pay for mediocre players.

my thinking is Chauncey and Joe will empower Dame more by a concerted effort that Olshey probably never allowed. Chauncey will run point on FA's I bet. Stotts didnt have that talent.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

We play the Pelicans Mar 30 and April 7; those are must win games!

 

[MickZagger]

Potentially two lottery picks, NAW, Hart.

It’s kind of a weak draft.

if we’re rebuilding like it seems, you’d think we’d keep those cheap contracts.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

We play the Pelicans Mar 30 and April 7; those are must win games!

For the Pelicans.

 

[GrandpaBlaze]

Better big 3 (when healthy)--Powell/George/Kawhi or CJ/Ingram/Zion?

Going off the pictures of Zion I have seen, I think that makes them a big 4.

 

[Scalma]

So we either get a lottery pick or the first kicks down to another year? Good with that. Watford made nance expendable. Hart has a good contract. The front court is decimated now while we have a million guards, so it’s obvious where the focus is gonna be. We’ll see what the next moves are. I’ll say this regardless; Cronin has shown more balls in a month than Olshey did in nearly a decade.

 

[illmatic99]

It’s kind of a weak draft.

if we’re rebuilding like it seems, you’d think we’d keep those cheap contracts.

i'm not necessarily on board with our plan. Just trying to play devil's advocate.

 

[e_blazer]

Better big 3 (when healthy)--Powell/George/Kawhi or CJ/Ingram/Zion?

Tough call. With a healthy Zion, I'd lean slightly that direction. Of course healthy Zion and/or Kawhi is pretty much a unicorn situation, so I'm not sure how worried to be about either.

 

[blazerfan11]

Pels already traded it to Memphis last summer. If it falls anywhere between 11-30 it goes to MEM. If it somehow climbs into top 10, only then does NO have control of it.

Seriously why would deal Nance. Hes a terrific teammate and good contributor on a great contract thru next season.

He can't shoot. Trendon Watford made him expendable.