Trade Deadline: February 6, 2025

[blazerkor]

I'm pretty skeptical of this situation being laid at the feet of Kolde while absolving Cronin of responsibility. Did Kolde order Cronin to trade for Ayton after re-signing Nurkic, Grant, and Simons? Did Kolde tell Cronin to match the Thybulle offer sheet?

It wasn't that long ago there were lots of rumors about Paul Allen not letting Olshey do things he wanted to do and they very conveniently absolved Olshey of responsibility for dumb decisions. I never completely believed those rumors. And it makes me skeptical now about the latest version

I just don't know and Bert is much easier to hate than Joe. Joe is always sensible and respectful when he explains what he wants us to hear about what he's supposedly trying to do. I said this wasn't the season to stop tanking... that's on whoever supports that decision in management. I said that Joe is too risk averse and even though it's worked out for him with Jerami and Deni, it seems to have the same risks other passive approaches have in business... opportunities that are close aren't guaranteed to stay that way.

I wish we were going all in on this draft. I wish we had got rid of Ant and Jerami so Scoot and Shaedon would be starting tonight but it didn't happen and it seems like the team is just going to try and win as many games as possible. I don't love it but I'm going to root for our players.

 

[Phatguysrule]

Also, in a redraft, wouldn’t Camara be a top 5 pick?

It doesn't matter. We still don't have enough talent to make the trades that will be required to compete for championships.

We need another two players like Scoot, Sharpe, Deni, Camara and Clingan. And we'd need to hope they reach their potential. And then we'd need to draft very well and hopefully a Batman will become available that we can trade for.

Ayton is damaged goods and will probably be more valuable to us than we'll be able to trade him for.

Ant and Grant aren't worth anything. Nobody else on the roster really is... Maybe Ayton and Ant can get us something with their expiring contracts.

We need everything valuable that we have. There is zero margin for error if we ever want to be close to a contender. And we'll have to get incredibly lucky to have any shot at getting over the hump.

 

[Phatguysrule]

So, is it time to getting back to enjoying games?

With Ant and Grant starting? Probably not very often...

 

[blazerkor]

No reason to without a path or a plan.

But if you plan to fail then... you're bound to fail because you'll either fail or you'll succeed and that would be a failure to execute your plan. Just something to think about.

 

[BonesJones]

I've chimed in plenty when needed or warranted on the CBA. Danny has been talking for like two weeks now about how restrictions e this nee cba was going g to be on moves and we've just seen one of the busiest deadli es, with some of the biggest names basically ever. So please, miss me with his fucking knowledge of the nba and the cba. He's an obnoxious asshat, and was back when he was posting on here.

Yup

 

[Strenuus]

But if you plan to fail then... you're bound to fail because you'll either fail or you'll succeed and that would be a failure to execute your plan. Just something to think about.

Never said plan to fail. Just no plan to succeed.

 

[HoopsFanAZ]

Ant and Grant are good players. Not all star or almost all star or whatever people tried to say CJ was. Good.
Grant will be too old for the next playoff run. Ant needs trading this summer. They both have value.

Ayton is good but has limitations that are frustrating to watch even for what he does well. And the paycheck was the max offer from Indiana then matched by Phoenix. PHX was not going to give max and max years. When people say he got max, that’s only kinda right. It’s like saying Luka is 25 and ignoring he’s 26 this month.

Thybulle isn’t staying healthy, and other young Blazers look good (or promising) on D for less.

TimeLord. I just don’t know. His medicals make all the difference. Like him healthy. No opinion.

Cronin not getting deals done sucks. The timeframe for trades was originally, basically talked about as being by this summer. It looks like it’s still the case. Next February is not an option.

 

[Foxx]

Ayton is damaged goods and will probably be more valuable to us than we'll be able to trade him for.

1) what does the bolded part even mean?

2) do you remember what we got him for? (He was a literal throw in at the time, when you consider we also got toumani whom alone is worth 25 nurkic’s.)

 

[Phatguysrule]

1) what does the bolded part even mean?

2) do you remember what we got him for? (He was a literal throw in at the time, when you consider we also got toumani whom alone is worth 25 nurkic’s.)

It means nobody wants him. He has no trade value. So we aren't likely to be able to use him in a trade for a Batman.

 

[handiman]

More and more reports are coming out that one of the main reasons why the Mavs made the Luka trade and executed it on the down low is because they didnt want Luka's drinking problem to get dug up and reduce his trade value.

So, they preemptively reduced his trade value? Brilliant.

Also, in a redraft, wouldn’t Camara be a top 5 pick?

That's true for most successful 3-and-D players, though. They're always sought after but very tough to project.

 

[BBert]

Don’t know. Heard Joe wanted to move some people, but Bert wants to try to make playoffs

WHAT IN THE ACTUAL FUCK?!?!

 

[noknobs]

No reason to without a path or a plan.

There's a clear path and plan, you're just acting too obtuse to see it.

 

[blazerkor]

WHAT IN THE ACTUAL FUCK?!?!

 

[Mediocre Man]

who did you hear it from? I'm kind of skeptical about agenda with that rumor

"Kolde kept me from doing it" is great CYA for Cronin doing nothing

Maybe I just dreamt it? The meds are strong

 

[Mediocre Man]

WHAT IN THE ACTUAL FUCK?!?!

Let’s see, I’m going to take this to mean Bert is your uncle and you are shocked to hear he would interfere. Now if I’m wrong, it’s all your fault

 

[andalusian]

Now that it is clear that Cash Consideration is no longer a part of the team, do we think the Blazers are going to retire his jersey?

 

[tlongII]

Never said plan to fail. Just no plan to succeed.

Failing to plan is planning to fail.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I wish Nurk all the best.

