OT The Giannis Sweepstakes

[Pinwheel1]

ESPN Trade Machine says Grant, Scoot, and Hansen work salary-wise. Milwaukee would want its own pick back.
That said, I am not sure I would do it unless Giannis agrees to be in Portland for at least two years.

 

[HailBlazers]

Deni & Shae better improve 3 point shooting in a league where its absolutely needed for a team to content. We are at bottom 5 now.

Agreed. Shae's high arching step back three with hand in the face was tantalizing last night.

 

[blazerfan11]

Well it was reported that the Blazers had a deal on the table at the deadline and Dondun said next time they would be more aggressive. This is what I like to hear.

Aggressive can mean stupid and short-sighted in the NBA.

 

[KingSpeed]

I wouldn't mind giving up as much draft capital as it would take to land Giannis but I don't want to give up Deni, Tou, Shaedon or Scoot who are all ascending for an aging MVP.

What about Clingan?

 

[KingSpeed]

You can’t have too much talent. Injuries happen etc. I’d rather have Deni AND Giannis than one or the other.

 

[1 Eye Jack]

I think no matter what we are involved in Giannis trade whether that’s getting him or a player in return for some of their draft capital. Hard to rebuild when you don’t have your own picks. I’d be pretty stingy with the one pick that is unprotected

 

[Ripcity4life77]

Going to keep this simple :

Unless he is willing to sign a new deal then NO -- period

 

[GrandpaBlaze]

If we get Giannis, do we have to take his brothers as well. One Blevins is enough, don’t need two more.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I get the excitement to add Giannis. He's an MVP caliber player who won a title.

But just doesn't seem like a smart move. Would be like the 6ers getting Paul George or the Suns getting Durant.

Giannis would cost so much picks, young talent, cap space on a supermax we wouldn't be able to contend with him. The injury risk and his age make it a just plain bad idea.

 

[Everything Beagle]

Well it was reported that the Blazers had a deal on the table at the deadline and Dondun said next time they would be more aggressive. This is what I like to hear.

Oh I see, Tommy is going to tear everything apart and try to buy a win-now roster like a fucking jackass.

 

[wizenheimer]

I think going after Giannis ia a bad idea. Yes, he's an elite talent. But he's an elite talent who will turn 32 early next season and is having trouble playing more than 62-65 games in a year

and it's almost certain the acquisition cost will be extremely high. It would probably need to start with a bunch of picks; then Deni because the notion that Giannis and Deni could co-exist in the same offense is loopy

 

[SheedSoNasty]

I agree with all this sentiment that going for a win now move like Giannis would set us back for a lot longer after a brief period of success. I don’t think we’d be title contenders with him.

 

[THE HCP]

I think going after Giannis ia a bad idea. Yes, he's an elite talent. But he's an elite talent who will turn 32 early next season and is having trouble playing more than 62-65 games in a year

and it's almost certain the acquisition cost will be extremely high. It would probably need to start with a bunch of picks; then Deni because the notion that Giannis and Deni could co-exist in the same offense is loopy

You think he’s have played more this season had his team allowed it?

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

You think he’s have played more this season had his team allowed it?

While I get the concerns about our future if we trade for Giannis, it all just depends on cost. Father time is undefeated, but this place had a different tune when some of us said father time was undefeated with Dame getting older before we traded him.

I don't think we have had a top 5 arguable player since the days of Drexler (Lillard was close, but probably more top 10-15). I say go for it and see what happens if Dame looks like he can play next year at a high level. 2-3 years of competing and having a chance is better than mediocrity. Seems like Dundon wants to go for it too. Lets roll!

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I think going after Giannis ia a bad idea. Yes, he's an elite talent. But he's an elite talent who will turn 32 early next season and is having trouble playing more than 62-65 games in a year

and it's almost certain the acquisition cost will be extremely high. It would probably need to start with a bunch of picks; then Deni because the notion that Giannis and Deni could co-exist in the same offense is loopy

Definitely disagree that Deni and Giannis can't coexist.

Now is it the most efficient way to construct a roster? Would we be able to contend if we have to fork over multiple rotational players? That's the big problem.

