OT Donavan Mitchell trade watch

[Ed O]

Unless Mitchell isn't what he seems to be.....off the court. That is all I can think of. If players hate playing with him you might as well get rid of him while his stock is high.

Or Utah thinks that paying $35m a year for a guy who will keep them near the playoffs doesn't make sense for the future of the franchise.

Mitchell is really good, but having one really good player and winning, say, 33 games is not better than winning 22.

 

[e_blazer]

Or Utah thinks that paying $35m a year for a guy who will keep them near the playoffs doesn't make sense for the future of the franchise.

Mitchell is really good, but having one really good player and winning, say, 33 games is not better than winning 22.

I'd say that Ainge and Zanik want to do a full reset and rebuild the team in the manner that suits them. Stripping it down and getting a bunch of picks and players by trading out Gobert and Mitchell is a great way to do that. I know that many around here would like to have seen the Blazers do the same thing with Dame. Obviously, Cronin and Billups disagree. It will be interesting if Portland's retool on the fly ends up yielding a contender before the Jazz's total rebuild does.

 

[hoopsjock]

better version of Conley and Mitchell but still not as good as Dame and CJ whom continued to fail year after year in the playoffs.

Brunson was huge for the Mavs down the stretch, including in a couple playoff games without Luka. I agree neither Brunson or Mitchell is close to Dame's level, but NY is in a position to build differently. If they found a way to trade Randle and Fournier, they could potentially open up a ton of cap space next summer on top of that backcourt. I don't know if that's championship level or not depending on who they got, but it wouldn't be hard to build a better front court than Dame and CJ ever had. They're already off to a good start with Hartenstein, who was one of the best lowkey signings of the entire free agency.

 

[blazerfan11]

Not only those players, the Blazers would probably have Duren instead of Grant, and at least some young talent from the Clippers trade instead of nothing. Maybe the Blazers would also have a few more young pieces or picks instead of Hart from the CJ trade too.

The time to setup the next decade of the Blazers future was when the team fired Olshey. They didn't have to rush into the revamp; instead they could've first spent time to get a great GM and empowering him to do the best long term decisions. We got the shit moves this team has done starting in February; after that started even a great GM wouldn't have been able to save this mess.

The only redeeming chance could be if Sharpe becomes a superstar. Unfortunately he lasted 5 minutes in his first game. Would be great if he can become the superstar and the Blazers contend with him and Lillard; it just seems like such an unlikely long shot gamble; feels like this franchise threw everything on one number of the craps table. I guess it could work, and I sure hope it does, but that doesn't seem at all like good long term planning.

Compare this mess to the other franchises such as the Thunder, Pelicans, Jazz, etc who have long term assets or other teams that have great current players. The Blazers have a poor collection of both; as evident by only the Wizards and Kings in the entire NBA being ranked worse in ESPN future rankings.

ESPN future rankings? ESPN can predict the future?

 

[Ed O]

I'd say that Ainge and Zanik want to do a full reset and rebuild the team in the manner that suits them. Stripping it down and getting a bunch of picks and players by trading out Gobert and Mitchell is a great way to do that. I know that many around here would like to have seen the Blazers do the same thing with Dame. Obviously, Cronin and Billups disagree. It will be interesting if Portland's retool on the fly ends up yielding a contender before the Jazz's total rebuild does.

Definitely. If Mitchell gets traded, it's an interesting inflection point, as the two teams were at ABOUT the same level at the trade deadline last year... both teams are making moves with markedly different strategies.

 

[Ed O]

ESPN future rankings? ESPN can predict the future?

People make predictions every day... from insurance to finance to sports betting, experts look at the status of individuals, assets, and such to "predict the future".

It's entirely reasonable for people to look at the current state of a team and extrapolate its chances for success relative to the rest of the league. Maybe the prediction will be wrong, but it's not a guess or fortune telling or something.

 

[Wade Garrett]

...and Id try to find out why Quinn left. That was seemingly unexpected.

He always looked to me like a dude coming off a 4 day coke bender.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

...and Id try to find out why Quinn left. That was seemingly unexpected.

Doesn't it seem likely that Ainge basically told him they were going to do a teardown and rebuild, and he just wasn't interested in participating?

 

[UncleCliffy'sDaddy]

He always looked to me like a dude coming off a 4 day coke bender.

I was wondering if I was the only one who thought that.......

 

[STOMP]

Yes, that is all true of the early 90s. But I am talking about the summer of 89'. Right after the season fans were unbelievably stupid about the team. They were coming off a losing season and they wanted to blow it all up. Instead, they got Buck and made it to the finals the very next year..... and Blazermania was back in full force.

