Rumor Damian Lillard Would Like Blazers To Acquire Deandre Ayton

[SlyPokerCat]

I haven't seen anybody saying anything like that. Just that the move, whatever it is would be a start.

no single move is going to make Portland a contender; but it's the false gauge some of you are using in order to shit on every idea and suggestion for a roster upgrade

I'm not shitting on every idea. Collins would be an upgrade. That's great. But, I still feel it would put us squarely in purgatory with little room to improve talent wise.

I'm more than happy to see how things shake out, but, I'm afraid we will never be able to give Dame a squad to contend with. When that reality is accepted (maybe by the trade deadline or next offseason), i would hope we explore all options.

For now, unless it is for a package for a star...I am firmly in the keep the pick and use it camp.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I'm not shitting on every idea. Collins would be an upgrade. That's great. But, I still feel it would put us squarely in purgatory with little room to improve talent wise.

I'm more than happy to see how things shake out, but, I'm afraid we will never be able to give Dame a squad to contend with. When that reality is accepted (maybe by the trade deadline or next offseason), i would hope we explore all options.

For now, unless it is for a package for a star...I am firmly in the keep the pick and use it camp.

I would like for Cronin to do his damnedest to use the assets available (TPE, EBEC, 36, MIL25) to obtain two starting forwards without having to give up the pick (though a trade down would be OK). For example, 7/EBEC for 11/Randle, and then MIL25+TPE for Grant, and then draft the best available of Duren/Sochan/Dieng at 11, and I'd be a pretty happy camper.

 

[Natebishop3]

obtain two starting forwards without having to give up the pick

I wonder if Norman Powell and Robert Covington would be available?

Now is this snark or is this comedy????

 

[Wade Garrett]

I wonder if Norman Powell and Robert Covington would be available?

Now is this snark or is this comedy????

Vomit.

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

Old saying in the NBA. The difference between a good team and a bad team in this league is really rather slight. Any team can beat another team on any given night.
The difference between a good team and another good team is even less. Pretty much the schedule they happen to be playing can make a bunch of difference.
Really good teams make it past the first round in the playoffs.
The difference at that point usually comes to light in a 7 game series. Coaching and experience coupled with lack of injuries tends to make a huge difference.
I believe Lillard can run the team on the floor. I also believe given the right players around him he can win in this league. He has shown he can carry the team. Just need another couple players that can also take the load off and cover when he is on the bench. Then they need some luck. Even last year could have been a bunch different in the playoffs had a couple things happened that were simply "Unlucky". CJ stepping on the line instead of drilling a three changes the entire series.
Lets look at next year? Is Utah going to be the same team? Is Phoenix going to be the same team? From the sounds of it even GS looks to be changing? What 5 teams are you expecting to be the same? Are you expecting the Lakers to get better? Clippers? T-Wolves? Grizzlies? Personally I'm more looking at the Mavs right now?
Portland could very easily put together a team that not only makes the playoffs but could be top 4 in the west. Like i said in the other post just takes the right mix and a little luck.

Agree with your assessment. Clippers will be better and Portland (finger’s crossed) can be better. Portland should swing for the fences this Summer!

 

[Phatguysrule]

Not saying you specifically. Acquiring Ayton or Collins or Grant or OG is not enough to contend. But if we acquire any of those guys you'll see people here acting like Cronin is a God and we are contenders. Until the season starts.

Not me. Acquiring 1 player of that caliber is not enough to get us there. Acquiring 2 or 3? Now you might be talking... I think adding Randle and OG could get us pretty darn close if we fill out the rest of the roster well enough and have some luck with regards to injuries...

 

[BonesJones]

Ayton has All Star potential. Nurk would never get a single vote. Dame has to be helped out with all star caliber players. Look at the finals: Curry Wiggins Klay Green. Those are all nba guys. Smart Tatum Brown also all nba guys. You have to take chances. GSW took a huge chance on Wiggins and it paid off.

That said Phx would laugh at this. Why would they want Nurk?

All star potential?? Based off what? Dude can't shoot or pass or create for himself.

 

[BonesJones]

To be clear. As I’ve stated before- with Lillard there is no championship here. So it’s who would I rather watch. And it sure as shit isn’t Nurkic throwing half ass passes and missing layups

Instead you'd rather watch Ayton do the exact same thing for twice as much?

