Paddling up Schmitz Creek

[Rastapopoulos]

Yes, potentially the Brooklyn Nets would want a splashy player to get their fanbase excited.

Yeah, they should get the guy that's just been named EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK because he keeps having 40 point games.

Jesus, give it up. WE'RE NOT GETTING BRIDGES.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I want Scoot and I don't want to trade him. Him and Shaedon would be insanely fun to watch. They would be posterizing everyone.

Yeah, if we get Scoot then the rebuild is on.

 

[MickZagger]

Ideally for the future, I'd love to put an absolute bulldog on defense at point guard to pair with Sharpe. I just hate trying to roll again with potentially our best player being a point guard.

Same here. Scoot looks like that kind of guy.

 

[THE HCP]

Trading away from Chris Paul still crushes my heart. He's a dirty player and whatever, but he was SO CLEARLY one of the top PG prospects in years.

But... no. We had Telfair, Steve Blake, and Juan Dixon in the back court. Who needs a future HOFer?

PatterNash was truly the low point of this franchise ever, IMO.

But you know the draft is an absolute crapshoot.
Why didn't we draft Jordan....cause our starting SG was an allstar (Paxson), and we had god damn Clyde the Glide ready to take off. We had NO bigs..... #CrapShootFAMS

 

[tykendo]

Yeah, they should get the guy that's just been named EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK because he keeps having 40 point games.

Jesus, give it up. WE'RE NOT GETTING BRIDGES.

Well dog gone. I didn't know yous was the Nets GM. Let me look it up. Oh there yous is. Nets GM, Mr. I's "deal in absolutes" Raspy.

 

[Ed O]

But you know the draft is an absolute crapshoot.
Why didn't we draft Jordan....cause our starting SG was an allstar (Paxson), and we had god damn Clyde the Glide ready to take off. We had NO bigs..... #CrapShootFAMS

It's not, though.

That we can point to a few crushing decisions and outcomes (Bowie, Martin, Oden, Webster) while being considered snakebit as a franchise indicates that it's NOT a crapshoot... certainly it's never a sure thing, but if you're picking in at the top of the draft you're in much better shape in terms of a prospect than at the bottom of the draft.

Also, good management tends to make good decisions (even if not perfect ones) while bad management tends to make bad ones... which indicates skill is involved, rather than just

 

[BankTeller]

Yeah, if we get Scoot then the rebuild is on.

I really would love Scoot too, he and Sharpe would probably be most dynamic young backcourt in the league.

In that case, I’ll just have to pray Dame wants a new situation so we can get the best package for him.

 

[julius]

Yeah, they should get the guy that's just been named EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK because he keeps having 40 point games.
Jesus, give it up. WE'RE NOT GETTING BRIDGES.

For some reason, Blazer fans turn into clones of Laker fans, by thinking the team will be able to trade for any superstar out there. And in some cases, people become blinded by their love for said player. Right now, there are about 4 or 5 players that trotted out on the regular.

KAT, Bridges, Brown and Embiid are the current crop.

It's quite amazing how unrealistic those fans are when it comes to trade scenarios and their weird smugness about what they think will or won't happen. Though not as annoying or smug as the ones who always talk about how a player is "untouchable".

 

[Natebishop3]

For some reason, Blazer fans turn into clones of Laker fans, by thinking the team will be able to trade for any superstar out there. And in some cases, people become blinded by their love for said player. Right now, there are about 4 or 5 players that trotted out on the regular.

KAT, Bridges, Brown and Embiid are the current crop.

It's quite amazing how unrealistic those fans are when it comes to trade scenarios and their weird smugness about what they think will or won't happen. Though not as annoying or smug as the ones who always talk about how a player is "untouchable".

I get that we can’t trade for another superstar, but could we trade for Ja Morant’s ability to carry the basketball? It would be cool to trade for player abilities.

 

[Kano John]

I really would love Scoot too, he and Sharpe would probably be most dynamic young backcourt in the league.

