We got the #3 pick. Discuss the possibilities.

[blazerfan11]

What will Wembanyama's 3-point shooting percentage be in the NBA?

 

[B-Roy]

I don't always agree with Nate Jones, but when he posts about the Blazers it's basically reflecting Dame and the FO's thought process at that point in time:

 

[42N8Bounce]

I don't always agree with Nate Jones, but when he posts about the Blazers it's basically reflecting Dame and the FO's thought process at that point in time:

Technically, according to the math, Dame is 'over the hill'. But he did just have his best statistical season of his career.



I think Dame has a lot more gas left in the tank. I wouldn't be surprised if he has 3+ years of all-star level performance left in him. No way I let this guy go unless it's totally on the Blazers terms. My preference is that he sticks around as a veteran presence as we watch Sharpe and #3 rise to all-star level over the next few years.

 

[FlashWad]

I think Joe is going to trade the pick for a Siakim level player.. we will then not be anywhere close to a contender with dame and watch scoot or miller become stars elsewhere. The hard truth is we’re aren’t anywhere close to a contender right now, we need a mvp level player to pair with dame to be in that discussion and we aren’t getting that with the 3rd.

 

[Pinwheel1]

It would be like:

Cam Johnson S&T + 21/22 + 2 more future picks (maybe one of them would be a far out PHX pick that actually has a chance to be good) and then matching salary (Dinwiddie?).

Yeah it would hurt, and I don't think Dame or the FO prefer this option, but it's the nuclear option if all else fails.

Still, this is what I expected. Teams who think they will contend in the next 2-3 years if they add Dame, won't give up young talent. And a young talent is exactly what needs to be the center point of what the Blazers get back. You can throw in some ending contracts to make it work, but you have to get back a player that fits with the rebuild. Future picks are a plus but a known asset needs to come back. Cam Johnson is Ok but not good enough

 

[B-Roy]

Technically, according to the math, Dame is 'over the hill'. But he did just have his best statistical season of his career.

View attachment 55866

I think Dame has a lot more gas left in the tank. I wouldn't be surprised if he has 3+ years of all-star level performance left in him. No way I let this guy go unless it's totally on the Blazers terms. My preference is that he sticks around as a veteran presence as we watch Sharpe and #3 rise to all-star level over the next few years.

Getting and now keeping Sharpe is proving to be a huge piece in decision making going forward. They have a cost controlled asset with superstar potential as Dame inevitably fades. Changes the decision making calculus moving forward significantly.

Even if you don't 100% believe in the veterans you put around Dame, the ceiling is still (theoretically) high because you have Sharpe, and the FO can always sell hope because Sharpe is on the roster.

PS: Don't trade Sharpe.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I think Joe is going to trade the pick for a Siakim level player.. we will then not be anywhere close to a contender with dame and watch scoot or miller become stars elsewhere. The hard truth is we’re aren’t anywhere close to a contender right now, we need a mvp level player to pair with dame to be in that discussion and we aren’t getting that with the 3rd.

So we would get an all NBA player in return? How much better can we do than that?

 

[Chris Craig]

If Brooklyn doesn't give us any of their 5 first round picks for Dame what the hell are they giving us? Ben Simmons? LMAO

They just traded Durant for Bridges and 4 picks but this guy thinks they can get a superstar for 0 useful picks....

Only because that superstar is on the Blazers. We are going to see a lot of trade fodder out there with trade scenarios that net Dame, are friendly to the trade partner, but fleece Portland.

Fucking sharks. Don't blame then though with give away Cronin at the helm. He has created a reputation for being an easy mark when it comes to trades.

 

[illmatic99]

Keep an eye on Brooklyn. Even Mike Richman has said he's talked to folks around the league to keep an eye on Brooklyn as a Dame destination, and Mike never talks rumors.

Basically, Brooklyn has the same decision to make as us. Go all in with their assets, or take a big step back and rebuild. Both Portland and Brooklyn are flipping the same coin. Heads/Tails = One team going all in and the other going rebuild.

If we trade the pick, I would look for it to Brooklyn. If we trade Dame, I would also look for it to be to Brooklyn.

Lol so what is BK willing to give up?

 

[e_blazer]

Cracks me up that the age factor applies to Dame so strongly by those who want to trade him. Apparently this is not the case with Curry, LeBron or Durant, who are all older and have had more serious injuries, yet are viewed as essential to their team’s plans for contention.

 

[illmatic99]

It would be like:

Cam Johnson S&T + 21/22 + 2 more future picks (maybe one of them would be a far out PHX pick that actually has a chance to be good) and then matching salary (Dinwiddie?).

