OT The Giannis Sweepstakes

[SharpesTriumph]

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.

I think it needs to be one big trade to bring in Giannis PLUS star X at the same time. Then sure I'd consider mortgaging the future.

But just bringing in Giannis with our current roster? No thats not a contender, not even close.

 

[blazerfan11]

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.

One thing about Avdija, he is a very willing passer.

Imagine Avdija pushing the ball up the court with Giannis the trailer. Probably the best trailer in the league. Avdija would make it impossible to "build a wall" to contain Giannis. Unless they can build 2 walls.
And how about Giannis in the dunkers spot in the half-court?

Couldn't find passing-only highlights with the Blazers, so I'll put this one out there as a refresher.

Double-Turbo anyone? I bet Giannis would love having a teammate doing a lot of the work busting down the door at the hoop.

Rather than being the worst fit as a teammate for Giannis, Deni could be the best fit, and vice-versa.

Imagine Giannis playing center. I figure he'd be just as good or better as Jalen Duren.

Dame, Jrue, Toumani, Deni, Giannis. What a nightmare to cover that for the defense (when Toumani is hitting his threes).

Don't miss the kick-outs to the 3-point line by Deni in the highlights. Mr Lillard the 3-point champion will be there waiting.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

One thing about Avdija, he is a very willing passer. Imagine Avdija pushing the ball up the court with Giannis the trailer. Probably the best trailer in the league. Avdija would make it impossible to "build a wall" to contain Giannis. Unless they can build 2 walls.
And how about Giannis in the dunkers spot in the half-court?

Couldn't find passing-only highlights with the Blazers, so I'll put this one out there as a refresher.

Double-Turbo anyone?

Yeah agreed, I think they'd be great together.

There would certainly be issues to work out and it would take time, but both players are multi skilled on both sides of the ball. Both guys can play many positions on the court. Together they have played all 5 positions for significant portions of an NBA season.

Look at Luka and LeBron - when healthy they've been great even though they occupy the same spots on the floor. Elite players figure out how to make this work.

Harden was actually very good on the Nets even though everyone said he wouldn't be able to share the ball with Kyrie/Durant. I mean the team totally fell apart but that was off the court issues. On the court that trio was dominant.

I'm scarred of Giannis signing a new $300-400 million supermax, his injuries and decline as he enters his mid 30s. He's not a skilled offensive player that can age well into his late 30's. The Bucks also would want a haul.

But just the thought of Deni and Giannis sharing the court as Blazers? That's nowhere near my top10 concerns if we did go that direction.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

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.

When is the last time the best player from one team was traded for the best player on another team? Doesn't really happen and it wouldn't go down like that. The Bucks know we want to contend. It would be some combination of Grant, Scoot, Shae, Hansen with the picks.

 

[blazerfan11]

Yeah agreed, I think they'd be great together.

There would certainly be issues to work out and it would take time, but both players are multi skilled on both sides of the ball. Both guys can play many positions on the court. Together they have played all 5 positions for significant portions of an NBA season.

Look at Luka and LeBron - when healthy they've been great even though they occupy the same spots on the floor. Elite players figure out how to make this work.

Harden was actually very good on the Nets even though everyone said he wouldn't be able to share the ball with Kyrie/Durant. I mean the team totally fell apart but that was off the court issues. On the court that trio was dominant.

I'm scarred of Giannis signing a new $300-400 million supermax, his injuries and decline as he enters his mid 30s. He's not a skilled offensive player that can age well into his late 30's. The Bucks also would want a haul.

But just the thought of Deni and Giannis sharing the court as Blazers? That's nowhere near my top10 concerns if we did go that direction.

The Blazers are in the driver's seat and don't need to give up a haul. No other team can give them back control of their draft picks in 28/29/30.

I would like Giannis, but there is no way the Blazers should give up more than needed. I would just say "no" and let their team fall apart, which is what they would be looking at.

The draft picks could end up being just as or more valuable than Giannis, given his cost and injuries. They could be kept until the draft or traded for a younger, more healthy player(s).

 

[GrandpaBlaze]

The Blazers are in the driver's seat and don't need to give up a haul. No other team can give them back control of their draft picks in 28/29/30.

