What vets should/will be back?

[Rastapopoulos]

Obviously we've got a weird roster: we've enough decent vets that if everyone is healthy we're almost a play-in team (we would certainly be one in the East). But (a) nobody's ever healthy, and (b) we're tanking, so that's counterproductive.

So why're we keeping ANY vets? Presumably the answer is that young'ins don't learn without some vets around and the team culture tanks. But do we have vets who are ideal for culture? I mean, our "stars" are Grant and Ayton, and neither is a leader. Brogdon's presumably the most leader-ish, but (a) is he, though? and (b) he's the WORST for always injured (except maybe Williams, whose knee may prevent him ever playing again for all we know - you're welcome for the Championship, Boston)

Do we offload vets at all cost? Hold on to them for a really good offer? Try to add more to be a non-laughing stock (the Heat model)?

I think Jerami has skills that a contender could use, that is, solid defender, very good midrange shooter. But does the fact that he lacks the ball skills to play SF and rebounds worse than a point guard prevent him being worth anything?

I would
Offload: Williams (very good player, very bad knee), Matisse (I'm not as down on him as others but he plays a position that we have a million younger guys at), Jerami (just more valuable to some other team)
Try to get half-decent value: Anfernee (hard to know who'd want him, though), Brogdon (he'd be great if he could stay healthy)
Don't trade unless it's a good offer: Ayton (he had a tiny bit of a breakthrough at the end of the season - I'm intrigued enough to keep him, and there's no one like him in the draft)

 

[Rastapopoulos]

What vets WILL be back? Probably all of them, I just don't get what Cronin is doing.

 

[wizenheimer]

I don't believe Cronin is 'intending' to trade any of the 6 veterans. He may trade 1 and it will be the wrong 1. Moving trucks being loaded and headed for an address in Purgatory

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I say that if either or both miss out on Paul George, then Jerami Grant should be a cut-price fallback plan. I actually see Grant in Philly making a lot of sense. (The Magic need to be thinking about Anfernee, of course.)

 

[Rastapopoulos]

 

[PtldPlatypus]

View attachment 64514

So, we're just dumping Grant for nothing?

 

[Stevenson]

Don't trade unless it's a good offer: Ayton (he had a tiny bit of a breakthrough at the end of the season...

Huh? Were we watching the same player? Ayton balled-out at the end of the year. Amazing stats. Not his fault the team was tanking.

 

[Hoopguru]

No player on this team should be UNtradable...not even Scoot and/or Shae. Even our picks for this year should be available for the right deal.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I say that if either or both miss out on Paul George, then Jerami Grant should be a cut-price fallback plan. I actually see Grant in Philly making a lot of sense. (The Magic need to be thinking about Anfernee, of course.)

I doubt he wants to leave LA after working so hard to get back home. But I can see why those two teams would want him. He could play SG in Orlando.

 

[riverman]

I think Grant, Ayton and Thybulle will return and Ant and Brogdan and Williams will be traded.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

So, we're just dumping Grant for nothing?

Throw in a pick or two if you like, but cap space is not nothing.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Throw in a pick or two if you like, but cap space is not nothing.

Considering we'll still be well over the cap, it really is.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Considering we'll still be well over the cap, it really is.

Still worth getting rid of Jerami, for his sake and the sake of developing our young guys and tanking for an actually good draft.

Besides, if we offload all the vets I want to offload, we may not be.

 

[e_blazer]

Still worth getting rid of Jerami, for his sake and the sake of developing our young guys and tanking for an actually good draft.

Besides, if we offload all the vets I want to offload, we may not be.

Yes, the perma-tank plan is so inviting. Get rid of all existing guys who are the least bit competent and play the young guys to the never-ending glory of future drafts.

 

[Whyachi]

think of playoff teams that need cap relief next summer. There's only 1 Blazer that fits the bill of good performance on expiring contract, Malcom Brogdan.

what can Portland get?

They need an immediate salary cut to duck the tax. A smaller salary player, 1 injured buyout contract, and future picks might clear the ~8m necessary to keep Jody in the green.

The only alternative i see to avoid the 'pit of despair' luxury tax, is straight buy-out Robert Williams 26m contract. Jody's rich, she can afford a heap of dead cap space for Cronin's maximum salary rebuilding experiment.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Yes, the perma-tank plan is so inviting. Get rid of all existing guys who are the least bit competent and play the young guys to the never-ending glory of future drafts.

Yeah, think of all those games Jerami will win for us if we keep him. You know, like he did THIS season. He did a great job of lifting us to respectability, didn't he?

 

[BigGameDamian]

I think Grant, Ayton and Thybulle will return and Ant and Brogdan and Williams will be traded.

You wouldn’t do Jerami Grant to the Kings for Keegan Murray and Harrison Barnes?

 

[e_blazer]

Yeah, think of all those games Jerami will win for us if we keep him. You know, like he did THIS season. He did a great job of lifting us the respectability, didn't he?

Maybe something in the middle? Figure out which guys fit then look to move the other vets for more experienced guys who fit. What gives me heartburn is the nonsense about dumping vets for crap and picks.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Are Ayton and Ant considered vets? Super unlikely they're traded. They are young enough to still be productive in next phase of the rebuild. Ayton was a monster to end the year. Ant didn't get to play with Sharpe, the Blazers want to see a year of them with Scoot.

Timelord and Thybulle have little to no value.

So it's really just Grant and Brogdon. If we can get a FRP then yes it would be a good move.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

You wouldn’t do Jerami Grant to the Kings for Keegan Murray and Harrison Barnes?