Yeah it would hurt, and I don't think Dame or the FO prefer this option, but it's the nuclear option if all else fails.

If all else fails, you tell Dame to suck it up and draft BPA.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

No he’s saying that is what would be ideal for Brooklyn. A deal both teams would make is probably somewhere in the middle. Brooklyn owns a lot of picks between now and 2029.

Not sure how you read it that way; he says if Brookkyn included none of those 5 picks he'd consider it.... implying he might not agree to acquire Dame even if the Blazers foolishly acquire none of those 5 picks.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Lol so what is BK willing to give up?

Second round picks and Ben Simmons? If we want any of their 5 future first round picks he suggests they hang up lol.

 

[Strenuus]

Cracks me up that the age factor applies to Dame so strongly by those who want to trade him. Apparently this is not the case with Curry, LeBron or Durant, who are all older and have had more serious injuries, yet are viewed as essential to their team’s plans for contention.

"Dame is too old but we should get 5 firsts and their best player because Dame will suck."

 

[e_blazer]

My “split the baby” dream scenario would be to draft Miller at #3, trade Ant and #23 for OG, cut a deal with Chicago to lock the pick we owe them into next year in exchange for a second round pick, and trade Nurk and Little and future picks to the Pacers for Turner. Make it so, Joe.

 

[Driew]

Exactly. Siakam is a fantastic talent. He's exactly what the Blazers need. Bridges as well. Getting either for the # 3 plus a player would be a win. Mitchell Robinson is too up and down. Williams will probably stay in Boston. And needs to stay healthy.

My concern with Siakam is he'll be on an expiring contract. That's too risky for the #3 pick.

 

[blazerkor]

I would trade pick 3 and Nurk to the Raptors for OG, pick 13 and a future first rounder.

I would trade pick 13 to the Knicks for Hartenstein and a future first.

I would trade Ant, Nas, rights to pick 23 and up to three future FRPs (two of which would be the firsts we would get from the Raptors and Knicks) to the Wolves for KAT. We would have to send Chicago a second and guarantee them our FRP next season to do this but I would, it replenishes Minny's future firsts that they lost in the Gobert trade and gives them back court help that they need.

All of these trades are separate and they work under the CBA. The Hartenstein trade would be completed during this NBA fiscal year so he would fit into our TPE. That would mean that the OG trade would have to be completed by then as well. The KAT trade would have to be completed in the new fiscal year so his salary matches closely enough with Ant and Nas and also so we are no longer hard capped.

We could use pick 45 on the best available upperclassman PG who could compete with Mays to be Dame's backup. We would re-sign Jerami and Matisse and pick up the option on Knox. We would get the best wing (most likely a PF) that we could the the TPMLE.

Dame, pick 45, Mays
Shae, Matisse, Keon
OG, Matisse, Knox
Jerami, TPMLE, Trendon
KAT, Hartenstein, Drewbanks, Badji

If the change of scenery and playing with Dame has KAT playing the best ball of his career and this team can stay healthy for the most part, I think it would grab HCA in the first round and be a scary match up for any team in the league.

 

[B-Roy]

https://syndication.bleacherreport....-trade-market-to-help-damian-lillard.amp.html

Nothing new here except this bit about Grant returning:

Portland's good lottery luck gives the franchise power it might not otherwise have to acquire a high-quality veteran via trade while also retaining forward Jerami Grant, who Lowe reported is expected to return on a new contract.

This time it's Zach Lowe reporting it.

 

[RonBrewer]

My concern with Siakam is he'll be on an expiring contract. That's too risky for the #3 pick.

Agreed. No way we make that trade without a guarantee

 

[SharpesTriumph]

My concern with Siakam is he'll be on an expiring contract. That's too risky for the #3 pick.

I'd trust Dame to get an "agreement" or "understanding" that he staying long term so that not really an issue.

Problem I see is more that Siakam is a clunky fit with Grant, close to 30, and probably doesn't get the Blazers close enough to contention now to give up that #3 pick upside.

 

[B-Roy]

I would trade pick 3 and Nurk to the Raptors for OG, pick 13 and a future first rounder.

This is an overpay.

 

[Bingo Bango]

gotta give Cronin credit for being willing to tank.

Yes, it takes a lot of character to intentionally lose games.

 

[B-Roy]

I'd trust Dame to get an "agreement" or "understanding" that he staying long term so that not really an issue.

Problem I see is hes a clunky fit with Grant, close to 30, and probably doesn't get the Blazers close enough to contention now to give up that #3 pick upside.

Siakam/Grant is such an awkward pairing. Bridges/Grant makes WAY more sense.