I would like Giannis, but there is no way the Blazers should give up more than needed. I would just say "no" and let their team fall apart, which is what they would be looking at.

The draft picks could end up being just as or more valuable than Giannis, given his cost and injuries.

Giannis is only under contract one more year. Yes, he has a player option for another year at a whopping 62 million or something but could pack up and leave. The Bucks don't really have a lot of leverage. If the asking price is too high, Giannis can wait a year and walk and go wherever he wants.

They have produce that is nearing its expiration date, get something before you get nothing but don't be the customer who comes in and overpays for something that is not in its prime, is over-priced and may not get you where you want to be.

I'm find not being part of said sweepstakes.

Having seen late-career Pippen, Kemp, Detlef Schrempf, (not to mention Lenny Wilkins or others that most of the younger folk wouldn't know), who, while providing some value, were not difference makers or, in some cases, were distractions, I am fine with watching others mortgage their future in the hopes that maybe, just maybe, Giannis helps them.

Talented? Yes. That kind of difference maker. Not in my opinion.

Sit by the wayside, eat popcorn and watch the show.

 

[riverman]

Bottom line is Giannis doesn't want to be in the West...his family is all on the east coast. Sort of like Josh Hart. Plenty of allstars have been traded for allstars ...recently Anthony Davis for Luka. Others may not have been the best players on their team but you had CJ for Trae Young recently. I don't think Joe will make the trade for Giannis, but Dundon might. Deni's contract cannot be replaced. It's the best deal in the league. It allows you to pay for more talent around Dame. Deni is a starter on a role players salary.

 

[blazerfan11]

Giannis is only under contract one more year. Yes, he has a player option for another year at a whopping 62 million or something but could pack up and leave. The Bucks don't really have a lot of leverage. If the asking price is too high, Giannis can wait a year and walk and go wherever he wants.

They have produce that is nearing its expiration date, get something before you get nothing but don't be the customer who comes in and overpays for something that is not in its prime, is over-priced and may not get you where you want to be.

I'm find not being part of said sweepstakes.

Having seen late-career Pippen, Kemp, Detlef Schrempf, (not to mention Lenny Wilkins or others that most of the younger folk wouldn't know), who, while providing some value, were not difference makers or, in some cases, were distractions, I am fine with watching others mortgage their future in the hopes that maybe, just maybe, Giannis helps them.

Talented? Yes. That kind of difference maker. Not in my opinion.

Sit by the wayside, eat popcorn and watch the show.

If rumors are true, Giannis wants to play with the Knicks. We know he has made statements about star players being in big markets in the past.

The Bucks have no leverage at all. Any team other than New York would have to figure Giannis would be gone after one season.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

The Blazers are in the driver's seat and don't need to give up a haul. No other team can give them back control of their draft picks in 28/29/30.

I would like Giannis, but there is no way the Blazers should give up more than needed. I would just say "no" and let their team fall apart, which is what they would be looking at.

The draft picks could end up being just as or more valuable than Giannis, given his cost and injuries. They could be kept until the draft or traded for a younger, more healthy player(s).

I agree the draft picks alone may have more value than Giannis. But the Bucks are going to at the least insist on those back - likely wanting multiple young talented Blazers as well.

Better to just sit this out.

If the Bucks keep Giannis it's possible his value drops - and they can't even get the value of those picks from other teams. That makes the picks the Blazers own even MORE valuable. The best Blazers strategy may be to hold onto the picks while the Bucks have no way to claw out of the bottom of the lottery.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Giannis is only under contract one more year. Yes, he has a player option for another year at a whopping 62 million or something but could pack up and leave. The Bucks don't really have a lot of leverage. If the asking price is too high, Giannis can wait a year and walk and go wherever he wants.

They have produce that is nearing its expiration date, get something before you get nothing but don't be the customer who comes in and overpays for something that is not in its prime, is over-priced and may not get you where you want to be.

I'm find not being part of said sweepstakes.

Having seen late-career Pippen, Kemp, Detlef Schrempf, (not to mention Lenny Wilkins or others that most of the younger folk wouldn't know), who, while providing some value, were not difference makers or, in some cases, were distractions, I am fine with watching others mortgage their future in the hopes that maybe, just maybe, Giannis helps them.

