Summer 2025 trade targets?

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JDC said:
Zion is still the only big swing that seems somewhat plausible.

If we don't want to give up as much of our future draft capital, I'd be ok with going after a big 3&D wing like many have already thrown out there.

Keegan Murray, Trey Murphy III and Jabari Smith Jr. are the names that stick out.

Keegan appeals to me the most as he's probably the cheapest to acquire.
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Problem with Zion is that he doesn't seem to at all fit the culture that we're building.
 
Natebishop3 said:
Problem with Zion is that he doesn't seem to at all fit the culture that we're building.
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Food culture in Portland much like New Orleans would be his Achilles heel. He's a big risk with the emphasis on "big"
 
Ha Seung-Boumtje-Boumjte said:
Firstly, let us speak plainly: Jabari Smith Jr. must be acquired posthaste. The Rockets may not properly value him, and we should be first in line to take advantage of such shortsightedness. Picture, if you will, a frontcourt rotation featuring Deni Avdija, Smith, and Donovan Clingan. Versatile, defensively adaptable, and free from the burden of expecting Deandre Ayton to do anything beyond his contractual obligation to exist on the court for a given number of minutes. Smith, a man unafraid to slot between the four and five, gives us exactly what we need: a switch-heavy defensive unit when paired with Camara and Deni, as well as a more traditional rim-protecting scheme with Clingan when such things become necessary. If Scoot can learn to navigate a screen without looking like he's been hit by a truck, this defense might be good (he's got the frame). As for Houston, if they decide they’d rather not pay him? Well, let’s see how they feel about Robert "I Swear My Knees Work" Williams and a juicy top-10 pick.

Now, Anfernee Simons. Bless his heart, but it’s time to send him packing. If someone in Orlando still believes in the magic of Ant (pun absolutely intended), I say we oblige them. My working trade: Simons to Orlando, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Denver’s pick to Chicago, and Kevin Huerter plus Portland’s pick back to us. It’s a bit of financial housekeeping—clearing some salary while adding Huerter, a movement shooter who might teach Scoot a thing or two about feeding an off ball movement shooter. It’s practical. It’s efficient. It won’t fix all our problems, but it will at least make the backcourt dynamic more palatable.

And then, for the finishing touch, we add Davion Mitchell. Not a flashy move, but an important one. He’s a guy who will bring defensive intensity, leadership, and a general intolerance for bullshit. This is particularly important for Shaedon Sharpe, who could use a little push in the “playing hard all the time” department. Also, Scoot could benefit from an older brother-type figure in the locker room—someone to get in his ear and hold him accountable without making it weird.

The Real Problem: Blazers Practice Facility is a Goddamn Disaster
And here’s the real issue: the state of the Blazers’ practice facility. I am sick and goddamn tired of hearing about the absolute filth that certain unnamed individuals (but let’s be honest, we all know who) have been leaving in their wake. We’re talking protein shake cups left in the locker room like they’ll magically clean themselves. We’re talking towels strewn about as if this is not a professional sports organization but a frat house. And worst of all—this cannot be ignored—certain players (again, no names, but we know) have been taking full-on dumps in the urinals. This is a team in disarray, a team without leadership, a team with no respect for the hard-working janitors who have to deal with this absolute horror show.

You think Jabari Smith Jr. is taking a dump in the urinal?
You think Davion Mitchell is the kind of guy to leave his sweaty-ass compression gear on the floor like a heathen?
No. These are men of discipline. Men of standards.

Anfernee Simons? Nice guy, but I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s one of the prime suspects. Deandre Ayton? That man looks like he hasn’t voluntarily cleaned up after himself since high school. This filth trickles down—you build a soft, entitled team, and suddenly you’ve got dudes treating the locker room like a gas station bathroom.

This is bigger than basketball. This is about culture. It’s about respect. It’s about not forcing the custodial staff to deal with your biological terrorism.

Bring in Smith. Bring in Mitchell. Ship out the dead weight. Clean house—literally and figuratively. Anything less is a failure of leadership.
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I’m def down with Jabari smith jr. Feels like the price is worth it
 
I don't think there are any perfect matches that wouldn't require giving back a boatload. There is a guy who is really good except for his age and maybe could be acquired for not too much. Yeh, I am ready for the groans, But what if we could get Anthony Davis for Ayton and Thybulle? Now that Irving is out for a year or two, Dallas might want to go younger. Would anyone be willing to give up a distant FRP in this deal?
 
I think Grant and Ant and Timelord for Damian Lillard would be the feel good story of the off season. We can take on Brook Lopez as a bench vet in the deal or Patty C....Dame returning to Portland to play with Deni, Ayton and Toumani and Sharpe would be sick. Let the man retire in Portland! You know Dame wants to come home.
 
riverman said:
I think Grant and Ant and Timelord for Damian Lillard would be the feel good story of the off season. We can take on Brook Lopez as a bench vet in the deal or Patty C....Dame returning to Portland to play with Deni, Ayton and Toumani and Sharpe would be sick. Let the man retire in Portland! You know Dame wants to come home.
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But why would Milwaukee do that?
 
