On February 10, Beijing time, another tripartite deal was born: the Jazz sent Joe Ingles + Elia Hughes + 2 second-round picks to get Alexander Walker + Juan Hernangomez; the Blazers sent Walker + Sataransky to get Ingles + Hughes + 1 second-round pick; the Spurs sent Hernangomez to get Satoranski + 1 second-round pick.
The deal, while involving 5 players + 2 draft picks, is not a big deal. The Trail Blazers received a $3.2 million trade exception in the trade, and the Jazz got a $9.8 million deal exception and a $1.5 million deal exception. Wait, aren't Alexander Walker and Satoransky pelicans? How did you get to the Trailblazers?
In the previous McCollum trade, the Blazers sent CJ McCollum + Nance Jr. + Snell, and from the Pelicans josh Hart + Alexander Walker + Satoransky + Lozada Silva + 1 first-round pick + 2 second-round picks. Walker and Satoransky had not yet reported to Portland and were sent to the Jazz and Spurs...
On February 1 of this year, Ingles tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and was reimbursed for the season. Elia Hughes has averaged just 3.1 points per game this season, which is basically a plus. One can't play, one can't play, what do the Blazers want these two players to do? Quite simply, Hughes and Ingles both have expiring contracts, and their annual salaries add up to $14 million.
Ingles previously said in an interview that he would retire after his contract expired in the summer of 2022. But recently he changed his plans and set his retirement time at 2024. This summer, Ingles had the opportunity to return to the Jazz as a free agent, ESPN reported. This is understandable, after all, he played at the Jazz for 8 years.
The Trail Blazers' next big game, Josh Hart,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, is currently on a 3-year contract, which sounds scary, but the 2022-23 season is completely insecure. Before June 26, 2022, the Blazers cut Hart without paying any price. That way, when the free market opens in July, the Blazers will be able to chase big-name players.
Nurkic's 4-year, 48 million contract also expires this summer! This offseason, the Blazers are expected to free up $60 million to find a helper for Lillard. In the 2022 draft, the Blazers may hold two lotto picks, one is their own (the Blazers are currently only 11th in the West) and the other is a protected first-round pick from the Pelicans (if it is a 5-14th pick, it belongs to the Blazers).
One might ask: Will Lillard also be traded and the Blazers completely tear down the rebuild? Today, according to journalist Chris Mannix, the Trail Blazers don't want to send Lillard away, and other teams in the league have stopped making offers against Lillard. Lillard said: "General Manager Joe Cronin told me that the team's plan is to win, not rebuild! ”
There is always a gap between ideals and reality, and Lillard will turn 32 this summer. Portland is not a big market, and it is difficult to say whether there are any big stars willing to join the Blazers. But at least the Trailblazers' thinking on the last few deals has been clear, constantly cleaning up contracts and constantly making room.
With a recent barrage of trades, the Trailblazers are simply crazy! At 4:00 a.m. Beijing time on February 11, the trading deadline officially arrived, do you think the Blazers will still have action?