In that case, I’ll just have to pray Dame wants a new situation so we can get the best package for him.

Question is - how would you package Dame to get the maximum value back? I mean he's paid so much that what else would you have to take back to make salaries match? I have no idea myself.

 

[AngryFan]

Well dog gone. I didn't know yous was the Nets GM. Let me look it up. Oh there yous is. Nets GM, Mr. I's "deal in absolutes" Raspy.

His absolutes > Your delusions

 

[glazeduck]

I'm operating on an assumption. That being that if Portland trades Dame they will NOT get any immediate lottery picks in the trade. Very well might be shitty draft picks for the next 3 years. The teams that would be interested in Dame won't have any great picks

so the only way that the Blazers can possibly land an elite talent is by having 2 or 3 years of top-5ish draft picks. Ant has flaws but he can get hot and win some games for Portland. That's why he's sitting right now and sat at the end of last season. Keeping a player like Ant after trading Dame torpedoes Portland's best shot at landing an elite talent....and Ant is not worth that in my view

I guess that's what I'm asking though... do we really feel like we know what Ant is as a complete player when not next to Dame? And to callback my original post -- I'm genuinely curious.

What I see you saying is we should sell low on Ant now, just to make sure he's not good enough to spoil a larger tank effort but not good enough to build around, which, while wildly specific, I suppose is fair. I guess I see more opportunity to leverage the productivity vacuum if Dame is traded, where presumably Ant's role drastically increases, and trade him at a higher value -- say at the trade deadline -- where it still doesn't affect an overall tank job? I can see those two worlds coexisting...

 

[Chris Craig]

The Blazers can keep it, give the NYK pick to Chicago to open up future picks and trade those along with players for a second star and keep our pick to boot.

 

[julius]

I get that we can’t trade for another superstar, but could we trade for Ja Morant’s ability to carry the basketball? It would be cool to trade for player abilities.

Oh man, I would love a trade like that.

 

[wizenheimer]

I guess that's what I'm asking though... do we really feel like we know what Ant is as a complete player when not next to Dame? And to callback my original post -- I'm genuinely curious.

What I see you saying is we should sell low on Ant now, just to make sure he's not good enough to spoil a larger tank effort but not good enough to build around, which, while wildly specific, I suppose is fair. I guess I see more opportunity to leverage the productivity vacuum if Dame is traded, where presumably Ant's role drastically increases, and trade him at a higher value -- say at the trade deadline -- where it still doesn't affect an overall tank job? I can see those two worlds coexisting...

I don't buy it. I don't think NBA front offices are fooled very often by players putting up big numbers on bad teams after their usage jumps. Simons averaged 21 points this season. Other teams know he's at the level of a 3rd option. They won't believe he's 2nd or 1st option material if he averages 25 a game on a lottery team. And his efficiency will likely drop when Dame isn't around to take the defensive focus and that shifts to Ant

I think it's a lot more likely what we'd see is Ant going into ball-hog mode more often and that won't impress anybody.

we've already seen this movie before. Heard for years how good CJ was going to be if he didn't have to share the back court with Dame. But all of his offensive numbers except assists are well below his career averages. He's not thriving without Dame.

 

[julius]

I don't buy it. I don't think NBA front offices are fooled very often by players putting up big numbers on bad teams after their usage jumps. Simons averaged 21 points this season. Other teams know he's at the level of a 3rd option. They won't believe he's 2nd or 1st option material if he averages 25 a game on a lottery team. And his efficiency will likely drop when Dame isn't around to take the defensive focus and that shifts to Ant

I think it's a lot more likely what we'd see is Ant going into ball-hog mode more often and that won't impress anybody.

we've already seen this movie before. Heard for years how good CJ was going to be if he didn't have to share the back court with Dame. But all of his offensive numbers except assists are well below his career averages. He's not thriving without Dame.

