Zach Lavine?

[Norman Dale]

On his Hoop Collective podcast, Windhorst mentions that Portland may be in play for Lavine? 3 guard line up with Dame, Ant and Zach?

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Why? Are we not interested in size or defense? Is that really where we would want to use our "flexibility"? I don't buy it for a second.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

And I'll post on @hoopsjock's behalf:

 

[RR7]

I would assume, like with bridges, that this is similar to how we always saw Dallas come up as a suitor for big free agents. Agents find another team with cap space to leak as a destination to increase the offer from their home team. And listing portland, with lillard and an obvious desire to compete, sounds better than saying Detroit.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Why? Are we not interested in size or defense? Is that really where we would want to use our "flexibility"? I don't buy it for a second.

Yeah, we won't get him. But I would if we could. Unlike some all-stars, this guy actually is a legitimate one. Why not take him? Haven't we been arguing that BPA is needed?

 

[blazerkor]

Yeah, we won't get him. But I would if we could. Unlike some all-stars, this guy actually is a legitimate one. Why not take him? Haven't we been arguing that BPA is needed?

Is that what we've been arguing? It seems like a lot of us had been railing on Olshey for a decade about not understanding fit being important at all. You can't just have a bunch of great scoring small guards who can't play great defense and even if they could at their position are getting destroyed because they're forced to play out of position. I don't think LaVine would be a good player for us to get unless we were looking at a really good deal on a sign and trade of Ant... or if Ant is only looking for money that would make bringing him off of the bench a good idea. The fact that we have Dame, Ant, Hart and Nas if he could ever get healthy should make us very lukewarm on LaVine because it would take a lot of moves to maximize the value that we do have on the roster and integrate LaVine in a way that makes any kind of sense.

LaVine would be a signing that Olshey would tout as something that puts us over the edge as a contender even though we would still have no forward play and be dominated by the size of our opponents night in and night out.

 

[illmatic99]

I would assume, like with bridges, that this is similar to how we always saw Dallas come up as a suitor for big free agents. Agents find another team with cap space to leak as a destination to increase the offer from their home team. And listing portland, with lillard and an obvious desire to compete, sounds better than saying Detroit.

exactly my thought. we are a leverage play

 

[illmatic99]

oh.Lavine just changed his representation last year. He is now a Klutch client too.

As is Bridges.

Move on.

 

[hoopsjock]

I would assume, like with bridges, that this is similar to how we always saw Dallas come up as a suitor for big free agents. Agents find another team with cap space to leak as a destination to increase the offer from their home team. And listing portland, with lillard and an obvious desire to compete, sounds better than saying Detroit.

Exactly!

Every agent can see how desperate Portland is this summer and with their "perceived" cap space we're gonna see a bunch of big time players use Portland as leverage.

 

[Blazinaway]

LOL: LaVine is eligible for a five-year, $200 million deal this summer if he re-signs with the Bulls. He wants to GET PAID, whether he gets a full max or not he ain't coming here, like some of you said just agents doin their thing

 

[SharpesTriumph]

In the last 26 years, since 1996 the Blazers have only added 3 all stars; Roy, Aldridge and Dame. Getting a possible star in LaVine is most importantly what the Blazers need to do.

Agreed this is likely agent driven to ensure max/super max contracts. But in theory if the Blazers could sign him I'd jump on the deal. He'd be the most talented teammate Dame has played with outside LaMarcus or myself.

The Blazers desperately need talent and LaVine has that. If we bring him in the team could explore Ant sign & trades. But I'd be fine with a Dame/LaVine/Ant trio. With that lineup we actually might get some solid veteran minimum PF/SF types who see the possibility of a key starting role on a playoff winning team. Sort of how the Warriors got Otto Porter. Or if the guards with Nurk look good during the start of the season the team could send out draft equity to get a starting level forward. The Blazers don't have to complete their starting lineup right away in July.

 

[hoopsjock]

In the last 26 years, since 1996 the Blazers have only added 3 all stars; Roy, Aldridge and Dame. Getting a possible star in LaVine is most importantly what the Blazers need to do.

Agreed this is likely agent driven to ensure max/super max contracts. But in theory if the Blazers could sign him I'd jump on the deal. He'd be the most talented teammate Dame has played with outside LaMarcus or myself.

The Blazers desperately need talent and LaVine has that. If we bring him in the team could explore Ant sign & trades. But I'd be fine with a Dame/LaVine/Ant trio. With that lineup we actually might get some solid veteran minimum PF/SF types who see the possibility of a key starting role on a playoff winning team. Sort of how the Warriors got Otto Porter. Or if the guards with Nurk look good during the start of the season the team could send out draft equity to get a starting level forward. The Blazers don't have to complete their starting lineup right away in July.

