If CJ cannot be traded for any value; should we trade Dame?

[SharpesTriumph]

I believe we need to breakup the Dame/CJ pairing.

Ideally we would trade CJ for the best forward help we can and resign Powell.

But I'm not sure what value CJ has. Dame obviously has a ton of additional value, likely an all star, and top young prospect and a boatload of draft picks.

If the Blazers can't find a CJ trade I don't see the point in bringing a 31 year old Lillard back to a similar roster without any chance of contending soon.

CJ would have more value on a team without Dame, could that CJ team be the Blazers?

I'm wondering if that boatload of assets from a Dame trade, plus offense built to CJ, might position the franchise to contend sooner than with an aging Lillard and little other assets.

 

[MickZagger]

Value would be getting out of contract and sliding Powell to the 2 guard spot.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Another future scenario this could make this the best direction; it likely increases the value of CJ significantly in the 2022 offseason when he has been the focal point of an offense.

The Blazers would have youthful talent (Simons, Little, boatload of picks from a Dame trade) plus now be in a position to get another huge haul of draft picks from a CJ trade.

The team could pivot and build around Simons with all those picks as franchises such as Utah, Denver, Phoenix, Brooklyn, and Dallas have done.

I still think my preference in the 2021 offseason is to get 2 starters and build a contender around Dame for next season. But if it can't be done then the franchise needs to do something to build assets. They can't just sit and waste the next 3 years of Dame's prime as a fringe playoff team hoping for magical improvements.

 

[Pinwheel1]

No

 

[Sean.ivity]

No

 

[Phatguysrule]

Under no circumstances do you trade Dame (the only exception is if he requests it).

You move mountains to get him the best team with the best coach possible so superstars don't have ANOTHER reason to avoid this franchise like a plague.

Our job now is to do right by Dame. He's been doing his part for years. This franchise owes him more.

 

[Natebishop3]

We have one of the top 5-10 players in the game right now. He's still at his peak. No way you trade him.

Get a new coach. See what this team can do with a new coach.

 

[Blazinaway]

Under no circumstances do you trade Dame (the only exception is if he requests it).

You move mountains to get him the best team with thw best coach possible so superstars don't have ANOTHER reason to avoid this franchise like a plague.

Our job now is to do right by Dame. He's been doing his part for years. This franchise owes him more.

"moving mountains" may be futile given our payroll and roster as currently constructed, if you want to "do right" by Dame trading him to a "real" contender just might be the way to go

 

[boredinsalem]

Nope. Gotta give it a try. The team goes to hell when Dame sits. We need a secondary playmaker (or to hypnotize CJ into not being meJ) desperately.

I think worst case scenario you try to finagle a CJ S&T for Derozan (he's close with Powell and Dame and can be a playmaker), surround the team with defenders and shooters (maybe bring in Tucker) and fill out the roster/injury insurance with Dame's buddies to give it a shot (Ed Davis, Harkless, Frazier).

 

[Hoopguru]

Nope. Gotta give it a try. The team goes to hell when Dame sits. We need a secondary playmaker (or to hypnotize CJ into not being meJ) desperately.

I think worst case scenario you try to finagle a CJ S&T for Derozan (he's close with Powell and Dame and can be a playmaker), surround the team with defenders and shooters (maybe bring in Tucker) and fill out the roster/injury insurance with Dame's buddies to give it a shot (Ed Davis, Harkless, Frazier).

The sign & trade for DeRozen could makes since since he's unrestricted.

 

[HailBlazers]

Dumb thread is dumb.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

 

[tester551]

I believe we need to breakup the Dame/CJ pairing.

Ideally we would trade CJ for the best forward help we can and resign Powell.

But I'm not sure what value CJ has. Dame obviously has a ton of additional value, likely an all star, and top young prospect and a boatload of draft picks.

If the Blazers can't find a CJ trade I don't see the point in bringing a 31 year old Lillard back to a similar roster without any chance of contending soon.

CJ would have more value on a team without Dame, could that CJ team be the Blazers?

I'm wondering if that boatload of assets from a Dame trade, plus offense built to CJ, might position the franchise to contend sooner than with an aging Lillard and little other assets.