 

[BIG Q]

Usually after a trade deadline there are 100 pontificators on here stating the deals Portland were in on that just barely did not happen for this reason or that. Crickets so far. The silver lining in this for me is that we can now call Ayton, Simons, Williams and Thybulle expiring contracts next season. I doubt Thybulle will opt out after this season given how this season has gone for him. That will just leave Grant as the albatross on the roster. However, neither Cronin nor the Vulcans can be trusted to be good stewards of the Blazers and will probably offer these players ridiculous contracts to stay. If somebody wants to start a new poll regarding this subject, please do. Ask;

Would you resign player X?
For how much (Years/$)
Why?

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Usually after a trade deadline there are 100 pontificators on here stating the deals Portland were in on that just barely did not happen for this reason or that. Crickets so far. The silver lining in this for me is that we can now call Ayton, Simons, Williams and Thybulle expiring contracts next season. I doubt Thybulle will opt out after this season given how this season has gone for him. That will just leave Grant as the albatross on the roster. However, neither Cronin nor the Vulcans can be trusted to be good stewards of the Blazers and will probably offer these players ridiculous contracts to stay. If somebody wants to start a new poll regarding this subject, please do. Ask;

Would you resign player X?
For how much (Years/$)
Why?

Only potential deal I've heard of is the Lakers wanted to get Timelord from us and were offering a protected first round pick or Dalton and we insisted on getting an unprotected pick. The Lakers then pivoted to do the Mark Williams trade.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I agree Thybulle will certainly not opt out this summer. I've never understood the posters here claiming there is a real chance he will opt out.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Simons I would be ok giving an extension to, but it needs to be a salary that has him tradable as a 6th man. If he wants more let him play out his deal and test the free agent market.

Ayton I would not offer a contract. I'd prefer the most we just trade him this summer. If he finishes this year playing well I think you might have a team willing to flip some other player also on an expiring contract for him. I'd rather get a Drew Eubanks minimum big but a bit mobile and switchable defender to be a duo with Clingan. If we have to keep Ayton let him go to free agency and maybe at that time we consider offering MLE money at the most. He has athleticism, quickness, and skill. But he is such a damn lazy defender. I don't think I've seen such pathetic efforts from any NBA player in Blazers history. Even the fat cupcake eating Raymond Felton tried harder as a Blazer on defense.

Timelord I would like to keep the most - I would give him an extension that has nonguaranteed years like Zion at similar pay to Timelords current deal. With his injury risk I wouldn't offer more until the next summer though. Might make sense for both parties to let this go to free agency though.

Thybulle I would not extend, he's a 3rd string player.
Murray I would not pickup his 4th year option.

Grant I'd like to trade the most as that 2028 contract has the biggest downside. Hopefully as you say the Blazers don't add another stupid contract to their cap long term. They have done a ton of those in the past so I'm legit concerned about it.

Probably the most significant contract of all is the Sharpe extension. He has flashes off all-star upside, but other times he looks like a poor backup, and his defense is always a concern. This is probably the biggest potential contract offer we will have to consider. I could legit see a team eventually giving him a max offer - similar to what the Pacers did with Ayton.

 

[1 Eye Jack]

What sucks is our progression to being decent is about 3 months to soon. What I mean is our young guys need to learn how to win and how to close out games. The problem is we are learning a few months before one of the biggest drafts in the last 5-10 years.

Now we have to hope we have a player on this team that will become a superstar. Honestly I think both Scoot and Sharpe have that potential.

Steps to building great team
1. Talent (at least one superstar)
2 assets to trade at later date to complete your roster
3 identity of team ours seems to be defense and playing scrappy team ball)
4 start winning and learning how to close out close games
5 players accepting their role and holding each other accountable
6 good coach

would have been nice to add one more really high draft pick but I’m starting to believe we have the makings of a good team with potential to be great.

still like to see Scoot and Sharpe both starting and Ant and Grant coming off the bench.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

What sucks is our progression to being decent is about 3 months to soon. What I mean is our young guys need to learn how to win and how to close out games. The problem is we are learning a few months before one of the biggest drafts in the last 5-10 years.

Now we have to hope we have a player on this team that will become a superstar. Honestly I think both Scoot and Sharpe have that potential.

Steps to building great team
1. Talent (at least one superstar)
2 assets to trade at later date to complete your roster
3 identity of team ours seems to be defense and playing scrappy team ball)
4 start winning and learning how to close out close games
5 players accepting their role and holding each other accountable
6 good coach

would have been nice to add one more really high draft pick but I’m starting to believe we have the makings of a good team with potential to be great.

still like to see Scoot and Sharpe both starting and Ant and Grant coming off the bench.

I mean sure... but it also would've been nice if we drafted Jovic in the 2nd round. We missed our chance on both of these things. Those ships have sailed.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Any way we can obtain Chet Holmgren?

The circumstances that would be needed for us to end up with Chet Holmgren are about the same circumstances necessary for Miami to end up with Greg Oden.

 

[Pinwheel1]

We have had about 10 top 5 picks since I began watching the Blazers in 1970.
Only one has had the ability to make us a contender. In 50+ years.......

So although I absolutely want another chance at it, I have become numb to thinking it will make a difference.

 

[Strenuus]

We have had about 10 top 5 picks since I began watching the Blazers in 1970.
Only one has had the ability to make us a contender. In 50+ years.......

So although I absolutely want another chance at it, I have become numb to thinking it will make a difference.

Well the team currently constructed won't make a difference either so.

 

[RonBrewer]

3 years from now, Blazers make Championship and Dame Dolla wins "6th man award" as a Blazer

 

[kjironman1]

So when is the trade deadline? Any good rumors?

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

I feel like Dusty cooked Danny in this segment.