With the #7 pick, the Portland Trail Blazers select....

[Phatguysrule]

The offense looks good on paper. I don't trust Randle and Grant together on defense. If we obtained one of them, and they play next to a SF/PF who plays defense on every possession I believe Grants/Randles effort on defense will be greater.

I think both of these guys are going to be hungry after being "the man" and not having it work out. They'll listen to Billups and Dame and they will buy in.

Or they won't and Dame will request out and we can blow it up and rebuild proper.

 

[blazerfan11]

Couple clips of why I'm higher on AJ Griffin. Already projects as a pretty wonderful off ball wing, but his flexibility and creativity with the ball stand out to me for a guy that age and size.

Lost a lot of development time being injured in high school, and who knows about the knee, but his high end outcomes are really interesting to me if he can stay healthy, get some of his pop back and start trusting his knee again.

He doesn't seem very athletic for a wing who's supposed to go in the top 10. I guess he used to be really athletic before he sprained both knees.

 

[blazerfan11]

I think both of these guys are going to be hungry after being "the man" and not having it work out. They'll listen to Billups and Dame and they will buy in.

Or they won't and Dame will request out and we can blow it up and rebuild proper.

If there was good chemistry on offense, and consistent effort on defense, that lineup could be very good.

 

[Phatguysrule]

If there was good chemistry on offense, and consistent effort on defense, that lineup could be very good.

Yeah, I'm not sold on them, but I legitimately think we could get them both. And if it works it would be the most talented team Dame has had. No 2nd all star, but possibly 3 borderline guys...

If we can do better I'm willing to consider all options. But I don't know who that would be.

 

[blazerfan11]

Yeah, I'm not sold on them, but I legitimately think we could get them both. And if it works it would be the most talented team Dame has had. No 2nd all star, but possibly 3 borderline guys...

If we can do better I'm willing to consider all options. But I don't know who that would be.

Randle was an All Star just one season ago (2020-21). He could certainly do it again if he plays well as a Blazer.

 

[Phatguysrule]

Randle was an All Star just one season ago (2020-21). He could certainly do it again if he plays well as a Blazer.

Oh yeah, good point.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Randle and Wood? seems like a bad fit

obviously Blazers let Nurkic walk?

Nah, I'd keep Nurk, and honestly I'd want to start Hart as well. Have Ant and Wood as 6th/7th men backing up 1/2 and 4/5 respectively.

I think Dame/Hart/Grant/Randle/Nurk could be damn good defensively, and any one of them could go for 20 on any given night. Grant and Randle have both been capable shooters, and on a stacked team like that, both could find the space they need to be that again. And the interior passing with Randle and Nurk together could be elite.

From an opposing coach perspective, I'd hate to have to try to defend that group, also knowing Ant and Wood are waiting in the wings to tear up my bench.

 

[TBpup]

Welcome to being on a talented team. Dame wants a title. If we want to give him that we're going to have to have a talented lineup.

It much more had to do with the types of players the response was referring to, than it being a 'talented team'.

Dame - ball dominant guard
Ant - broke out when he was the ball dominant guard
Grant - left Denver to be the main scoring option
Randle - was 2nd team all-NBA when he was the #1 option and a ball dominant forward
Nurk - wants more touches or tells us all how he isn't happy.

Not sure how that all works well together, no matter how talented they are.

 

[Predator]

That’s why I’m on the Sochan / Daniels train.

They’re both pass first players who don’t need the ball. But if they do have the ball they’re probably looking to make plays for others.

It’s also why I’m not too keen on Eason, especially if you’re getting Jerami Grant.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

View attachment 47597 7/EB to NY for Randle/11
11/36/JW to HOU for Wood/17
17/Nas to DET for Grant

Dame/Ant
Ant/Hart
Grant/Ingles
Randle/Wood
Nurk/Wood

I guess I like Wood a little better than Grant so I wouldn't want to send Naz to Detroit and I don't see Houston giving up Wood for # 11 AND giving us a future first back also. But I like the general framework. Would we be able to pay all these guys?