It would be like trying to construct a roster around Dame and CJ. That would've been fine if the Blazers had an all-star two way forward as well. But it doesn't work if DameCJ are your two stars - with Aminu/Harkless as forwards.

Agree that it wouldn't work if Giannis Deni were the Blazers two stars either. Add in losing all the draft picks, and multiple pieces of Clingan Camara Scoot Sharpe and it's just a plain bad deal for Portland.

If Giannis could ever be acquired for just one of Scoot/Sharpe and protected picks then sure give it a try. But as you say the Bucks aren't going to accept that. They turned down four unprotected Warriors picks. Blazers are better off making different plans.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

You think he’s have played more this season had his team allowed it?

Maybe a few games. But he was injured the prior three years in the playoffs. So that's what a half decade since he's been available?

Guys don't get magically more healthy in their mid 30s.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

While I get the concerns about our future if we trade for Giannis, it all just depends on cost. Father time is undefeated, but this place had a different tune when some of us said father time was undefeated with Dame getting older before we traded him.

I don't think we have had a top 5 arguable player since the days of Drexler (Lillard was close, but probably more top 10-15). I say go for it and see what happens if Dame looks like he can play next year at a high level. 2-3 years of competing and having a chance is better than mediocrity. Seems like Dundon wants to go for it too. Lets roll!

Seems like Giannis will either sign an extension or be traded this summer. So I don't think we will have the opportunity to see Dame in action prior to deciding if we should go for Giannis.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Seems like Giannis will either sign an extension or be traded this summer. So I don't think we will have the opportunity to see Dame in action prior to deciding if we should go for Giannis.

We won't. But the team will.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

We won't. But the team will.

Well sure - we saw him in the 3pt contest.

Years ago the Blazers saw Roy after the Phoenix playoffs and thought he looked great. Then after a couple games his knee couldn't recover and he was never the same, eventually medically retiring.

Dame is 36 - he's not going to go all out in some workouts (nor should he) that the Blazers can use to have a great understanding of his impact.

Players just often fall short of expectations or exceed them during actual games.

Not to say the Blazers won't have any information. They can certainly use what they see to decide if it makes sense to keep Jrue, or add a 3rd string backup, etc.

But seeing enough from Dame to known that he could contend for a title when paired with Giannis? There's just no way the Blazers can get that evidence until Dame is playing for weeks.

Add to that we did see two years of the Dame Giannis duo with Dame having a 100% achilies. They had less success than Dame and CJ while in a weaker conference.

 

[wizenheimer]

You think he’s have played more this season had his team allowed it?

I don't know. I wasn't just looking at this season. I was looking at the previous 6 seasons too. Did the Bucks force him to sit out games since 2019?

 

[riverman]

Bucks will demand Deni as a Giannis trade in my view. Allstar for allstar. Deni and their picks plus couple of projects should do it if we do a trade for him. I'm not sure it's worth it.

 

[wizenheimer]

Definitely disagree that Deni and Giannis can't coexist.

co-exist? ok....mesh well? no way

two ball-dominant forwards who want to drive into the paint, seek contact & fish for whistles. Giannis is a terrible off-ball-catch-and-shoot-spot-up option. Deni is better but he's still mid at spot-up & catch-n-shoot. This would be worse that the Dame/CJ-it's-my-turn-it's-your-turn-it's-my-turn-again-ISO-fest, because G&D would use less of the floor while having fewer assists and more turnovers, even when they weren't tripping over each other.

I'd also point out that if Portland was trading Deni, a 25 year old all-star, the rest of the acquisition cost would be quite a bit less

I'd prefer the Blazers to ride Deni into the next 2-3 seasons rather than mortgage the future on Giannis

 

[kjironman1]

I wonder what Dame would say about this topic. If he read the comments I wonder who he would respond to? Would he respond at all?

 

[Pinwheel1]

co-exist? ok....mesh well? no way

two ball-dominant forwards who want to drive into the paint, seek contact & fish for whistles. Giannis is a terrible off-ball-catch-and-shoot-spot-up option. Deni is better but he's still mid at spot-up & catch-n-shoot. This would be worse that the Dame/CJ-it's-my-turn-it's-your-turn-it's-my-turn-again-ISO-fest, because G&D would use less of the floor while having fewer assists and more turnovers, even when they weren't tripping over each other.