Talented? Yes. That kind of difference maker. Not in my opinion.

Sit by the wayside, eat popcorn and watch the show.

Bucks missed out not getting those four unprotected Warriors picks IMO. Not sure he will still have that value in the summer.

 

[Everything Beagle]

If rumors are true, Giannis wants to play with the Knicks. We know he has made statements about star players being in big markets in the past.

The Bucks have no leverage at all. Any team other than New York would have to figure Giannis would be gone after one season.

I would be happy if the blazers facilitate the trade and get some action from the Knicks for the effort.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I would be happy if the blazers facilitate the trade and get some action from the Knicks for the effort.

Knicks don't have much to give up - so how do they give both the Blazers enough for the Mil picks and the Bucks enough for Giannis?

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Yeah not sure how you could do a Knicks trade. Lets say Knicks give us a bunch of pick swaps and Bridges. We give the Bucks their picks back - they also route Towns to a 4th team for a pick or young player. I could see where it could make sense from our side. But the challenge would be if its enough for the Bucks. Probably would be better for them to just trade Giannis to the Warriors or Heat for a bunch of picks.

 

[1 Eye Jack]

We have all the leverage in trade for Giannis. Bucks want/need their picks back in order to do a rebuild. Giannis has one more year on his contract making trading for him a big risk for that team. Hes also had injury concerns. I think a trade of Hansen and Scoot or Sharpe plus their picks back is more than sufficient to get the deal done. I’m not saying I would or wouldn’t do that deal just what I think it will take to make the deal happen. No matter who trades with them they have no control where those picks will fall, the only picks they can control is their own picks.

The same thing applies to us being involved in any three team trade that we are involved in. Bucks aren’t going to want to build around a player 25 or older player they will value picks way more especially their picks. I would assume whatever team they trade to we could get their star player back in the trade.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

 

[Rastapopoulos]

We have all the leverage in trade for Giannis. Bucks want/need their picks back in order to do a rebuild. Giannis has one more year on his contract making trading for him a big risk for that team. Hes also had injury concerns. I think a trade of Hansen and Scoot or Sharpe plus their picks back is more than sufficient to get the deal done. I’m not saying I would or wouldn’t do that deal just what I think it will take to make the deal happen. No matter who trades with them they have no control where those picks will fall, the only picks they can control is their own picks.

The same thing applies to us being involved in any three team trade that we are involved in. Bucks aren’t going to want to build around a player 25 or older player they will value picks way more especially their picks. I would assume whatever team they trade to we could get their star player back in the trade.

Try putting a trade together on the trade machine. You can't trade Rob or Matisse because they're expirings. You can't trade Scoot because he has an option. It's tough!

 

[RR7]

Try putting a trade together on the trade machine. You can't trade Rob or Matisse because they're expirings. You can't trade Scoot because he has an option. It's tough!

Scoot can be traded. His option for next season was a team option exercised back in October.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

We have all the leverage in trade for Giannis. Bucks want/need their picks back in order to do a rebuild. Giannis has one more year on his contract making trading for him a big risk for that team. Hes also had injury concerns. I think a trade of Hansen and Scoot or Sharpe plus their picks back is more than sufficient to get the deal done. I’m not saying I would or wouldn’t do that deal just what I think it will take to make the deal happen. No matter who trades with them they have no control where those picks will fall, the only picks they can control is their own picks.

The same thing applies to us being involved in any three team trade that we are involved in. Bucks aren’t going to want to build around a player 25 or older player they will value picks way more especially their picks. I would assume whatever team they trade to we could get their star player back in the trade.

Simlarly, I've been debating with myself on which prospect to give up and which to keep in a hypothetical Giannis deal. They want a prospect back along with their future picks back. Grant for salary purposes, one of Scoot or Shae, and Hansen, maybe not Hansen, after what ownership said about him.

I think I prefer we keep Scoot. I think he can work better with Giannis than Shae. Say what you want about Scoot, but he's a really good shooter these days. While I think Shae has a higher ceiling, I think he's less likely to get there than Scoot. I think both will continue to get better.