https://www.espn.com/radio/play/_/id/37858943
They start discussing Portland around the 22:00 mark. Some key points:
- Scoot had a better workout than Miller for Charlotte. Charlotte still favors Miller over Scoot but it's not nearly 100%, still up in the air. They ironically discuss how this might change if new ownership gets finalized, and we just got news today that Jordan is stepping down. Highkin reported that Jordan still plans to meet with Scoot and Miller, so it sounds like he's still going to have some influence over decisions there but new ownership could change their draft outlook.
- They don't know for sure but assume that Portland will be happy to just draft the leftover of Scoot/Miller. Don't foresee something crazy like taking Amen or Whitmore. They also say that if the draft were tonight Portland would be keeping that pick. Unless something crazy happens they don't see a trade unfolding by draft night. Says they haven't had anywhere near that level of conversation to get near value back for that pick.
- Front office executives around the league are in a majority agreement that the #3 pick is more valuable this year than in other years.
- Front offices value Sharpe over Simons but the Blazers are absolutely keeping Sharpe. He's not untouchable untouchable, but it's pretty damn close.
- People tend to underrate Simons even if his value isn't terribly high. Says he's a really good player, easily one of the best shooters in the league and any team would like to have that kind of player on it. His contract isn't some albatross, feels Simons is getting pretty fair value.
- Teams that are 'turning their nose up' to the #3 + Simons package are probably posturing at this point, or other executives aren't correctly valuing what Simons can bring.
- Does not think it's as binary as keep pick #3 and trade Dame or keep Dame and trade pick #3. Portland could be trying to thread the needle since the opportunity of getting a player as valuable as they get at #3 is incredibly rare. This idea is that the prospect is just too good to pass up but the Blazers also love having Lillard around.
- Lillard is a true basketball junkie. He's in the gym everyday, he studies prospects and knows about salary cap rules. Says he would understand that there isn't necessarily a trade out there that makes sense from an organization standpoint. If Blazers keep the #3 pick then Lillard isn't going to just all of the sudden demand a trade. Lillard is smarter than that. Says it's been overblown at this point and Lillard wants to stay in Portland.