Siakam is older, on an expiring (I'm less worried about this), and hasn't really shown himself to be a very useful player without the ball. He puts up counting stats, but on mediocre efficiency (career 56.7% TS), and is not a great defensive player. This is like a last resort type of option, and only if the deal is right.

Plus dealing with Masai is going to be a nightmare. He's not going to ask for anything near fair value.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I would trade pick 3 and Nurk to the Raptors for OG, pick 13 and a future first rounder.

I would trade pick 13 to the Knicks for Hartenstein and a future first.

I would trade Ant, Nas, rights to pick 23 and up to three future FRPs (two of which would be the firsts we would get from the Raptors and Knicks) to the Wolves for KAT. We would have to send Chicago a second and guarantee them our FRP next season to do this but I would, it replenishes Minny's future firsts that they lost in the Gobert trade and gives them back court help that they need.

All of these trades are separate and they work under the CBA. The Hartenstein trade would be completed during this NBA fiscal year so he would fit into our TPE. That would mean that the OG trade would have to be completed by then as well. The KAT trade would have to be completed in the new fiscal year so his salary matches closely enough with Ant and Nas and also so we are no longer hard capped.

We could use pick 45 on the best available upperclassman PG who could compete with Mays to be Dame's backup. We would re-sign Jerami and Matisse and pick up the option on Knox. We would get the best wing (most likely a PF) that we could the the TPMLE.

Dame, pick 45, Mays
Shae, Matisse, Keon
OG, Matisse, Knox
Jerami, TPMLE, Trendon
KAT, Hartenstein, Drewbanks, Badji

If the change of scenery and playing with Dame has KAT playing the best ball of his career and this team can stay healthy for the most part, I think it would grab HCA in the first round and be a scary match up for any team in the league.

I'd rather just do your KAT trade on its own and first see how he fits with Dame.

If it works, great maybe then go with that next move for the last contending veteran. If KAT doesn't work, then consider it a sunk cost and move on.

I wouldn't give up the #3 pick where the best asset we get back is OG. Quality trumps quantity. That's a very poor use of the Blazers second best draft pick since 1984.

 

[B-Roy]

If all else fails, you tell Dame to suck it up and draft BPA.

There seems to be a lot of trust between Dame and the new FO - and that trust is built on honesty and sticking to the plan they've laid out. If they use the pick on a player and tell Dame to suck it up, he's 100% asking out.

Since Cronin has taken over, he's given lots of people insight into their actual thought process. He's been honest with media members (Highkin, Marang), honest with Dame and his agents. It's all been building towards this moment. If they walk out of the draft with Miller or Scoot they are 100% trading Dame.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Yes, it takes a lot of character to intentionally lose games.

It's a fucking game. Yeah, that's how teams win long term in this game. Example: Spurs

You make it sound like he stole food from a kids cancer clinic.

 

[blazerkor]

This is an overpay.

Then they can give us OG, pick 13 and two future FRPs and then we don't have to use any of our future FRPs in the KAT deal.

The fact is both the starting lineup and bench would be the best Dame has ever played with both in terms of talent and fit. All KAT needs to get back to an all nba level is to be reinvigorated, the dude hasn't lost a step and none of his skills have declined... he has just been in a bad situation since COVID took so much of his family and then having to play twin towers with Gobert in 2023. Let KAT and Dame pick and roll/pop other teams to death while Sharpe, OG and Jerami get open looks from three and easy baskets cutting to the hoop from all of the attention/gravity that P&R would have. The defense would be very good and far more mobile than we've had in years. We would also have a really really good bench which isn't something we've ever been able to say in the Dame era.

 

[inconceivable]

If all else fails, you tell Dame to suck it up and draft BPA.

Easier with Miller than Scoot

 

[blazerkor]

I'd rather just do your KAT trade on its own and first see how he fits with Dame.

If it works, great maybe then go with that next move for the last contending veteran. If KAT doesn't work, then consider it a sunk cost and move on.

I wouldn't give up the #3 pick where the best asset we get back is OG. Quality trumps quantity. That's a very poor use of the Blazers second best draft pick since 1984.

If it's Miller available at 3 then I could see this making sense. Our bench would be much weaker though. I honestly think you go all in on winning now with Dame or you trade Dame. These "split the baby" ideas are one thing in theory but I do not think they are what Joe and Dame have agreed to. I think Joe will shop our two firsts this year along with future firsts and anyone on the roster who isn't Dame, Shae and Jerami. If Joe can come up with a roster he sees as contending then he'll make the deals... if he can't he will tell Dame and they'll get him traded in a way that sets us up for a big time youth rebuild and gets Dame to a contending situation.

 

[blazerfan11]

Trade Simons to Toronto for Siakam.
Draft Scoot Henderson.