SharpesTriumph
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This fanbase has a problem man. We're addicted to tiny backcourts. Is there a rehab for this?
When we have our backcourt of the future on cheap rookie contracts, Thybulle paid close to a full MLE, Nurk way overpaid, and Grant making $160 million..... I just don't see Ant's contract as being any sort of a problem.
I'm not saying we shouldn't explore trade offers for Ant. Hell I proposed trade ideas a few posts earlier. He isn't a perfect player and this roster needs a ton of talent to contend even many years from now. But Ant making $26 million when guys sign for over $300 million and $70 million per season is just not overpaid. If he makes some improvements it could be a steal of a deal. If he doesn't then its fine for an elite scoring 6th man. I'd much prefer him on the roster than those 3 other Blazer vets (Nurk/Grant/Thybulle) on their deals.
If Ant's market is much better than Herro I'd even consider keeping Herro in a Dame trade and sending Ant elsewhere. I'm starting to like the idea of gambling on Herro having some upside if his trade value is as dismal as some suggest. But being willing to trade a player away doesn't mean they are overpaid.
People love to criticize CJ time here, Ant, Norm, etc. But the problem isn't the Blazers having good production from short guards - it's that they've had shit players up and down the frontcourt since LaMarcus left. Then we finally get a decent win now two way SF in Josh Hart and we send him elsewhere. I like the trade if we're fully rebuilding and going young - but it makes zero sense if we really were trying to win soon with Dame.
If we just remove Ant from the Blazers roster is this franchise in a better position? I'd say hell no - same as when CJ was here. If we can trade him for a front court upgrade of course I'd consider it. But by definition then he would not be overpaid.