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I wish you'd stop talking about Wood. He's an undesirable.

I still haven't heard back from @Rastapopoulos why he doesn't like Wood. How about you?

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Wood seems like the one guy out of him ,Grant and Randle that would not need the ball so much. Can he be an above average defender is the question?

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

If we have enough assets to get Randle, Wood and Grant; shouldn't we just go after Siakam instead?

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

Another give in the ass. Lose the Pels pick, and then fall back.

Who do we take?

Hello. Do you own a crystal ball?

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I guess I like Wood a little better than Grant so I wouldn't want to send Naz to Detroit and I don't see Houston giving up Wood for # 11 AND giving us a future first back also. But I like the general framework. Would we be able to pay all these guys?

The future first was only listed to make fanspo let the trade work; if it were done after 7/1 it wouldn't be necessary. And yeah, if it works with Keon instead of Naz, that'd be great.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Just for the heck of it, looking at the stats again for Randle, Grant and Wood.
1. Three point shooting:
Randle: very inconsistent. last 4 years .344, .277, .411, .308
Grant Pretty consistent; averaged about .370 over last 4 years, although last two years down from first two.
Wood: last three years .386, .374, .390

2. Career efg%
Randle .503
Grant .512
Wood .581

3. career TRB%
Randle 16%
Grant 8.2%
Wood 16.9%

4. career ORtg DRtg
Randle 107 110
Grant 110 110
Wood 115 111

5. career OBPM DBPM
Randle 0.6 -0.3
Grant -0.6 0.1
Wood 2.2 -0.4

Just looking at stats, Wood's offensive stats far superior and defensive stats only a little bit worse.

 

[illmatic99]

The problem with Wood is his attitude. While on paper, his numbers certainly jump off the page, he's a bit entitled and thinks of himself as a #1 who is beyond coaching. He's had multiple run-ins with coaches and teammates.

Whether that would still be an issue with Dame running the show is obviously up in air.

 

[Pinwheel1]

The problem with Wood is his attitude. While on paper, his numbers certainly jump off the page, he's a bit entitled and thinks of himself as a #1 who is beyond coaching. He's had multiple run-ins with coaches and teammates.

Whether that would still be an issue with Dame running the show is obviously up in air.

This statement is why keeping Dame while getting younger is so important. You have to have a strong leader in the locker room who is also one of your best players.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

The problem with Wood is his attitude. While on paper, his numbers certainly jump off the page, he's a bit entitled and thinks of himself as a #1 who is beyond coaching. He's had multiple run-ins with coaches and teammates.

Whether that would still be an issue with Dame running the show is obviously up in air.

Just watching him play I don't see that he thinks of himself as #1. Has he had more than that one run-in where he walked off in sympathy with a teammate? If the team is interested I hope Billups has some contacts he can talk with.

 

[B-Roy]

The problem with Wood is his attitude. While on paper, his numbers certainly jump off the page, he's a bit entitled and thinks of himself as a #1 who is beyond coaching. He's had multiple run-ins with coaches and teammates.

Whether that would still be an issue with Dame running the show is obviously up in air.

He's also very clearly a center....

 

[Sheldon Shape]

I still haven't heard back from @Rastapopoulos why he doesn't like Wood. How about you?

No defense malcontent. We've gotta find guys who can function without a high usage. Wood is definitely not the one. There's a reason why he hasn't been able to find a home all these years. His box scores are fun to look at but don't contribute to actual winning.

 

[wizenheimer]

Nah, I'd keep Nurk, and honestly I'd want to start Hart as well. Have Ant and Wood as 6th/7th men backing up 1/2 and 4/5 respectively.

I think Dame/Hart/Grant/Randle/Nurk could be damn good defensively, and any one of them could go for 20 on any given night. Grant and Randle have both been capable shooters, and on a stacked team like that, both could find the space they need to be that again. And the interior passing with Randle and Nurk together could be elite.

