Who are the Realistic Targets for the Blazers in Free Agency?

On this week’s episode of the Blazer’s Edge podcast Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang take a look at the Trail Blazers decisions on Draft night, what those decisions mean now and going forward, who won the Draft, thoughts on Anfernee Simons and Gary Trent Jr., what can the Blazers expect with the TPE, realistic free agent targets to acquire “veteran talent”, listener questions, Blazer5 Gaming and more!

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• Intro
• Opening Comments
• Adrian Wojnarowski’s Thesaurus
• Darft Storylines
• Phoenix Suns land Mikal Bridges & DeAndre Ayton
• Dallas Mavericks a league pass team with Luka Doncic
• Trail Blazers select Anfernee Simons & Gary Trent Jr.
• Thoughts on Simons?
• When will he be ready?
• Physically he’s got some growing to do
• Does age matter for the Blazers?
• How hard is it to evaluate the competition that Simons faced at IMG?
• Damian Lillard’s timeline, Zach Collins, Anfernee Simons and Gary Trent Jr.
• Taking the right risks- the definition of risk and hedging your bets
• Wade Baldwin sliding into Napier’s spot as the the 3rd guard
• What do the selection of Simons and Trent Jr. mean for the Blazers- re: Pat Connaughton and Shabazz Napier
• Developing Simons through he G League
• Portland still doesn’t have their own franchise - why they need to have their own.
• Damian Lillard taking Simons under his wing
• Overall view on selecting Simons and what it means for the Blazers now & in the future
• Gary Trent Jr. may signal the end of Connaughton’s time in Portland.
• Trent Jr.’s make-up, competitiveness, confidence, and a wet jumper
• Trent Jr. has an NBA ready skill
• Defensively he’s a turnstile, but there’s hope
• How soon will Trent Jr. be ready to play?
• What’s next for the Blazers?
• Where’s the optimism for the Blazers after the draft?
• What are Portland’s options heading into Free Agency?
• How likely are the Blazers to use the TPE?
• What kind of players could realistically be picked up with the TPE?
• If the Blazers were able to add Eric Gordon via the TPE could it work basketball-wise?
• The shortage of 2-way wings on the open market, with good reason
• Listener Questions
• How do u think Eric Gordon would fit with the team should the stars align and Houston needs to ditch him for our trade exception? Could a 3 guard lineup with him work in small doses?
• Blazers free agent you most want to keep (price aside, just as a player)
• What’s the best super team you think Lebron could theoretically assemble for next year (if he just wanted to win and would live anywhere maybe even take a cut on pay) and could they beat the Warriors?
• With Orlando drafting Mo Bamba should the Blazers target Vucevic via trade?
• What would you think about targeting Mario Hezonja in free agency? I think he would shine in stotts system and is the type of wing we need
• What role do you see Swanagin and Leonard having.
• Taking into account Nurk back in a qualifier. Ed back in a 3 year and somehow Collins carving out 25-30 minutes a night. Are they insurance against injury and double insurance if Nurk and Ed get insane offers and leave at best ??
• Simons seems to be in the Dame/CJ mold does that seem right?maybe making one of them expendable once Simons develops.
• Trent Jr seems a lot like Crabbe, but probably more athletic? Maybe even JJ Reddick. Just wondering what their comps might be
• Who would you rather have babysit your child, Meyers Leonard or Evan Turner
• Blazer5 Gaming
• Closing Comments
• Outro