I reject the premise of this thread.
Blazers can find a CJ trade that is beneficial. Even if it's to Detroit for Jermi Grant... The trade is out there. NO just has to go find it.

 

[wizenheimer]

what a great idea.....waste 6 year's of Dame's greatness by pairing him with an undersized no-defense SG that was insanely overrated by the GM and a whole bunch of knothead Blazer fans. Then, when it finally became obvious to even the knotheads that CJ was way overrated, and his trade value was way lower than hoped....by the knotheads, trade Dame and keep CJ around to pointlessly try and pump up the value of what was always a mirage in the first place

let me quote the OP:

I believe we need to breakup the Dame/CJ pairing.

RIGHT THERE!!....that's the value of a CJ trade. If all Portland gets is a solid role-player like RoCo, 10-15 million in cap relief, and a future draft pick, while opening a spot for Powell...that trade is a big win

the absolute worst outcome to everything Blazer right now is Dame gone while Olshey and CJ still remain. Fuck that

 

[Phatguysrule]

"moving mountains" may be futile given our payroll and roster as currently constructed, if you want to "do right" by Dame trading him to a "real" contender just might be the way to go

If that's what he wants it would be a shame to trap him here.

I don't think that's what he wants, so I'd prefer moving mountains for him.

 

[wizenheimer]

"moving mountains" may be futile given our payroll and roster as currently constructed, if you want to "do right" by Dame trading him to a "real" contender just might be the way to go

for fuck sakes, at least try to move mountains, or at least some damn ridges

under Olshey with his stupid fucking fascination for guys like CJ and Simons, all we've seen is 9 years of moving molehills. Portland needs a GM with better imagination and a bigger shovel

 

[Chris Craig]

Blazers need to look to trade CJ and maybe Nurk. They need to get another viable starter around Dame. They need to let Melo, DJJ, and Kanter walk and sign defensive minded role players.

If you can't get a trade for CJ or Nurk at least sign some better role players plus the Blazers will have Collins back.

Blazers need to be the most aggressive they have been. They have been staying under the tax so they could go over this offseason. Get it done Neil.

 

[wizenheimer]

View attachment 39074

If you can't get a trade for CJ or Nurk at least sign some better role players plus the Blazers will have Collins back.

Blazers need to be the most aggressive they have been..

that first sentence is in serious conflict with the 2nd

for 6 years, Portland's aggression level has been defined by keeping the Dame/CJ team going and putting different players in the 2nd and 3rd rows

Portland CAN NOT increase their aggression while keeping CJ. That is the governor on the throttle. Trading Evan Turner for Kent Bazemore, or Derrick Jones for Josh Okogie isn't being more aggressive. Signing James Johnson with the tax-MLE or Harry Giles with a vet minimum isn't being more aggressive. Even trading Ariza and two 1sts for RoCo isn't truly being more aggressive

It's all just a rinse-repeat of the obviously failed Dame/CJ experiment. As long as that Dame/CJ test tube is on the main Bunsen Burner, a low boiling point is certain

 

[Chris Craig]

that first sentence is in serious conflict with the 2nd

for 6 years, Portland's aggression level has been defined by keeping the Dame/CJ team going and putting different players in the 2nd and 3rd rows

Portland CAN NOT increase their aggression while keeping CJ. That is the governor on the throttle. Trading Evan Turner for Kent Bazemore, or Derrick Jones for Josh Okogie isn't being more aggressive. Signing James Johnson with the tax-MLE or Harry Giles with a vet minimum isn't being more aggressive. Even trading Ariza and two 1sts for RoCo isn't truly being more aggressive

It's all just a rinse-repeat of the obviously failed Dame/CJ experiment. As long as that Dame/CJ test tube is on the main Bunsen Burner, a low boiling point is certain

Being realistic there is a good chance Olshey doesn't find a deal for CJ or Nurk. He is picky as shit. He probably will just rinse repeat and let Melo, DJJ, and Kanter Walk and sign three other role players and profess their defensive value to the team. Players like Kelly Olynyk and Torey Craig. He'll probably sign Otto Porter Jr

The Blazers need to be willing to pull the trigger on a big deal on CJ. The question is what deals are out there?

