Portland Trail Blazers Sit Out the NBA Draft | What’s Next: Will They Make Trades or Run It Back?

1. I think the Blazers strategy should be to pretty heavily shop all their own picks (2027, 2029 least favorable of POR/MIL/BOS, 2031, 2033) for moves now to upgrade the roster while holding onto the Bucks future picks unless a true A-tier star becomes available (probably no worse than Jaylen Brown). I have the Magic pick somewhere in the middle — try to keep it because it’s always nice to bet against more teams and they’re not the most stable organization, but include it if they really need it to get a deal done for a player who fits really well with the core.

   I don’t think they should let their own future picks get in the way of what they’re building now. Especially because, even though anything can happen, if they build the right way, those picks would hopefully end up not being very valuable. But I think the Bucks picks just skyrocketed in value. They have Dame’s dead money on their books until after those picks will have been used up, no star, no real avenue for getting better, are not a free agent destination, and aren’t known for finding/developing diamonds in the rough. They have a roster of lots of NBA players, but with how good the league is now, I see them in a tier with Brooklyn and Chicago and not really anybody else in the east who I think they can compete with.

   And I know people are scared of the “two timelines” idea, but I don’t think this is that. If Deni and the rest of their core were north of 30, I’d say to just go all in. But those bucks picks could be a way to add young players who can contribute long-term while, more importantly, being potential contributors on rookie contracts who they can add the moment Deni and Donovan start making big boy money.

   So… build around Dame, Scoot, Tou, Deni, Clingan, and hopefully Rob… shop Jerami, Shaedon, Jrue if it raises the caliber of player they can get back, Kris, etc with all their own picks and maybe the Orlando pick to hopefully get a really strong core around that group of guys, and I think they have something real. I don’t think they should go after TM3 given the reported asking price, but even then that’s probably enough capital to get him while still having a bit more in the chamber

2. Well, there's a guy named Joe Cronin who has a lot of work to do. So far he's done OK with what he's had to work with.

3. Jrue and Shaedon plus 3-4 picks for Jaylen Brown. Who says no?

4. when was this recorded? Lamelo already traded to T-Wolves for Naz Reid and picks/swaps

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