 

[BonesJones]

I haven't seen anybody saying anything like that. Just that the move, whatever it is would be a start.

no single move is going to make Portland a contender; but it's the false gauge some of you are using in order to shit on every idea and suggestion for a roster upgrade

The guage is pretty simple: we need forwards that are good on defense, with at least one of them being a good on-ball defender.

 

[Predator]

The guage is pretty simple: we need forwards that are good on defense, with at least one of them being a good on-ball defender.

I would argue they both need to be.

 

[blazerkor]

https://sports.yahoo.com/suns-engage-sign-trade-talks-184907843.html

With this report we can look at another trade idea I had.


This would allow the Suns to keep Crowder and we get to use the Detroit 2025 SRP. It could be preceded by something like this. We would have to trade something like the Detroit 2025 SRP and possibly the NOLA 2026 SRP to Chicago to take the conditions off of the pick we owe them.


I think we'd have to get a backup PG and C with the 36th pick and our TPMLE. Maybe Gary Payton III with the most of the TPMLE and Orlando Robinson with the 36th pick and the rest of the MLE so we can sign him to a three year rookie min deal.

Dame, Ant, Grant, Collins, Ayton, Payton, Nas, Justise and Robinson seems like a pretty fucking great rotation... not necessarily a contender next season but pretty close. I definitely don't think that we'd be struggling to make it into the playoffs and would likely have HCA in the first round.

 

[calvin natt]

Instead you'd rather watch Ayton do the exact same thing for twice as much?

Ayton is better. He shoots better from the field. He turns it over less. He’s 3 years younger. He scores and rebounds more. He’s a better FT shooter. Not sure how it’s the exact same.

 

[1 Eye Jack]

Not me. Acquiring 1 player of that caliber is not enough to get us there. Acquiring 2 or 3? Now you might be talking... I think adding Randle and OG could get us pretty darn close if we fill out the rest of the roster well enough and have some luck with regards to injuries...

you usually need a young player to make a big jump or a couple to make significant jumps. Say Simons takes another big jump and Little takes sizable jump along with adding a border all star forward or Ayton. As long as Dame is healthy we would have starters and nice bench to be top 4 team. A LOT has to happen but for first time in years I feel like we have potential for something big

 

[1 Eye Jack]

Ayton is better. He shoots better from the field. He turns it over less. He’s 3 years younger. He scores and rebounds more. He’s a better FT shooter. Not sure how it’s the exact same.

His potential is off the charts, think all he needs is to mature. I would be ecstatic to get him.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

https://sports.yahoo.com/suns-engage-sign-trade-talks-184907843.html

With this report we can look at another trade idea I had.
View attachment 47951

This would allow the Suns to keep Crowder and we get to use the Detroit 2025 SRP. It could be preceded by something like this. We would have to trade something like the Detroit 2025 SRP and possibly the NOLA 2026 SRP to Chicago to take the conditions off of the pick we owe them.
View attachment 47953

I think we'd have to get a backup PG and C with the 36th pick and our TPMLE. Maybe Gary Payton III with the most of the TPMLE and Orlando Robinson with the 36th pick and the rest of the MLE so we can sign him to a three year rookie min deal.

Dame, Ant, Grant, Collins, Ayton, Payton, Nas, Justise and Robinson seems like a pretty fucking great rotation... not necessarily a contender next season but pretty close. I definitely don't think that we'd be struggling to make it into the playoffs and would likely have HCA in the first round.

I wish you were our GM. In your last paragraph, you mean OG not Grant, right?

Dame/Ant/OG/Collins/Ayton with Nas, Justise is a tight 7 man rotation for playoff success. I think that's as strong a team as Boston.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

The guage is pretty simple: we need forwards that are good on defense, with at least one of them being a good on-ball defender.

At least one of them? That ain't gonna work. They need to both be good on-ball defenders which won't be too hard. We already have one in Winslow.

 

[BonesJones]

At least one of them? That ain't gonna work. They need to both be good on-ball defenders which won't be too hard. We already have one in Winslow.

