Maybe they just want to let Anfernee Simons flourish, but Powell is still young and productive and the return was meh city. I think they are in a tear down phase.
Lillard is going nowhere in terms of success, why can't all parties do the right thing and get a clean break, divorce?
Norm Powell, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Marcus Morris, Robert Covington, Terrance Mann A bunch of lengthy, switchable wings. They should be fun next year.
I agree this is a cap move for Portland. However: Dame is signed for 2 more years + a player option year 3 years out at $48M. 2 years from now, he may or may not consider turning that down... I think the more immediate worry was Nurkic, who's a free agent after this season. The Clippers just got a lot better for the rest of this season. They've got a great rental (Covington), and a long term keeper (Powell), and gave up nothing. I think they just solidified a playoff spot regardless of PG13 and Kawhi for the rest of this season. John Wall for Marcus Morris (long term contract that the Clippers may want to shed) + Kennard (another long term contract) + Ibaka (rental) still works... PG: Wall & Reggie...both would just have one more year on their deal after this season. SG: Powell, Coffee, Mann...upgrade to PG13 (if he can return) SF: Covington, Mann, Powell....upgrade with Kawhi (if he can return, but Covington's contract gone next year) PF: Batum, Mann, Covington C: Zubac, Hartenstein or Batum/Covington (small ball) One can dream - right?
I only mentioned the Dame extension because someone, a couple of weeks ago, in Twitter world said that Portland was ready to hand over a $100 million extension to Dame on top of what he has right now. If they're going to do something stupid like that and handcuff themselves to Lillard for at least $50 million a year in a couple of years then trying to shed as much as salary as possible right now is priority 1.
Lost in all of this is that Portland just strengthened the odds of them keeping their 2022 1st rounder (Top 14 protected) instead of sending it to Chicago. Of course that means now their 2023 is in the Bulls' hands (Top 14 protected).
The good old luxury tax savings. Friend of all cheap ass owners. Lucky for the Rockets don’t have a owner like that
EXACTLY. Both contracts would be much easier to shed than Wall's albatross...either before the trade deadline ends...or in the offseason
Giving up greater talent to get under the cap. Where have I see this before? Will the blazers fanbase cry about dame if he cant win with ben maclemore and eric bledsoe?