Grant certainly is worth much less than Keegan LMAO

 

[riverman]

Grant certainly is worth much less than Keegan LMAO

not when it comes to salary at all...Keegan is on a rookie deal and Grant gets allstar money

 

[wizenheimer]

not when it comes to salary at all...Keegan is on a rookie deal and Grant gets allstar money

I get where you're coming from, but it may be worth noting that Grant has the 49th highest salary this season and the 45th highest next season; and next season players like Siakam & Derozan will sign new deals, while several other like Lebron, PG13, & OG able to opt out.

 

[andalusian]

I would keep the vets in the following order (assuming you get their true value back in trades):

DA - position of need, has talent, showed something at the end of the year that is worth checking if it is consistent
Grant - position of need, prototypical 3&D, would be a good 3rd option on a good team.
MT - Affordable, good veteran off the bench, a real defensive expert to throw out there based on situation on a good team
Brogdon - Assuming Scoot really earns that PG spot, a great PG off the bench
Ant - I am a bigger fan of him than many, but this team needs to commit to Sharpe at the 2, Scoot at the 1, so his role really is as a microwave kind of guy off the bench, don't think this will fly on this team
RW - Love the guy, but health, health, health

 

[Pinwheel1]

I would keep the vets in the following order (assuming you get their true value back in trades):

DA - position of need, has talent, showed something at the end of the year that is worth checking if it is consistent
Grant - position of need, prototypical 3&D, would be a good 3rd option on a good team.
MT - Affordable, good veteran off the bench, a real defensive expert to throw out there based on situation on a good team
Brogdon - Assuming Scoot really earns that PG spot, a great PG off the bench
Ant - I am a bigger fan of him than many, but this team needs to commit to Sharpe at the 2, Scoot at the 1, so his role really is as a microwave kind of guy off the bench, don't think this will fly on this team
RW - Love the guy, but health, health, health

Not a bad list but I would slightly edit it to

DA is a no-brainer for me. (not easily duplicated)

Ant ( I don't think he has peaked yet)

Grant (Depends on who we draft-if we get Sarr I am keeping Grant. If we get Risacher, Buzelis, or Williams then I am open to trading him.

Brogdon- I lean towards trading him, but I do like his game.
MT- I like him, but I rank him lower because I think his minutes will be low. (and I like Rupert)
RW- I bet he sticks until the trade deadline. If he stays healthy he gets traded. If not.......he is not going anywhere

 

[andalusian]

Not a bad list but I would slightly edit it to

DA is a no-brainer for me. (not easily duplicated)

Ant ( I don't think he has peaked yet)

Grant (Depends on who we draft-if we get Sarr I am keeping Grant. If we get Risacher, Buzelis, or Williams then I am open to trading him.

Brogdon- I lean towards trading him, but I do like his game.
MT- I like him, but I rank him lower because I think his minutes will be low. (and I like Rupert)
RW- I bet he sticks until the trade deadline. If he stays healthy he gets traded. If not.......he is not going anywhere

I think you only commit to ant like that if he is ok coming off the bench. Otherwise, time to cut the cord and let the scoot sharpe combo run, good or bad, until you know where you stand with it. Can't pussyfoot that anymore, imho

 

[Pinwheel1]

I think you only commit to ant like that if he is ok coming off the bench. Otherwise, time to cut the cord and let the scoot sharpe combo run, good or bad, until you know where you stand with it. Can't pussyfoot that anymore, imho

On the flip side, I think you only move him if he has indicated he wouldn't be ok with it. And he hasn't. It's not like he won't get minutes off the bench.
Of course, I would trade him for the right player.....but who we can get for him is a whole different discussion.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Ant ( I don't think he has peaked yet)

I'd say keep Ant if I thought he could be an even mediocre defender and distributor. But his talents are entirely as a shooter.

Somebody who can be bothered: where did the following duos rank among best Blazer duos?
Ant-Scoot
Ant-Shaedon
Ant-Brogdon

 

[SharpesTriumph]

not when it comes to salary at all...Keegan is on a rookie deal and Grant gets allstar money

I said Grant is worth much less.... Yes the contracts are a part of that, and make him worth even less than being the inferior player he is.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I would keep the vets in the following order (assuming you get their true value back in trades):

DA - position of need, has talent, showed something at the end of the year that is worth checking if it is consistent
Grant - position of need, prototypical 3&D, would be a good 3rd option on a good team.
MT - Affordable, good veteran off the bench, a real defensive expert to throw out there based on situation on a good team
Brogdon - Assuming Scoot really earns that PG spot, a great PG off the bench
Ant - I am a bigger fan of him than many, but this team needs to commit to Sharpe at the 2, Scoot at the 1, so his role really is as a microwave kind of guy off the bench, don't think this will fly on this team
RW - Love the guy, but health, health, health

True value back in a trade is hard to know as these guys all have different value. I'd first rank them in order of who I'd want to keep;

Ayton
Grant
Ant
Brogdon
Thybulle
Timelord

Thybulle/Timelord Id dump for nothing or expiring contract. Of course if Joe can magically get more then yes do it.

I'd shop all of these guys, and even listen to offers for our youth. Doubt we get enough return to trade away Sharpe/Scoot or other young guys but you never know and I'd listen in case there is a Boston trading for Telfair opportunity.

If a team wants to trade for someone higher on the list (Ant instead of Brogdon, or Ayton instead of another vet, etc) they need to offer more in return.

Yeah we all have some difference in our ranks of players and how much extra compensations we'd want to trade away a player we rank higher.

Ultimately it'll be pretty disappointing if we have all these below average vets on the mid July roster, or worse trade away youth/picks to add another irrelevant one.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Keep Ayton, trade everybody else. Might have to cut Williams at this point because I'm pretty sure he'd fail any trade physical.

Draft/sign whatever Purdue player was responsible for feeding Zach Edey the ball and tell him to do that with Ayton every time down the floor.