When things are kicking, he should be the 3rd option here...but I don't think Grant really ever had that "dog" in his this year, to be the 2nd guy.

 

[wizenheimer]

When things are kicking, he should be the 3rd option here...but I don't think Grant really ever had that "dog" in his this year, to be the 2nd guy.

I think Grant is a little better than Ant. Not by much. But I also think, with Dame, it's better to have the next best option be at wing like Grant

 

[Samuel]

Didn't work for us in the past, didn't work for ATL. Are there even cases where it has worked for any team to trade back? I am sure there probably is but it is rare.

Boston, I think? They traded back from #1 to #3 (Tatum) and picked up a 2019 pick that became Romeo Langford and then traded for Derrick White, who is decent.

 

[blazerfan11]

Regarding Scoot, I think a lot of people just assume he's going to be a defensive liability because of the Trail Blazer experience with small guards.

However, Scoot will defend a shooting guard like Devin Booker better than anyone on the roster right now. Maybe defend a small forward better too.

He is not a guy that will need to be "hidden" on defense. He's a guy that the other team will try to avoid.

Scoot Henderson is a better defender than Anfernee Simons, and way better than CJ McCollum so there's no reason he can't play with Damian Lillard.

Scoot is a talent upgrade, just like Michael Jordan would have been a talent upgrade.

Would the Trail Blazers not draft Scoot Henderson because of Anfernee Simons? That would be stupid beyond belief.

If the Blazers can draft Scoot, they have to. Like Bobby Knight said to Blazer GM Stu Inman about Michael Jordan, if you need a center, play him at center. Just draft him.

(No, I'm not suggesting Scoot play center.)

 

[blazerfan11]

Some Scoot Henderson defensive stops. When watching these, does anyone say "Hey, that reminds me of Anfernee Simons." To me it's more like GPII (when healthy).
By the way, GPII and Scoot Henderson are listed as the same height, 6'2".

 

[BankTeller]

Some Scoot Henderson defensive stops. When watching these, does anyone say "Hey, that reminds me of Anfernee Simons." To me it's more like GPII (when healthy).
By the way, GPII and Scoot Henderson are listed as the same height, 6'2".

Scoot and Sharpe for the future would be scary for sure. The peak of that duo could be like a better Westbrook/PG imo, where Sharpe is a more athletic PG and Scoot is an unselfish/better-on-defense Westbrook.

 

[MickZagger]

Regarding Scoot, I think a lot of people just assume he's going to be a defensive liability because of the Trail Blazer experience with small guards.

However, Scoot will defend a shooting guard like Devin Booker better than anyone on the roster right now. Maybe defend a small forward better too.

He is not a guy that will need to be "hidden" on defense. He's a guy that the other team will try to avoid.

Scoot Henderson is a better defender than Anfernee Simons, and way better than CJ McCollum so there's no reason he can't play with Damian Lillard.

Scoot is a talent upgrade, just like Michael Jordan would have been a talent upgrade.

Would the Trail Blazers not draft Scoot Henderson because of Anfernee Simons? That would be stupid beyond belief.

If the Blazers can draft Scoot, they have to. Like Bobby Knight said to Blazer GM Stu Inman about Michael Jordan, if you need a center, play him at center. Just draft him.

(No, I'm not suggesting Scoot play center.)

I think you’re arguing nothing anybody said

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

It's not, though.

That we can point to a few crushing decisions and outcomes (Bowie, Martin, Oden, Webster) while being considered snakebit as a franchise indicates that it's NOT a crapshoot... certainly it's never a sure thing, but if you're picking in at the top of the draft you're in much better shape in terms of a prospect than at the bottom of the draft.

Also, good management tends to make good decisions (even if not perfect ones) while bad management tends to make bad ones... which indicates skill is involved, rather than just

I don't know if Schmitz was with Draft Express then but they absolutely loved Chris Paul that year. They didn't outright say it but it seemed they thought he was the best player in the draft.