While in general fans are stupid, we ran in very different circles back in the day. I graduated in 1990 and then worked in Eugene for the next couple years. My relayed group watching experiences were from my college roommate days where the majority of the attendees were from a college soccer team. I fondly recall the 89-90 team. I remember the unbelievable playoff run especially the 2nd round vs the Spurs where rookie Uncle Cliffy took on the Admiral. Didn't a no look pass from Rod Strickland to no one seal the series iIrc?

I don't recall anyone wanting to blow that team up prior to the season, but then I wouldn't have tolerated such talk ;-)

STOMP

 

[riverman]

Danny Ainge is going to tear it down to the studs and collect draft picks like crazy...he's doing exactly what he did in Boston.

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Seems like a very Knicks thing to do; trade away the next 7 years of the draft and any decent young talent for a team that might be good enough to make the playoffs; but with no real shot to contend.

Who was the last Knick first round pick to get a contract after his rookie deal? There was talk of Porzingis doing this then they traded him to Dallas.

 

[new22]

Not only those players, the Blazers would probably have Duren instead of Grant, and at least some young talent from the Clippers trade instead of nothing. Maybe the Blazers would also have a few more young pieces or picks instead of Hart from the CJ trade too.

The time to setup the next decade of the Blazers future was when the team fired Olshey. They didn't have to rush into the revamp; instead they could've first spent time to get a great GM and empowering him to do the best long term decisions. We got the shit moves this team has done starting in February; after that started even a great GM wouldn't have been able to save this mess.

The only redeeming chance could be if Sharpe becomes a superstar. Unfortunately he lasted 5 minutes in his first game. Would be great if he can become the superstar and the Blazers contend with him and Lillard; it just seems like such an unlikely long shot gamble; feels like this franchise threw everything on one number of the craps table. I guess it could work, and I sure hope it does, but that doesn't seem at all like good long term planning.

Compare this mess to the other franchises such as the Thunder, Pelicans, Jazz, etc who have long term assets or other teams that have great current players. The Blazers have a poor collection of both; as evident by only the Wizards and Kings in the entire NBA being ranked worse in ESPN future rankings.

I guess it is all on Lillard. I am not fan of his contact, but he deserves to show, where Blazers can go with him AND actual coach. This season roster seems to be on the same level as every other roster for last seven years, but there are defenders and I hope I will finally see hunger. I don't think Billups will let anyone play, like they could under Stotts.
If Ainge came here last season, this team would be very different. Now it looks like nothing really changed, but let's give them last shot.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I guess it is all on Lillard. I am not fan of his contact, but he deserves to show, where Blazers can go with him AND actual coach. This season roster seems to be on the same level as every other roster for last seven years, but there are defenders and I hope I will finally see hunger. I don't think Billups will let anyone play, like they could under Stotts.
If Ainge came here last season, this team would be very different. Now it looks like nothing really changed, but let's give them last shot.

I'm fine if the Blazers decide to try and win with Lillard.

But then the team shouldve got something from the Clippers trade. They should have had a good GM do that transition. They should've got a starting caliber SF. They shouldn't have tried to get cap space for Ben Simmons. They shouldn't have sent players to prefered destinations. They shouldn't have gotten hard capped for a 6th guard which makes it extremely hard to acquire a star via trade. They should've turned Ingels and Bledsoe into something.

The Blazers saved Jody a bunch of cash, but if they're trying to contend with Lillard you need to say fuck the tax for a few years and try to win as the elite teams do.

Instead this team has upside of mediocrity, downside of a cellar dweller, and unexciting long term potential.

 

[tykendo]

Danny Ainge is going to tear it down to the studs and collect draft picks like crazy...he's doing exactly what he did in Boston.

It is, but he likely won't have the Lotto type picks, he got in return, in Boston. The kind of picks needed to get a Tatum type talent. They are more likely to be late 1st round picks. Meaning picks where you throw mud against the wall, and hope it sticks. Enjoy that Utah fans.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

It is, but he likely won't have the Lotto type picks, he got in return, in Boston. The kind of picks needed to get a Tatum type talent. They are more likely to be late 1st round picks. Meaning picks where you throw mud against the wall, and hope it sticks. Enjoy that Utah fans.

He'll get lottery picks by the team sucking for a couple years. The picks he gets in trade will mostly be currency to make trades.

 

[calvin natt]

Seems like a very Knicks thing to do; trade away the next 7 years of the draft and any decent young talent for a team that might be good enough to make the playoffs; but with no real shot to contend.

Who was the last Knick first round pick to get a contract after his rookie deal? There was talk of Porzingis doing this then they traded him to Dallas.

