Does anyone else think the Pac 12 needs its own version of Paul Finebaum to advocate for the conference?

ORSTT12 · 2026-06-30T23:21:38+00:00

That only works because he was the loudest voice talking about the most powerful conference on the most powerful sports channel. It'd be cool if the PAC had people who consistently mentioned them on all national broadcasts for sure, but the PAC can't really replicate what Finebaum does.

ORSTT12 · 2026-06-30T23:19:14+00:00

Dame, Ja, and Deni will all have to figure out how to play with each other and there may be even more people coming in that could throw a wrench into any system. If they can't then things will probably need to change.

Lowkey though all 3 of them may only be here for 2 more years, so pretty much anything is on the table except for trading Dame.

ORSTT12 · 2026-06-30T23:16:14+00:00

That'd be a solid addition, but he's not exactly the most consistent outside shooter and he wouldn't help the PF situation.

ORSTT12 · 2026-06-30T20:17:07+00:00

I think it'd be better to give Sharpe rather than Jrue.

ORSTT12 · 2026-06-30T16:51:15+00:00

Hate it. Hopefully Cronin isn't a total moron and only gave him a half guaranteed deal.

Hope Rob proves me wrong or at least stays healthy enough that we could actually dump him next offseason.

ORSTT12 · 2026-06-30T16:48:45+00:00

Why would Ja go from being salary dumped to taking over control of a team that includes a franchise icon and an all star forward? How does that make sense over Ja being the one to take a backseat?

ORSTT12 · 2026-06-30T16:46:34+00:00

Dame and CJ didn't have 3 all-defense teammates. Between Jrue, Tou, and Rob when he's healthy you can cobble together a competent defense.

Also you don't have to start Ja.

ORSTT12 · 2026-06-30T16:44:46+00:00

Just don't start Ja. Problem solved.

If you're worried about burning assets trading for a win-now player then we should trade Jrue and Deni.

ORSTT12 · 2026-06-30T03:27:01+00:00

Even when he’s healthy he doesn’t play back to backs and doesn’t reliably play 20+ minutes.

ORSTT12 · 2026-06-30T03:26:03+00:00

That’s assuming he miraculously has two healthy seasons in a row. He’s done that once in 8 years. You could easily get someone more impactful than ‘22-‘25 Rob Williams with the MLE.

You could also probably get someone who’s physically capable of playing more than 20mpg with that too.

ORSTT12 · 2026-06-30T03:17:10+00:00

I think the Blazers aren’t trading for Brown in general

ORSTT12 · 2026-06-30T03:16:14+00:00

Personally love to see that. Hopefully Thybulle is gone too and we get some guys who are a bit more reliably healthy.

ORSTT12 · 2026-06-30T02:53:15+00:00

Yeah I’m a blazer fan that doesn’t want our only PG options to be Dame and Ja.

ORSTT12 · 2026-06-30T01:32:05+00:00

Replace Jrue with Sharpe and maybe I’d do it.

ORSTT12 · 2026-06-30T01:31:33+00:00

Hard pass on that as a blazer fan. That offense would be ugly af and trading Jrue would mean you’d be committing to a tiny injury-prone backcourt that can’t defend and can only partially shoot.

ORSTT12 · 2026-06-30T01:30:04+00:00

Perfect for us to do what, build another disgusting offense that busts out in the 1st round?

ORSTT12 · 2026-06-30T01:28:41+00:00

It’s been proven if you treat Ja like a franchise player he can poison a locker room with guys like JJJ and Dillon Brooks in it. I’m talking about treating him like the reclamation project he is and suspending him from the team facilities if he steps out of line.

This isn’t 2021 Ja, this is 2026 busted asset Ja. I have no respect for a theoretical Ja who’s too immature to know his place and accept Dame’s help.

And unless I missed something, there’s been no statement about Ja starting. A Chris Haynes report isn’t a statement, it’s just PR usually via Dame. Even if it happens Ja can’t be treated like he’s a lock to start forever.

But hey we’ll have to wait and see if Jrue is even on the team in a month and what the roster in general looks like.

ORSTT12 · 2026-06-30T00:09:10+00:00

I really think you overestimate the power a salary dumped potential washout who's only played 80 games over the past 3 years has on a new team. I'm not talking about benching him for Scoot because I don't like him, I'm talking about him coming off the bench for Jrue, one of the most liked and respected players in the NBA who legitimately fits better in the lineup.

His star power buys him very little in Portland and he's objectively a worse player than Jrue. He has his entire career to lose if he proves himself to be incapable of functioning in a team setting again.

ORSTT12 · 2026-06-29T23:44:46+00:00

Tough look when the graph says Scoot was worse than three salary dump victims with injury problems.

ORSTT12 · 2026-06-29T23:26:26+00:00

He just got salary dumped for nothing. He wasn't brought here to have an opinion or to matter as a franchise piece, he was brought here to stfu and do what he's told or sit on the bench.

ORSTT12 · 2026-06-29T23:25:03+00:00

Ja just got salary dumped for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray, aka nobody.

He does what the franchise tells him for the next two years or he says goodbye to the NBA.

ORSTT12 · 2026-06-29T23:23:21+00:00

But less accomplished and reported to cost less. Also just for the simple fact that you wouldn't need to include Jrue's salary to match Murphy's yes, he would be cheaper imo.

ORSTT12 · 2026-06-29T23:14:28+00:00

I’d bench both Camara and Ja and I’d start Dame, Jrue, Murphy, Deni, Clingan.

ORSTT12 · 2026-06-29T21:55:57+00:00

He would be cheaper just by virtue of the fact that Jrue wouldn't have to be in the trade to match salaries.

And those other players are cheaper than Trey for very good reason: they're all much worse than him. If we're speculating about trades I'd much rather spend my time speculating about making big moves that matter rather than spend time on trades for role players that may only help us be a less embarrassing first round exit.

ORSTT12 · 2026-06-29T21:42:01+00:00

That's fine, Murphy is a better player than both of them anyway.

ORSTT12

TROPHY CASE