 

[blazerfan11]

I think you’re arguing nothing anybody said

Not true. Most of the discussions I've seen talking about Scoot mention conflicting with Damian Lillard and the position Scoot plays.

 

[1 Eye Jack]

Sad part is we are more likely to drop than go up in the draft. How depressing is that….

although worked getting Sharpe last year.

 

[Stevenson]

@TBpup you make an (almost) compelling argument. At any other time I would agree with you, and the Sharpe pick is the #1 reason why. The kid has superstar written all over him.

But now, here, today, I think we have had our fill of obscure "guys with upside". That was Olshey's whole shtick after all. Alan Crabbe anyone? Mo Harkless? Aminu?

No, right now I buy into Cronin's vision: Stock assets, and combine them into a trade this summer for a player that can move the needle now.

 

[MickZagger]

Not true. Most of the discussions I've seen talking about Scoot mention conflicting with Damian Lillard and the position Scoot plays.

Yeah, if you’re drafting scoot you move on from Lillard. Simons as well as it’s been proven the small backcourt sucks

 

[TBpup]

@TBpup you make an (almost) compelling argument. At any other time I would agree with you, and the Sharpe pick is the #1 reason why. The kid has superstar written all over him.

But now, here, today, I think we have had our fill of obscure "guys with upside". That was Olshey's whole shtick after all. Alan Crabbe anyone? Mo Harkless? Aminu?

No, right now I buy into Cronin's vision: Stock assets, and combine them into a trade this summer for a player that can move the needle now.

I'd love it if that worked. The concern is, we trade young players and assets that could be quite good Draft picks down the road in a few years when Dame is old or gone. Portland seems to have a 19 year old with as much potential as any player to put on a Blazer uniform. Who knows what happens, but chasing a short term fix doesn't work out very often. It did for the Raptors, but Kawhi was quickly gone and while nice, seemed a little bit hollow of a title with no team legacy. If a player like Embiid (I don't think any other one player would make enough of a difference) did come here and Portland was suddenly a contender, would it be more about him than Dame who has been here for years? The bigger likelihood, is he would be injured again and we would have traded a lot of assets for nothing and for the amount of assets it would take, it might gut the team.

It seems I'm jaded about Portland actually making any trade that really works out for them.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

I'm kind of like Paul Allen. Not that I'm rich, or dead, because I am very much poor and alive. But, I am like PA, because I love the draft. No way I want to trade a lotto pick.

You are dead….

… to me, FAMS/brah.

 

[BankTeller]

I'd love it if that worked. The concern is, we trade young players and assets that could be quite good Draft picks down the road in a few years when Dame is old or gone. Portland seems to have a 19 year old with as much potential as any player to put on a Blazer uniform. Who knows what happens, but chasing a short term fix doesn't work out very often. It did for the Raptors, but Kawhi was quickly gone and while nice, seemed a little bit hollow of a title with no team legacy. If a player like Embiid (I don't think any other one player would make enough of a difference) did come here and Portland was suddenly a contender, would it be more about him than Dame who has been here for years? The bigger likelihood, is he would be injured again and we would have traded a lot of assets for nothing and for the amount of assets it would take, it might gut the team.

It seems I'm jaded about Portland actually making any trade that really works out for them.

Yeah I too am tired of trading draft picks for it to work out. Olshey was constantly overpaying with draft picks for guys that flamed out. In the one year he won a trade and received a draft pick, he wasted it.

We don’t even know if Cronin is any better in the negotiation game. So far, I feel like we’ve seen that he’s worse. We DO know we’ve gotten considerably better in the scouting department. Maybe actually try playing to our strength.

There’s a chance there isn’t a difference maker for the right price like last year. I’m pleasantly surprised both that the FO showed restraint by holding onto the pick and that Dame was understanding of it. Under the assumption we keep two 1sts, we have a chance to bring in two young core pieces for four cheap years while Dame’s contract is so high.