If Portland were to win the sweepstakes, it certainly would require sacrificing a significant chunk of its future. Likely a package centered around the Bucks receiving their 2028-30 draft picks back, as well as a combination of Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, and\/or Toumani Camara as the headliners (and hopefully Jerami Grant as a salary filler). <\/p>\n
GM Joe Cronin has proven he’s not afraid to make bold trades, but they are typically far more calculated risks. In the Deni Avdija deal, he surrendered just two first-round picks for a rising star who fit their timeline and was on a team-friendly deal. Jrue Holiday didn’t require any draft picks last summer. This Giannis blockbuster, barring a surprising commitment to staying in the Pacific Northwest, seems out of his nature. <\/p>\n
That said, the calculus has somewhat shifted with Damian Lillard’s return and Tom Dundon’s arrival. The Blazers need to be cautious of becoming the next victim of new owner syndrome. Mortgaging their future for a short-term Giannis rental is the exact type of move to set back the franchise for years, largely defeating the purpose of their patient rebuild approach up until this point. <\/p>\n
If Giannis commits, then by all means, make the win-now move to compete with Lillard’s closing window. He deserves that chance at a ring in Portland. But if Giannis remains set on his preference to remain in the Eastern Conference, ideally in a larger market, then the Blazers need to avoid taking on the risk<\/a>. It’s not calculated enough to make, meaning this should be a black-and-white decision. Hopefully, Blazers decision makers view it the same way. <\/p>\n
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