It's time to trade CJ

[OSUBlazerfan]

As soon as the draft ended, I've been giving some thought to what are the reasons we couldn't get a JB or PG, and along with the obvious with regards to assets, it comes down to MONEY, more specifically, the Salary cap and Tax level. In today's NBA, you just cannot have 4 max or near-max contracts, and that's what we would have had to deal with in the summer of 2018, if for example, we'd be able to get PG. Its now starting to make sense to me why it would have been a shortsighted move for NO to pull the trigger. Not only would it have been unfortunate to give up assets, but really, fitting our top 4 in the squad next summer would have been nearly impossible.

Given the fact that Lillard takes up about 26-27% of the cap, CJ takes up 25%, and Nurkic will be taking up 20-25% (hopefully, if he stays healthy), there simply isnt enough left to sign another max player. Which leads me to the conclusion that Lillard or CJ has to go. Lillard is the heart and soul of this team, and even though i sometimes feel that CJ is the better player, I truly feel like Lillard wants to become the all time best Blazer, and that counts for a lot to me

So to balance the roster out, I think a CJ trade is needed, and hopefully likely. We're not going anywhere with this backcourt given the porous perimeter defense both of them possess. I think CJ's highest value is right now, with the whole length of his contract left, but it could be argued that with a potential ASG appearance in the upcoming season, he'll be ripe for a mega offer next summer.

TL;DR; - I don't think CJ is on the Blazers roster to start the 2018 NBA season

 

[jonnyboy]

CJ's value is high for a reason. He isn't going anywhere, nor should he. Why would we ditch a legitimate asset to gamble on the legitimacy of another player?

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

CJ's value is high for a reason. He isn't going anywhere, nor should he. Why would we ditch a legitimate asset to gamble on the legitimacy of another player?

Because CJ and Lillard with a dash of Nurk will never win a championship

 

[SlyPokerDog]

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

Never said to trade him for an unknown. It needs to be a star for a star return.

 

[bemac]

The biggest factor I see, is CJ's willingness to possibly stay in Portland. Not sure you can find another player at his level who would be willing to commit, so if you have one, you don't give it up. Now, that said, if a deal came along, I'm fine with letting him go. We learned a lot about the difference between CJ and Lillard last year when we picked of Nurkic. Lillard found a way to play with him and CJ never did. It was a little concerning.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

It'd take a blockbuster.

CJ/Collins for Porzingis

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Never said to trade him for an unknown. It needs to be a star for a star return.

I've been giving some thought to what are the reasons we couldn't get a JB or PG,

Wouldn't PG be an unknown considering his desire to leave for LA after his contract is up?

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

Wouldn't PG be an unknown considering his desire to leave for LA after his contract is up?

I wouldn't trade him for PG for exactly that reason

Couldn't should have been didn't in the quoted text

 

[PDXFonz]

Because CJ and Lillard with a dash of Nurk will never win a championship

What are tomorrow's winning lottery numbers?

 

[santeesioux]

I think if CJ had any chance of getting traded, we would have taken Malik Monk or Donovan Mitchell a couple of days ago.

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

I think if CJ had any chance of getting traded, we would have taken Malik Monk or Donovan Mitchell a couple of days ago.

That's an unknown, again, I'm talking about getting a star in return, for example porzingas as has been mentioned (even though I doubt he was ever on the market)

 

[Mediocre Man]

I don't know if trading CJ is the answer, but our perimeter defense HAS to improve.

 

[RipCityDSCPL]

 

[RipCityDSCPL]

As soon as the draft ended, I've been giving some thought to what are the reasons we couldn't get a JB or PG, and along with the obvious with regards to assets, it comes down to MONEY, more specifically, the Salary cap and Tax level. In today's NBA, you just cannot have 4 max or near-max contracts, and that's what we would have had to deal with in the summer of 2018, if for example, we'd be able to get PG. Its now starting to make sense to me why it would have been a shortsighted move for NO to pull the trigger. Not only would it have been unfortunate to give up assets, but really, fitting our top 4 in the squad next summer would have been nearly impossible.

Given the fact that Lillard takes up about 26-27% of the cap, CJ takes up 25%, and Nurkic will be taking up 20-25% (hopefully, if he stays healthy), there simply isnt enough left to sign another max player. Which leads me to the conclusion that Lillard or CJ has to go. Lillard is the heart and soul of this team, and even though i sometimes feel that CJ is the better player, I truly feel like Lillard wants to become the all time best Blazer, and that counts for a lot to me

So to balance the roster out, I think a CJ trade is needed, and hopefully likely. We're not going anywhere with this backcourt given the porous perimeter defense both of them possess. I think CJ's highest value is right now, with the whole length of his contract left, but it could be argued that with a potential ASG appearance in the upcoming season, he'll be ripe for a mega offer next summer.

TL;DR; - I don't think CJ is on the Blazers roster to start the 2018 NBA season

 

[42N8Bounce]

Keep CJ.