Natebishop3 said:
But why would Milwaukee do that?
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They wouldn't unless they crash and burn in the playoffs. If for some reason it becomes obvious it ain't working they may want to get out of the next two years of
$58,545,211
$63,228,828

Ant expires as does Williams
Grant's contract (per year) is still 20-30 million per year less than Dame

Possible but unlikely
 
Pinwheel1 said:
They wouldn't unless they crash and burn in the playoffs. If for some reason it becomes obvious it ain't working they may want to get out of the next two years of
$58,545,211
$63,228,828

Ant expires as does Williams
Grant's contract (per year) is still 20-30 million per year less than Dame

Possible but unlikely
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Adding Dame to this team makes no sense. Adding Giannis on the other hand....
 
Lamarcus posted today that he asked to come back to Portland 3 times on Dame's request and they didn't want him back after he joined the Spurs..that's what got me thinking about Dame returning before it's too late to make a run with him. It's probably now or never at this point. Dame is Portland's franchise superstar. I'd like to see him mentor Scoot for a couple of years. He's the star that would put Portland in the mix with the defenders we have around him.
 
riverman said:
Lamarcus posted today that he asked to come back to Portland 3 times on Dame's request and they didn't want him back after he joined the Spurs..that's what got me thinking about Dame returning before it's too late to make a run with him. It's probably now or never at this point. Dame is Portland's franchise superstar. I'd like to see him mentor Scoot for a couple of years. He's the star that would put Portland in the mix with the defenders we have around him.
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Not at that price though. He's making so much money. And Milwaukee is gonna want their picks back, which we absolutely should not do.
 
riverman said:
I think Grant and Ant and Timelord for Damian Lillard would be the feel good story of the off season. We can take on Brook Lopez as a bench vet in the deal or Patty C....Dame returning to Portland to play with Deni, Ayton and Toumani and Sharpe would be sick. Let the man retire in Portland! You know Dame wants to come home.
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I don't think he fits our team anymore. Davis actually would.
 
sheed30 said:
Hell nah!

Zion work ethic, his diet and his availability are trash!

Pass
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Given how much weight he's lost and the shape he's currently in, do we know that these are all true?
 
riverman said:
Lamarcus posted today that he asked to come back to Portland 3 times on Dame's request and they didn't want him back after he joined the Spurs..that's what got me thinking about Dame returning before it's too late to make a run with him. It's probably now or never at this point. Dame is Portland's franchise superstar. I'd like to see him mentor Scoot for a couple of years. He's the star that would put Portland in the mix with the defenders we have around him.
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I wonder what year he asked to come back? A 32 LMA was much different than a 35 LMA.
He was 30 in his first year with the Spurs
 
Pinwheel1 said:
I wonder what year he asked to come back? A 32 LMA was much different than a 35 LMA.
He was 30 in his first year with the Spurs
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Duncan retired a year early after one year from playing with LA so I'd say probably after Duncan left. Pops made him play in the paint and change up his game at that point.
 
Natebishop3 said:
Not at that price though. He's making so much money. And Milwaukee is gonna want their picks back, which we absolutely should not do.
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It would require shedding Ant and Grant's salaries to pay Dame but I think it'd be well worth it. If they were sticklers you could use Thybulle's and Timelord's to sweeten the deal ..Ant Grant and Thybulle actually would work...as to why the Bucks would do it...they traded Jrue Holiday who was a needle mover so anything is possible.
 
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Pinwheel1 said:
They wouldn't unless they crash and burn in the playoffs. If for some reason it becomes obvious it ain't working they may want to get out of the next two years of
$58,545,211
$63,228,828

Ant expires as does Williams
Grant's contract (per year) is still 20-30 million per year less than Dame

Possible but unlikely
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Instead, I'm hoping we get real Luka at that time :)
 
PtldPlatypus said:
Given how much weight he's lost and the shape he's currently in, do we know that these are all true?
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What I do know is Zion, regardless of being in shape or not, he has once again been injury prone and still only played 24 games this year.

To date, in 5 NBA seasons, he has only be available for 50.7% of his games played so far.

We aren't counting playoffs either, which has hasn't been healthy when the Pelicans have made the playoffs, never playing in one NBA playoff game to date.

Pass
 
Pinwheel1 said:
If we end up with the 14th pick....that is what I would give them. Thybulle included for salary purposes.
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That's pretty fair. I'd probably do that but it isn't impossible to find a star around there either. Some of the best players in our league were taken at 13.
 
sheed30 said:
What I do know is Zion, regardless of being in shape or not, he has once again been injury prone and still only played 24 games this year.

To date, in 5 NBA seasons, he has only be available for 50.7% of his games played so far.
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Yep, we know that that is the case to date. We also know that he has been overweight, has eaten trash, and seemingly has had a poor work ethic. All of which are likely contributing factors to his lack of availability.

If those contributing factors have changed, then it would stand to reason that there's a much better chance that his availability issues could also change. No guarantees, obviously, but it would be worth a shot, depending on the acquisition cost.
 
Zion would definitely move the needle! I wonder what the Pels would want back?
 
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