How do you suggest acquiring Lavine (hypothetically assuming he actually wants to play here)?

 

[DDolla]

Even if Lavine wants to play with the Blazers, Jody is cheap so it won’t happen at all

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Ugh. No thanks.

 

[Norman Dale]

So here's my rough attempt at how the Blazers get LaVine:

2022-23 Salary Cap - 122 million
Dame - 42.5
Bledsoe - 19 - if cut before 6/25/22, only owed 3.9
Hart - 12
Little - 4.1
Winslow - 4.1
Johnson - 2.7
Louzada - 1.9
Brown - 1.6
Watford - 1.6

Holds
Nurk - 18
Simons - 12

Dead
Nicholson - 2.8

Draft Pick
#6 - around 6

Total - 126.7

Move Bledsoe to another team by 6/25 and they can decide to cut him before 6/25 to save money. May have to throw in a 2nd rounder to entice the other team.
Trade Winslow, Johnson and Louzada for possible 2nd rounders down the road.
Those moves reduce the money by 27.7
Total now - 99

The Blazers recruit LaVine starting on 7/1
If he agrees to a deal, they can release Hart by 7/4, saving another 12 mill
Total now - 87
122-87=35

Sign LaVine after Hart is cut
They would have their current trade exceptions to add other players.

Probably not gonna happen.

 

[hoopsjock]

So here's my rough attempt at how the Blazers get LaVine:

2022-23 Salary Cap - 122 million
Dame - 42.5
Bledsoe - 19 - if cut before 6/25/22, only owed 3.9
Hart - 12
Little - 4.1
Winslow - 4.1
Johnson - 2.7
Louzada - 1.9
Brown - 1.6
Watford - 1.6

Holds
Nurk - 18
Simons - 12

Dead
Nicholson - 2.8

Draft Pick
#6 - around 6

Total - 126.7

Move Bledsoe to another team by 6/25 and they can decide to cut him before 6/25 to save money. May have to throw in a 2nd rounder to entice the other team.
Trade Winslow, Johnson and Louzada for possible 2nd rounders down the road.
Those moves reduce the money by 27.7
Total now - 99

The Blazers recruit LaVine starting on 7/1
If he agrees to a deal, they can release Hart by 7/4, saving another 12 mill
Total now - 87
122-87=35

Sign LaVine after Hart is cut
They would have their current trade exceptions to add other players.

Probably not gonna happen.

Using cap space renounces all trade exceptions.

There's also minimum roster holds, even if you somehow found enough teams to take on those guys for nothing.

Lavine's first year is $36.6 million. Unless he takes a discount to come here (doubtful), that still isn't enough money.

 

[Scalma]

So here's my rough attempt at how the Blazers get LaVine:

Probably not gonna happen.

Probably not, but I have little doubt that Cronin will be a lot more creative than we were used to Olshey being. Olshey's moves were pretty predictable. I think Cronin will be a lot harder to figure out. He's a cap guy those dudes can get crazy. We'll see if its a good thing or not, but I'll be surprised if anyone gets close to predicting his moves this offseason.

 

[Blazinaway]

In the last 26 years, since 1996 the Blazers have only added 3 all stars; Roy, Aldridge and Dame. Getting a possible star in LaVine is most importantly what the Blazers need to do.

Agreed this is likely agent driven to ensure max/super max contracts. But in theory if the Blazers could sign him I'd jump on the deal. He'd be the most talented teammate Dame has played with outside LaMarcus or myself.

The Blazers desperately need talent and LaVine has that. If we bring him in the team could explore Ant sign & trades. But I'd be fine with a Dame/LaVine/Ant trio. With that lineup we actually might get some solid veteran minimum PF/SF types who see the possibility of a key starting role on a playoff winning team. Sort of how the Warriors got Otto Porter. Or if the guards with Nurk look good during the start of the season the team could send out draft equity to get a starting level forward. The Blazers don't have to complete their starting lineup right away in July.

Right, so you suggest we pay a THREE guard Dame/Ant/Lavine trio roughly 105-110 mil (Dame 42/Ant 20, Lavine 33-37) next season and more thereafter? LOL so its right back to a 3 guard offense with lousy D and little to no money left for anything else - did we learn ANYTHING from the last 5 years? If I was Chauncy I'd quit! and there is IMO NO chance of this happening

 

[hoopsjock]

Probably not, but I have little doubt that Cronin will be a lot more creative than we were used to Olshey being. Olshey's moves were pretty predictable. I think Cronin will be a lot harder to figure out. He's a cap guy those dudes can get crazy. We'll see if its a good thing or not, but I'll be surprised if anyone gets close to predicting his moves this offseason.