 

[PDXFonz]

CJ and Lillard with a dash of Nurk will never win a championship

Bookmarked so I can make this my signature when they win it

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

Bookmarked so I can make this my signature when they win it

Sounds good. Nothing would be better than being in your sig someday

 

[BonesJones]

As soon as the draft ended, I've been giving some thought to what are the reasons we couldn't get a JB or PG, and along with the obvious with regards to assets, it comes down to MONEY, more specifically, the Salary cap and Tax level. In today's NBA, you just cannot have 4 max or near-max contracts, and that's what we would have had to deal with in the summer of 2018, if for example, we'd be able to get PG. Its now starting to make sense to me why it would have been a shortsighted move for NO to pull the trigger. Not only would it have been unfortunate to give up assets, but really, fitting our top 4 in the squad next summer would have been nearly impossible.

Given the fact that Lillard takes up about 26-27% of the cap, CJ takes up 25%, and Nurkic will be taking up 20-25% (hopefully, if he stays healthy), there simply isnt enough left to sign another max player. Which leads me to the conclusion that Lillard or CJ has to go. Lillard is the heart and soul of this team, and even though i sometimes feel that CJ is the better player, I truly feel like Lillard wants to become the all time best Blazer, and that counts for a lot to me

So to balance the roster out, I think a CJ trade is needed, and hopefully likely. We're not going anywhere with this backcourt given the porous perimeter defense both of them possess. I think CJ's highest value is right now, with the whole length of his contract left, but it could be argued that with a potential ASG appearance in the upcoming season, he'll be ripe for a mega offer next summer.

TL;DR; - I don't think CJ is on the Blazers roster to start the 2018 NBA season

Wanna bet?

There's two options: We would trade away a star we already have who wants to play in Portland, to get more role players who make less money, so that we can try to sign an all-star in free agency...

Or

We would trade away a star we already have who wants to play in Portland, for a different star, who isn't as high on being a Blazer, who'd likely have less years on hits contract and be a legitimate threat to leave once his deal is done, and is a lateral move that doesn't make us any better or clear cap space.

"There simply isn't enough to sign a max player." When have we ever signed a max player? How does pursuing star free agents play a part in trading CJ?

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

Wanna bet?

There's two options: We would trade away a star we already have who wants to play in Portland, to get more role players who make less money, so that we can try to sign an all-star in free agency...

Or

We would trade away a star we already have who wants to play in Portland, for a different star, who isn't as high on being a Blazer, who'd likely have less years on hits contract and be a legitimate threat to leave once his deal is done, and is a lateral move that doesn't make us any better or clear cap space.

"There simply isn't enough to sign a max player." When have we ever signed a max player? How does pursuing star free agents play a part in trading CJ?

This is in reference to trading for a star, the examples given were JB and PG. Not intended to mean "signing" another max guy. I should have been clearer and said "re-signing" because the ex i was thinking of is re-signing PG in summer of 18

 

[oldfisherman]

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

Just my opinion guys. Like I mentioned, I am very aware of how good he is. I think he's possibly our best player. But to take the TEAM to the next level, it might be necessary.

 

[BonesJones]

This is in reference to trading for a star, the examples given were JB and PG. Not intended to mean "signing" another max guy. I should have been clearer and said "re-signing" because the ex i was thinking of is re-signing PG in summer of 18

What are you talking about?

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

What are you talking about?

Hmmm, not sure what you're asking

 

[jonnyboy]

Because CJ and Lillard with a dash of Nurk will never win a championship

Three players have never won any championship. You gotta pay $ for your core starters. Not everyone can get as lucky as the Warriors did as far as draft picks go. Maybe we just did though..Never know.

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

Three players have never won any championship. You gotta pay $ for your core starters. Not everyone can get as lucky as the Warriors did as far as draft picks go. Maybe we just did though..Never know.

This is exactly my point, 4 guys with > 100% of the salary cap means barely anything left for 11 remaining players

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I would trade CJ and Collins for Porzingis. No hesitation on that one.

Crabbe would match CJ's numbers with a lineup of Dame, Crabbe, ET, Porzingis, and Nurkic. He would get so many wide up 3s because our bigs would demand double teams.

 

[Minstrel]

I would certainly trade CJ and Collins for Porzingis. And maybe if Jackson is really so dumb as to alienate his best player (in terms of present and future value) and then trade him for less than his value, that would work. Or we prey upon another team looking to irrationally dump a superior player to CJ.

But outside of such irrational acts, how are you going to upgrade in a trade? In a rational case, a team isn't going to trade a greater star for McCollum. You're either going to have to break him down into more, lesser players or else try to find an exact match for talent, which is pretty difficult. I actually think it might not be such a bad idea to look for a trade for McCollum in which you get back some intriguing young players that might blossom into good 3-and-D players. On paper it sounds good, but you have to contend with the history that generally the team getting the single best player wins the deal.

The Blazers are in a tough position when it comes to reforming their core talent, so they'll probably just have to ride with Lillard/McCollum/Nurkic and hope to find the magic combination of complementary players.

 

[Sinobas]

Because CJ and Lillard with a dash of Nurk will never win a championship

Then how will Lillard and Nurk win a championship? You think we're better without CJ?

 

[Sinobas]

I would trade CJ and Collins for Porzingis. No hesitation on that one.

Crabbe would match CJ's numbers with a lineup of Dame, Crabbe, ET, Porzingis, and Nurkic. He would get so many wide up 3s because our bigs would demand double teams.

What?! Collins is probably going to be better than Portzingis by himself. If we were going to trade CJ it should have been for Jimmy Butler, but that ship has sailed.