 

[Natebishop3]

Being realistic there is a good chance Olshey doesn't find a deal for CJ or Nurk. He is picky as shit. He probably will just rinse repeat and let Melo, DJJ, and Kanter Walk and sign three other role players and profess their defensive value to the team. Players like Kelly Olynyk and Torey Craig.

The Blazers need to be willing to pull the trigger on a big deal on CJ. The question is what deals are out there?

It's going to depend on how the Clippers and Sixers finish up the season. Maybe the Bucks as well. The teams that could use him are still playing.

 

[Chris Craig]

Though he could trade CJ for parts, picks, and space and sign someone like DeRozan

 

[Chris Craig]

It's going to depend on how the Clippers and Sixers finish up the season. Maybe the Bucks as well. The teams that could use him are still playing.

The Nets could certainly use another star player

 

[Natebishop3]

The Nets could certainly use another star player

Can't really feel sorry for the Nets. They decided to go pick up a bunch of players with a history of injuries.

 

[wizenheimer]

The Blazers need to be willing to pull the trigger on a big deal on CJ. The question is what deals are out there?

the issue for me is I don't know what people mean when they say a "big CJ deal"....? Are they really thinking it's possible trading CJ will return an all-star level talent? That would be delusion

how about something like CJ for Jerami Grant and a future 1st...? A pick with diminishing protections. That would accomplish several things. It would theoretically allow Powell to step into the SG position. A Dame-Powell-Grant-RoCo-Nurkic lineup is almost certainly going to be better than any lineup with CJ hogging all those possessions he does. It would also give Portland a 10M TPE to go along with an extra 1st round pick. So then, better team, lower cap, better trading assets. Kind of a win all around

now maybe Grant and a 1st is a bad example because frankly, CJ may simply not have that much value. But I think there will be several opportunities out there for CJ trades pretty similar to what I outlined. Olshey won't consider any of them though, IMO

mainly though, I think people have to give up the notion that Portland can trade CJ and bring back a Ben Simmons, or Kris Middleton, or Pascal Siakam

 

[LayneStaley]

I don’t wanna trade Dame but if Den offered Murray and Porter I might think about it, swing CJ and RoCo for pieces that fit the new timeline and we might be set.

Murray
Simons
Ingram(CJ/RoCo trade)
Porter Jr
Nurk

Of course other pieces would be involved in the trades but I wouldn’t mind a team centered around Murray/Ingram/Porter

 

[Natebishop3]

the issue for me is I don't know what people mean when they say a "big CJ deal"....? Are they really thinking it's possible trading CJ will return an all-star level talent? That would be delusion

how about something like CJ for Jerami Grant and a future 1st...? A pick with diminishing protections. That would accomplish several things. It would theoretically allow Powell to step into the SG position. A Dame-Powell-Grant-RoCo-Nurkic lineup is almost certainly going to be better than any lineup with CJ hogging all those possessions he does. It would also give Portland a 10M TPE to go along with an extra 1st round pick. So then, better team, lower cap, better trading assets. Kind of a win all around

now maybe Grant and a 1st is a bad example because frankly, CJ may simply not have that much value. But I think there will be several opportunities out there for CJ trades pretty similar to what I outlined. Olshey won't consider any of them though, IMO

mainly though, I think people have to give up the notion that Portland can trade CJ and bring back a Ben Simmons, or Kris Middleton, or Pascal Siakam

Jerami Grant basically IS an All-Star talent though. I would take him in a heartbeat.

 

[Chris Craig]

Jerami Grant basically IS an All-Star talent though. I would take him in a heartbeat.

So would I

 

[wizenheimer]

Jerami Grant basically IS an All-Star talent though. I would take him in a heartbeat.

yeah, I know....he is probably a a bad example

maybe a player at a level somewhere between Grant and Aaron Gordon

 

[rotary111]

Grant would be amazing! Now find a way to get Thybulle to pair with Roco and fill in the gaps.

 

[Cugel]

I think Dallas would do a deal including CJ for Porzingis. Yeah I get it Porzi hasn't done much at Dallas, that's why Portland could get him. He has injury issues but a great offensive skill set. It's a risky move but if he lived up to his potential (recall a few years ago NY was considered INSANE for unloading him) it would be a steal. He needs coaching and mentorship and a real leader like Dame, not a tool like Luka.