Heard that the other day. Charlie Ward.

 

[RonBrewer]

They never had a window.

Define "Window"

I'd debate that they definitely had a window.

 

[Natebishop3]

Define "Window"

I'd debate that they definitely had a window.

To me a "window" directly correlates with being a legitimate contender. A team that could win a championship. They were never that good.

Window could also be applied to a player like Dame, and the "window" is rapidly closing to build a contender around Dame.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

To me a "window" directly correlates with being a legitimate contender. A team that could win a championship. They were never that good.

Window could also be applied to a player like Dame, and the "window" is rapidly closing to build a contender around Dame.

I think if you're a 1 seed, you're a contender. They obviously flamed out in the playoffs, but they were in the running.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I wonder if Ainge would see value in also shedding Conley's 2-years in a Mitchell deal. Westbrook bombing 3's in SLC would certainly help their tank. Knicks would also probably be more willing to give Barrett up in a Mitchell trade if they can offload Fournier as well.

This looks like something that could legit work for all 4 teams here.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think if you're a 1 seed, you're a contender. They obviously flamed out in the playoffs, but they were in the running.

Did anyone really think they were a legitimate contender though? Being good in the regular season doesn't always equate to being good in the post season. It's kinda like the Nuggets. I have never looked at them as a legitimate contender, and the reason is that their foundation is flawed.

Mitchell/Gobert (not a championship caliber core)
Jokic/Murray (not a championship caliber core)

Who has won rings lately?
Curry/Wiggins/Draymond/Klay
LeBron/Anthony Davis
Giannis/Middleton.

So if you compare those teams, what was Utah and Denver missing? A generational talent at guard or forward. I'm not convinced that Jokic or Gobert or Embiid can lead a team to a title as the best player on their team.

 

[tykendo]

Did anyone really think they were a legitimate contender though? Being good in the regular season doesn't always equate to being good in the post season. It's kinda like the Nuggets. I have never looked at them as a legitimate contender, and the reason is that their foundation is flawed.

Mitchell/Gobert (not a championship caliber core)
Jokic/Murray (not a championship caliber core)

Who has won rings lately?
Curry/Wiggins/Draymond/Klay
LeBron/Anthony Davis
Giannis/Middleton.

So if you compare those teams, what was Utah and Denver missing? A generational talent at guard or forward. I'm not convinced that Jokic or Gobert or Embiid can lead a team to a title as the best player on their team.

Disagree with that take on the Nuggets. The Nuggets with Jokic, a healthy Murray, & Porter Jr. are contenders. They almost beat that championship Lakers team in the WCF. They added KCP, who while inconsistent, does give them some extra firepower.

 

[illmatic99]

Donovan is not worth this. Wish teams would stop giving Ainge ridiculous overpays.

 

[Natebishop3]

Donovan is not worth this. Wish teams would stop giving Ainge ridiculous overpays.

Meanwhile we got some cap space and some bench scrubs for CJ, Norm, and RoCo.

 

[Hoopguru]

Am i the only one who likes RJ more than Mitchell?

Donovan is not worth this. Wish teams would stop giving Ainge ridiculous overpays.

DM doesn't play defense either.

 

[Hoopguru]

It is, but he likely won't have the Lotto type picks, he got in return, in Boston. The kind of picks needed to get a Tatum type talent. They are more likely to be late 1st round picks. Meaning picks where you throw mud against the wall, and hope it sticks. Enjoy that Utah fans.

yep, it could be a long next 5-10 years in SLC.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

It is, but he likely won't have the Lotto type picks, he got in return, in Boston. The kind of picks needed to get a Tatum type talent. They are more likely to be late 1st round picks. Meaning picks where you throw mud against the wall, and hope it sticks. Enjoy that Utah fans.

Thats the same thing people said when Boston got the Brooklyn picks. A few years later reality was very different than those initial projections.

An unprotected pick from Minnesota in 5 years when they traded for a 30 year old center earning the supermax might be much more valuable than you think. Maybe they won't be lottery picks, or maybe they will, and will be quite good.

Ainge has setup the rebuild so they don't even necessarily have to hit on that asset either. They have many other picks, they got one from Brooklyn, they will get a ton more for Mitchell, and they will have their own.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I wonder if Ainge would see value in also shedding Conley's 2-years in a Mitchell deal. Westbrook bombing 3's in SLC would certainly help their tank. Knicks would also probably be more willing to give Barrett up in a Mitchell trade if they can offload Fournier as well.

This looks like something that could legit work for all 4 teams here.

View attachment 48695

Creative idea; yes that makes a ton of sense.