Winslow isn't good enough offensively to hold his weight. You're arguing semantics with "at least one" vs. "two".

 

[BonesJones]

Ayton is better. He shoots better from the field. He turns it over less. He’s 3 years younger. He scores and rebounds more. He’s a better FT shooter. Not sure how it’s the exact same.

He plays with Chris Paul and is assisted on 80% of his shots. His finishing numbers aren't impressive given how high quality his looks are.

 

[BonesJones]

I would argue they both need to be.

And I couldn't disagree with that argument. Too bad neither Collins or Grant are good on-ball defenders.

 

[BonesJones]

https://sports.yahoo.com/suns-engage-sign-trade-talks-184907843.html

With this report we can look at another trade idea I had.
View attachment 47951

This would allow the Suns to keep Crowder and we get to use the Detroit 2025 SRP. It could be preceded by something like this. We would have to trade something like the Detroit 2025 SRP and possibly the NOLA 2026 SRP to Chicago to take the conditions off of the pick we owe them.
View attachment 47953

I think we'd have to get a backup PG and C with the 36th pick and our TPMLE. Maybe Gary Payton III with the most of the TPMLE and Orlando Robinson with the 36th pick and the rest of the MLE so we can sign him to a three year rookie min deal.

Dame, Ant, Grant, Collins, Ayton, Payton, Nas, Justise and Robinson seems like a pretty fucking great rotation... not necessarily a contender next season but pretty close. I definitely don't think that we'd be struggling to make it into the playoffs and would likely have HCA in the first round.

Raptors easily say no, Hawks might as well. The double sign-and-trade is a pipedream and a half and in the end, we still have as many good point-of-attack defenders as we started with.

 

[calvin natt]

He plays with Chris Paul and is assisted on 80% of his shots. His finishing numbers aren't impressive given how high quality his looks are.

Ok well he scored more without CP than with him, as a rookie and second year player. He shot 59% and 55%. And maybe he’s gotten better as he’s gotten older.

 

[Phatguysrule]

you usually need a young player to make a big jump or a couple to make significant jumps. Say Simons takes another big jump and Little takes sizable jump along with adding a border all star forward or Ayton. As long as Dame is healthy we would have starters and nice bench to be top 4 team. A LOT has to happen but for first time in years I feel like we have potential for something big

Agreed.

 

[Ed O]

So I'm reading this thread and I take away that we could trade Nurk (In a heartbeat) Hart, Bledsoe (Who has never played here) and a couple picks and we get-
DeAndre Ayton
Jae Crowder
and
OG Anunoby

To put along side of Lillard, Simons, Nassir Little, Joe Ingles (remember that guy), Keon Johnson, Drew Eubanks, Greg Brown, Trendon Watford, Winslow, CJ Elleby

Looking at that roster? How could you say that isn't a huge upgrade?
That roster might even compete?

Remember- This is all possible at this point. Maybe not probable but certainly possible.
Are we all still calling Joe Cronin a bad GM?

Upgrade over where we are right now? Yes. Upgrade over where we'd have been if we didn't make the trades we did? I don't see it.

Ayton is better than Nurkic, but not THAT much better... and I don't think centers are that big of a deal in the modern NBA unless they are perimeter offensive threats and/or very very good defensively.

Crowder and Anunoby aren't better than RoCo and CJ and a first rounder.

All of the other guys (Winslow, Ingles, Keon, et al) are not relevant in my mind since I just don't think they are very good.

So, yeah. Even if those deals are made, I think Cronin would be a bad GM. Less bad? Maybe. But still bad as we'd be mired in mediocrity, locked into at least one big deal in Ayton, and down one first rounder that would be helpful down the road.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Winslow isn't good enough offensively to hold his weight. You're arguing semantics with "at least one" vs. "two".

If PJ Tucker can hold his weight on a championship Bucks team, then Winslow can do just fine.

 

[BonesJones]

If PJ Tucker can hold his weight on a championship Bucks team, then Winslow can do just fine.

PJ Tucker is a much better shooter than Winslow and he's also a better defender.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

And I couldn't disagree with that argument. Too bad neither Collins or Grant are good on-ball defenders.