From an opposing coach perspective, I'd hate to have to try to defend that group, also knowing Ant and Wood are waiting in the wings to tear up my bench.

ok, I see the direction you are headed. The one big question I have is are either or both of Randle and Woodcapable of stretch-4 defense; switching onto wings and doing a credible job? I haven't seen enough of either of them to know. Aminu & RoCo were, but both of the 'new' guys are much bigger

if I play that fantasy I'd really want to keep one of Little/Winslow for bench wing depth...even though both are injury magnets

how much would that team cost:

Damian Lillard $42,492,492
Josh Hart $12,960,000
Justise Winslow $4,097,561
Didi Louzada $1,876,222
Greg Brown III $1,563,518
Trendon Watford $1,563,518
Andrew Nicholson $2,844,429

Julius Randle $23,760,000
Jerami Grant $20,952,381
Christian Wood $14,317,459

about 126M for 9 players

that actually surprises me, assuming my math is right. That is only 4M over the projected salary cap; and 23-24M below the luxury tax threshold. Which means it's 29-30M below the apron. That's an important number because with that kind of margin the Blazers can consider using the full-MLE and even the BAE without any fear of the hard-cap. And they'd still have plenty of room for unbalanced trades

maybe this is the kind of flexibility Cronin was shooting for with his deadline moves? Couldn't be the case because we all know he's dumb as a rock

anyway, that an interesting team. I don't know who Portland would target with the full-MLE, but they are weak at wing.

 

[Freshtown]

I really, really don’t want to trade this pick.

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

No defense malcontent. We've gotta find guys who can function without a high usage. Wood is definitely not the one. There's a reason why he hasn't been able to find a home all these years. His box scores are fun to look at but don't contribute to actual winning.

We don't need a Whitside2.0

 

[Predator]

Chet Holmgren was asked who the best player in the NBA is and he said…

“Myself in two months”.

Lol

 

[julius]

Chet Holmgren was asked who the best player in the NBA is and he said…

“Myself in two months”.

Lol

They selectively edited out the question.

It originally said "who you think will be the best player in the NBA named Chet will be?"

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

Chet Holmgren was asked who the best player in the NBA is and he said…

“Myself in two months”.

Lol

At this level it is good to have that type of confidence. It’s almost a must to make it all the way. Self confidence is what separates the good from the great at the top levels, in my opinion.
Still funny though. Haha!

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

They selectively edited out the question.

It originally said "who you think will be the best player in the NBA named Chet will be?"

Is this true? If so, my response was suckered.

 

[Natebishop3]

The problem with Wood is his attitude. While on paper, his numbers certainly jump off the page, he's a bit entitled and thinks of himself as a #1 who is beyond coaching. He's had multiple run-ins with coaches and teammates.

Whether that would still be an issue with Dame running the show is obviously up in air.

I think Dame is an amazing leader, but I also think maybe his ability to control the lockerroom might be a little overstated.

There was very clearly an issue with Roco. He had checked out on the team.

I just see a lot of comments about how Dame will change this guy or that guy. It came up with Simmons. It came up any time Randle was mentioned. I'm just not so sure. I think Dame is a great influence and a great leader, but Nurk has been pretty hot and cold. I'm just not sure how much Dame can impact these guys if they have a bad attitude already.

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

I think Dame is an amazing leader, but I also think maybe his ability to control the lockerroom might be a little overstated.

There was very clearly an issue with Roco. He had checked out on the team.

I just see a lot of comments about how Dame will change this guy or that guy. It came up with Simmons. It came up any time Randle was mentioned. I'm just not so sure. I think Dame is a great influence and a great leader, but Nurk has been pretty hot and cold. I'm just not sure how much Dame can impact these guys if they have a bad attitude already.

I would like to add that Dame seems like a very loyal teammate and great locker room buddy.
This can be great in creating locker room synergy but does little for individual motivation when one is slacking. Dame seems more of a teammate to be there for you when you are down, but not really the type to know the way to get you back up.
I have loved Dame since he was drafted though so i don't mean this as any type of slight on him.