I'd also point out that if Portland was trading Deni, a 25 year old all-star, the rest of the acquisition cost would be quite a bit less

I'd prefer the Blazers to ride Deni into the next 2-3 seasons rather than mortgage the future on Giannis

I agree, I would not give up Deni based on age, salary, and the chance that Giannis is a one-and-done.

However, having two ball-dominant forwards would work if surrounded by two guards and a center who can hit 3s.
Deni racing down the court, feeding it to Giannis would not suck. Plus, you figure one of them will end up being injured at some point, so it would increase their chances of one being available.

I also think that at his size, he can play some backup center against teams like SA.

 

[kjironman1]

I agree, I would not give up Deni based on age, salary, and the chance that Giannis is a one-and-done.

However, having two ball-dominant forwards would work if surrounded by two guards and a center who can hit 3s.
Deni racing down the court, feeding it to Giannis would not suck. Plus, you figure one of them will end up being injured at some point, so it would increase their chances of one being available.

I also think that at his size, he can play some backup center against teams like SA.

Ultimately you probably never pass up on a chance at a player of that caliber. The one and done part would be the problem. You certainly don't give up your future for a player that might leave after one year.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

I wonder what Dame would say about this topic. If he read the comments I wonder who he would respond to? Would he respond at all?

He would probably use the people saying they wouldn't be contenders as fuel to prove them wrong. He is an elite athlete so he thinks anytime he is out there he can win.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Ultimately you probably never pass up on a chance at a player of that caliber. The one and done part would be the problem. You certainly don't give up your future for a player that might leave after one year.

You can't give too much, though, because he can't carry a bad team in the playoffs......anymore.
Not counting this year, where they are not close to making the playoffs, the Bucks have gone 1-4, 2-4, and 1-4 prior.
So I agree with you, you certainly don't give up the future for him, nor do you give up the present. The team has to have enough players left to be a contender next year.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

It all depends on cost. If we move Jerami Grant, Shaedon Sharpe and the Bucks pick back, we still have Scoot, Dame, Jrue, Deni, Clingan, Camara etc. And the magic pick. And our own picks.

I don't believe the Blazers would be done in their trades and we would have all of our own picks to sweeten the pot to bring in another star.

If we had Dame playing at 90%, Giannis and Deni, I don't see people turning us down as a destination.

 

[riverman]

I'm really happy that finally there will be a new look Blazers franchise going into next season. I can't wait to see what we do this off season and this draft.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

co-exist? ok....mesh well? no way

two ball-dominant forwards who want to drive into the paint, seek contact & fish for whistles. Giannis is a terrible off-ball-catch-and-shoot-spot-up option. Deni is better but he's still mid at spot-up & catch-n-shoot. This would be worse that the Dame/CJ-it's-my-turn-it's-your-turn-it's-my-turn-again-ISO-fest, because G&D would use less of the floor while having fewer assists and more turnovers, even when they weren't tripping over each other.

I'd also point out that if Portland was trading Deni, a 25 year old all-star, the rest of the acquisition cost would be quite a bit less

I'd prefer the Blazers to ride Deni into the next 2-3 seasons rather than mortgage the future on Giannis

We'll just have to disagree. I believe Deni and Giannis would be good together.

Deni while cold shooting lately has had periods of shooting the 3 ball good. Giannis is probably most effective as a small ball center. So theres 18 minutes a game for him in that role when Clingan sits. Then another few minutes that only one of Deni and Giannis are on the floor. So that works out to what 10 minutes a game all three are playing? Now adjust for injuries and rest over 82 games it would be even less.

Talent is more important than fit. The coach, scheme, rotations, etc can make the fit work fine. It might not be ideal maximization of each player 100% - but even getting 95% from both guys is two great players in a teams rotation.

Now being able to bring in Giannis while having enough talent in positions 3-9 on the roster to contend? Thats just not going to happen. Plus as Giannis declines the trade would start to look even worse.