If you were advising, which are the good POA defending forward(s) that you would have Cronin target this off-season, either vis the draft or trade? I know you've mentioned Daniels as the best defender available; I assume you'd have the Blazers keep 7 and draft him there? Who else would you be looking to acquire?

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Ayton is better than Nurkic, but not THAT much better

Yeah he's better. Nurk is soft. Ayton plays better defense and is more mobile. He also doesn't hesitate to throw it down when he is around the hoop.
Saying that he isn't THAT much better seems to be splitting hairs. He's definitely better.

Crowder and Anunoby aren't better than RoCo and CJ and a first rounder.

Crowder vs RoCo? Crowder is better hands down. Don't start posting stats. We all watched RoCo here. We know what he brings.

Anunoby is a 6-7 small forward this teams needs badly. The Blazers have Simons who can make up anything CJ brought.
How you could honestly say this isn't an upgrade is head scratching at best?

Joe Ingles? Yes he's coming off injury. Might end up nothing? This guy if he gets healthy and plays here will make an impact. Mark my words on that. He's a winner.
Nassir Little? This guy if healthy (yes big if) can make a huge difference. But it's also why they need a guy like Anunoby.
Winslow is a rotational player in this league and he will be 9th off the bench.
Keon? Again bench role player.

You seemed to leave off Watford, Eubanks and Brown who all got a bunch of PT last year. Fact is the Blazers might be a deep team that can handle mid season bumps and bruises and give their players some rest when needed.

Then you have ELLEBY! Not sure if Blevins will be back?

 

[wizenheimer]

If you were advising, which are the good POA defending forward(s) that you would have Cronin target this off-season, either vis the draft or trade? I know you've mentioned Daniels as the best defender available; I assume you'd have the Blazers keep 7 and draft him there? Who else would you be looking to acquire?

this should be interesting

"on-ball" defenders is the new catch-phrase used to dismiss a lot of ideas, it seems. None of Aminu, Harkless, Turner, Zach, Davis were great on-ball defenders (whatever that really means). They were average-to-solid, most of the time (and some of the time not), and that's about it. Yet, that team, with Dame & CJ starting, finished 8th in the NBA in defense running a Stotts defensive scheme

Blazers didn't have a 3rd guard like Hart, and they didn't have Billups as coach. I'd much rather have average-to-solid defenders in a logical defensive scheme who bring good offense, than solid-to-good defenders who bring below average offense

 

[wizenheimer]

Upgrade over where we are right now? Yes. Upgrade over where we'd have been if we didn't make the trades we did? I don't see it

it's a major upgrade in flexibility and room for upside to simply not have the 160M in contracts of CJ-Powell-Nance hanging around the team's neck. Add RoCo and the four of them were hogging half of the payroll while flat-lining Portland's trajectory

how good were they? Well, in the worst season of Dame's career, while playing injured, those 4 guys had the opportunity to pick up the slack and show they were worthy. They did a great job didn't they because at the trade deadline they had led the Blazers to a record of 13 games under .500. One bad season from Dame and the stupid bloated roster that idiot Olshey had built just collapsed. Pretty much proving that it was Dame, not Stotts, not Olshey, that was responsible for the 8 straight years of playoffs. But of course I think most people knew that

yeah, Cronin can fuck it all up and I'm certainly not sold on him at all. But I think it's clear he had a mandate from Seattle to dismantle olshey's dumbass dream while dumping lots of current and future salary and he did that. Whether or not he can flip the page and build something is unknown at this point.

but to think that if the Blazers would have stuck with that failed status-quo roster from January, and status quo GM, they'd be in a better place right now is crazy.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

this should be interesting

"on-ball" defenders is the new catch-phrase used to dismiss a lot of ideas, it seems. None of Aminu, Harkless, Turner, Zach, Davis were great on-ball defenders (whatever that really means). They were average-to-solid, most of the time (and some of the time not), and that's about it. Yet, that team, with Dame & CJ starting, finished 8th in the NBA in defense running a Stotts defensive scheme

Blazers didn't have a 3rd guard like Hart, and they didn't have Billups as coach. I'd much rather have average-to-solid defenders in a logical defensive scheme who bring good offense, than solid-to-good defenders who bring below average offense

It’s kind of like “Scheme”.
Last year that was the catch phrase.