The Portland Trail Blazers traded Noah Vonleh and cash to the Chicago Bulls for the rights to Milocan Rakovic. What does it mean for the franchise?
Rip City waited in vain for a blockbuster trade involving the Portland Trail Blazers Thursday. What it got instead was a maneuver designed to minimize its tax obligations: The Blazers traded Noah Vonleh to the Chicago Bulls for the rights to Milocan Rakovic.
Maybe not the sexiest move the team could have made, but it’s a good one, nonetheless.
Here are a couple of reasons why, from some of the Twitteriest and most expertest experts in the know.
From Woj:
Portland gets under the luxury tax and gets a $3.5M traded player exception.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 8, 2018
And Griff:
And Griff again:
And, finally, this from Mr. Marks:
The luxury tax savings for Portland since this summer is $43M based on the Allen Crabbe and Noah Vonleh trade. The savings does not reflect the $19.3M, $18.5M and $18.5M Allen Crabbe salary that was traded to Brooklyn. The Trail Blazers are now... https://t.co/SiAW9WVvXP
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) February 8, 2018
Trail Blazers on the Court
Putting the franchise’s tax implications to the side for a moment (we know it’s a scintillating topic), what does this move mean for the Trail Blazers where it matters most — on the court?
First of all, don’t expect to see Milocan Rakovic in that sporty plaid City Edition. Ever.
As Griffith reported, the Bulls were “required to send ‘something'” to the Trail Blazers.
What it means for the product on the court is that Caleb Swanigan will be more likely to get some playing time. The Trail Blazers recalled the 20-year-old rookie Sunday from the G League’s Canton Charge. We’re high on Biggie here at the RCP, and we look forward to seeing him develop.
Casting a gaze into the crystal ball, we see a rotation that includes Swanigan and fellow rookie Zach Collins playing meaningful minutes. And they’ve got Ed Davis to show them the ropes.
Next: Trail Blazers return to Portland with bad road trip hangover
This is, of course, the glass-half-full version of today’s dealings. What it ultimately means is that the Trail Blazers will take the floor Thursday against the Charlotte Hornets sporting pretty much the same team that has frustrated Rip City since the beginning of the season.
And it means that general manager Neil Olshey will continue to get ribbed from the social media-sphere.
To wit:
Tip-off Thursday against the Hornets is at 7 p.m. Portland time.
Look for an extra spring in Ed Davis’ step.
And go Blazers.