Summer 2025 trade targets?

[wizenheimer]

At some point you have to shit or get off the pot with Scoot. It would just be silly to have him coming off the bench in his third year. Either we move him or he starts next year.

if Billups and Simons return next season, and at this point that seems likely, Scoot will come off the bench. It's not a great outcome, IMO, but I'd rather he's a backup to Dame and Sharpe, rather than Simons and Sharpe

heading into next season, I want Simons, Ayton, Grant, and Timelord gone; and I want Billups gone. My hunch is I'll be batting 0-5 when the season starts

 

[wizenheimer]

Well what are you putting around Sabonis? Sharpe and Advija is a good start

it's a good start, assuming Sharpe wouldn't be part of the trade

But this season, Sabonis has had Fox/LaVine, DeRozan, Malik Monk, Keegan Murray, and Kevin Heuter around him with Valunciunas backing him up and the Kings will end up with a losing record. Last season, the Kings won 46 games; the season before it was 48 wins and that was the high point of the Sabonis led Kings team. Which is about the high point of what I suggested Sabonis could lead this Blazer team too

if the cost was low, like Ayton + Thybulle + a lottery protected 1st, or even two of them...sure, give it a shot. But I just don't believe a highly paid C is the key to contention. Embiid is better than Sabonis, in his 9th season, and he's never even played in a conference finals. Jokic doesn't count because he's not only a unicorn, he's a super-magical nuclear-powered unicorn

or maybe a 3 team trade where both Ayton and Simons go out and a little more draft capital heads toward Sacramento

 

[Mediocre Man]

If Scoot makes another big jump offensively, then that would work. If he doesn't, then that starting lineup does not have enough offense.
You would need to start Ayton and bring Clingan off the bench for another year.

You have Avdija and Sharpe. You don’t really need 3

 

[Pinwheel1]

You have Avdija and Sharpe. You don’t really need 3

Almost every team needs that third scorer unless you have a superstar on the team. And even the Bulls had a 3rd scorer. Granted, you were just talking about making the playoffs, so I guess you are right.

Now I am not saying Scoot can't make that next jump, but until he proves it, I still say he would benefit from playing with Ayton...unless Clingan makes a huge jump as well.

 

[wizenheimer]

Almost every team needs that third scorer unless you have a superstar on the team. And even the Bulls had a 3rd scorer. Granted, you were just talking about making the playoffs, so I guess you are right.

Now I am not saying Scoot can't make that next jump, but until he proves it, I still say he would benefit from playing with Ayton...unless Clingan makes a huge jump as well.

last season, the Blazers were 14-41 with Ayton, a .255 winning percentage
they were 7-20 without him, a .256 winning percentage

this season, Portland was 17-23 with Ayton, a .425 winning percentage
Blazers are 18-23 without him, a .439 winning percentage

that's a 95 game sample size with Ayton; Blazers were a little better without him than with him. I think you're overrating his offensive impact

 

[Pinwheel1]

last season, the Blazers were 14-41 with Ayton, a .255 winning percentage
they were 7-20 without him, a .256 winning percentage

this season, Portland was 17-23 with Ayton, a .425 winning percentage
Blazers are 18-23 without him, a .439 winning percentage

that's a 95 game sample size with Ayton; Blazers were a little better without him than with him. I think you're overrating his offensive impact

I think you are overrating these types of stats since other factors need to be considered.

 

[wizenheimer]

I think you are overrating these types of stats since other factors need to be considered.

sure...variables

but we're talking about a 163 game sample size and that is going to level out most of the variables

 

[Pinwheel1]

sure...variables

but we're talking about a 163 game sample size, and that is going to level out most of the variables

Once Deni took over as the leader, the team looked much better. I think we all agree with that. So, give me the stats starting in January when they went on their win streak. I couldn't care less about last year. Last year is irrelevant to the future.

I love how people want to tank and then throw win-loss stats back in a coach's or player's face.

 

[inconceivable]

The obvious choice is Alperen Shengun

 

[Mediocre Man]

Third scorer is interesting for sure. PER 36, which is an admittedly horse shit stat, Portland has 2 guys averaging 20+ and Scoot at about 18. With the right coach…RIP, we can get there