In isolation, the Grant return is disappointing. I think people are backtracking a little bit, like if you suggested last week that we should trade Grant for a 1st three years from now that likely won't land higher than the early twenties, plus a bit of 2nd round filler, I think the consensus reply would be that we could get something more than that. I wouldn't be surprised if Weaver was facilitating moves to teams that Grant was interested in out of respect, and if true I don't mind that. Return aside I will say I grew to like Grant a lot. I think this was the right time to pull the trigger, but I'll wish him the best in Portland and anywhere else he may go.
Tough to judge the Grant trade until the next shoe drops here. Soooo much smoke around Ayton right now. It's tough for me to believe that this is as simple as us offering a four year max, Ayton accepting, and Phoenix letting him walk, but that's what a lot of people seem to be suggesting. Maybe we offer something like Stewart and the Bucks 1st? I really don't understand the landscape around the Ayton offer sheet value honestly, it's a confusing situation to get a read on.
I will say that I like Ayton as a #2/#3 to Cade a lot. Not a perfect player, but very well-rounded. Ayton can hold his own against the high-end bigs of the east (Giannis, Embiid, Adebayo, etc.) and would be a great PnR weapon. Realistically the Pistons probably won't find that good of a frontcourt player without winning the Wenbayama lottery next year, which Wings fans will know can't be relied on. Cade, Ayton, Bey, plus whoever we draft at #5 and some of the depth guys we've accumulated (Stewart, Bagley, Livers, etc.) would be the start of a pretty nice young core.