I'll take a shot:

Trading for Jerami Grant will be the obvious big move (uncomfortable thinking about Cronin giving up a lot)

Re-signing Nurk, Ant, and Ingles (Bonus for amounts Nurk-$16 million, Ant-$24 million, Ingles-$8 million)

MLE will be used on one of Kyle Anderson, TJ Warren, or Otto Porter Jr

Draft pick(s) will be updated when we know what pick we have.

 

[Scalma]

I'll take a shot:

Trading for Jerami Grant will be the obvious big move (uncomfortable thinking about Cronin giving up a lot)

Re-signing Nurk, Ant, and Ingles (Bonus for amounts Nurk-$16 million, Ant-$24 million, Ingles-$8 million)

MLE will be used on one of Kyle Anderson, TJ Warren, or Otto Porter Jr

Draft pick(s) will be updated when we know what pick we have.

This sounds like an Olshey offseason, straight forward with no surprises. Shit, the Grant idea might've started out from Olshey.

 

[hoopsjock]

This sounds like an Olshey offseason, straight forward with no surprises. Shit, the Grant idea might've started out from Olshey.

Grant has already been in Portland working out with Dame recently. Dame wants him on the team. IMO, it's only a matter of what Cronin ends up giving up for him.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

I'll take a shot:

Trading for Jerami Grant will be the obvious big move (uncomfortable thinking about Cronin giving up a lot)

Re-signing Nurk, Ant, and Ingles (Bonus for amounts Nurk-$16 million, Ant-$24 million, Ingles-$8 million)

MLE will be used on one of Kyle Anderson, TJ Warren, or Otto Porter Jr

Draft pick(s) will be updated when we know what pick we have.

This actually sounds pretty good to me.
I’d like it if it happens that way.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Grant has already been in Portland working out with Dame recently. Dame wants him on the team. IMO, it's only a matter of what Cronin ends up giving up for him.

That was my next question but you asked it first.
I’m assuming the pick would be included?

 

[hoopsjock]

That was my next question but you asked it first.
I’m assuming the pick would be included?

If we give up our lottery pick for Grant it means not only did we tank for no reason, but we actually screwed ourselves by tanking because they possibly could've prevented New Orleans from making the playoffs. So tanking would've likely cost us a 2nd lottery pick in that scenario.

 

[blazerkor]

If we give up our lottery pick for Grant it means not only did we tank for no reason, but we actually screwed ourselves by tanking because they possibly could've prevented New Orleans from making the playoffs. So tanking would've likely cost us a 2nd lottery pick in that scenario.

I really think the worst that happens with Grant is that we trade back a few picks in the lotto from wherever we end up, pick up a second first rounder and send both that second first and the Bucks 2025 first to Detroit for Grant. If we just straight up trade our pick if it lands 6th-9th I will lose my fucking mind.

 

[bemac]

One thing for sure....Simons/Lavine is a better duo than Lillard/Simons

 

[GrandpaBlaze]

oh.Lavine just changed his representation last year. He is now a Klutch client too.

As is Bridges.

Move on.

Ah! He’ll be a Laker!

 

[Fairly-Hard]

If we give up our lottery pick for Grant it means not only did we tank for no reason, but we actually screwed ourselves by tanking because they possibly could've prevented New Orleans from making the playoffs. So tanking would've likely cost us a 2nd lottery pick in that scenario.

Guess it depends on where that pick lands. 8 or 9 I’m fine with giving up for Grant.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

I really think the worst that happens with Grant is that we trade back a few picks in the lotto from wherever we end up, pick up a second first rounder and send both that second first and the Bucks 2025 first to Detroit for Grant. If we just straight up trade our pick if it lands 6th-9th I will lose my fucking mind.

Not sure anything 6-9 is anywhere near as valuable as Grant?

 

[blazerkor]

Not sure anything 6-9 is anywhere near as valuable as Grant?

I think Murray is going to be really close right away and cost 1/4 as much. I like Sochan, Eason, I'm starting to really like Dieng I also think Mathurin and Griffin are good but don't have the size but those are guys who could help us. There are players like Duren and Davis that will probably be there that are more valuable as well but wouldn't be the best fit for us. All of these guys on rookie contracts with their ceilings are worth more than Jerami Grant. Jerami Grant is not worth a top 10 pick because of the fact that he's a notch below an all star, what he costs now and the fact that he's either a rental or going to cost you even more going forward.

I'm cool with getting him for a later first round pick if we can get that by trading back in the lotto. I also think two future firsts should be enough and if we're bringing Grant on board we better plan on making the playoffs so we should be willing to take the protection off of the pick we owe the Bulls. I would be cool with giving Detroit our 2025 first rounder top 4 protected and the Bucks for Grant. I would be cooler with giving them their 2025 second rounder back and the Bucks 2025 first.