12:30 pm: The extension is now official, the Trail Blazers announced in a press release.
“Joe has demonstrated leadership and vision during his time as General Manager, and I’m excited to see him continue building the foundation for a long-term, winning team,” said Jody Allen, chair of the Portland Trail Blazers. “We are all thrilled with the team’s forward momentum and excited for the future of Trail Blazers basketball.”
12:15 pm: General manager Joe Cronin has agreed to a multiyear contract extension with the Trail Blazers, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.
While the Blazers will be selecting in the lottery for the fourth straight season under Cronin, they have already have 14 more wins (35) than last season with three games left on their schedule. Portland has gone 22-16 since January 19, Charania notes, led by a strong defense.
Cronin joined the organization as a basketball operations intern in 2006, having been with the team for 19 years.
He was promoted to assistant general manager in 2021, then replaced former head of basketball operations Neil Olshey as interim GM in December of that year. Cronin was given the permanent GM job in May 2022, after the ’21/22 campaign ended.
According to Charania, Cronin signed a four-year contract in May 2022. Given that he just agreed to a multiyear extension, his deal should now run through at least 2028.
Cronin has made several trades and draft picks since he became GM, most notably trading away Damian Lillard in a 2023 deal that brought back Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara and multiple draft assets. He also acquired Deni Avdija — who has been on a tear of late — last summer.
Over the past three drafts, the Blazers have selected Shaedon Sharpe, Scoot Henderson and Donovan Clingan with their three lottery picks. They are currently projected to have the ninth-best odds of landing the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft.
Ouch, sincerest apologies Portland Fans
Why exactly? What has he done that was an obvious mistake and/or poor decision making as the GM?
How much time you have ?
Besides not trading Jerami Grant
Who’d want Grant?
All the time in the world. Now do you have actual reasons why they shouldn’t have extended him?
I understand why they didn’t want to make him a lame duck, but I don’t think his track record is solid enough for a multi-year.
Avdija trade worked out well, and Camara was a sneaky good find, but Henderson and Sharpe have left much to be desired, while Simons and Grant were inexplicably held onto at peak trade value IMO
~ The Dame botch, it was painful to watch and evident to most the path to take and when to take it. We discussed it for years in here . Say it aint Joe tho decided he wanted it to be a Jungle Safari and ended up walking into a Lions mouth in the end
~ Jerami Grant: Terrifying
~ Rob Willams and Thybull casually just peeling in a small empires net worth to never play for them
~ The fact they have a 4th year in a row lottery team having to use Neo like Matrix moves to avoid the tax line every year still puzzles everyone daily
~ Oh and your still in that same mess next year as nobody falls off the ledger
~ The actual desire to want to pay Ayton 35 M in 2025 is alarming
-Thybulle’s contract is fine and was hurt to start the year.
-Rob Williams was a throw-in with the Jrue/Brogdon trade that became Avdija.
-Cronin took over the team to START the rebuild, so gee whiz wonder why they’d be a lottery team 3 years later.
-The Blazers under contract after 2026:
Grant: 34.2M (plus 36.4M PO)
Avdija: 13.1M (plus 11.9M in 2027)
Camara: 2.4M
Scoot: 13.6M (4th year Rookie deal)
Clingan: 7.5M (3rd year Rookie deal)
Sharpe (RFA / Rookie Extension)
Reath (RFA)
They have Avdija on an insane value contract, while Camara will get the Herb Jones / Andrew Nembhard special.
Who GAF what Ayton makes, he isn’t part of the future core (and was never realistically tradeable until he becomes an expiring).
Grant is the only negative move from the last 3.5 years, and Avdija’s contract basically cancels it out.
2k
Dame was a botch job and pretty bad, At the time Joe seemed a step behind at every turn, we all lived it in here
They chose to take in Ayton, could have diced that a million different {better}ways, now he rots, not only the payroll but a roster spot and an ear from the couch needing to feed precious playing time to another mouth that wont be around past next year
They chose to bring in Rob and Thybull 2 perpetually injured players. They’ve overplayed their Afernee hand tremendously
Grant was nuts if not alcohol induced
Outside Deni and striking oil on Camara I dont see enough bright spots to overshadow the blemishes, Scoot and Clingan seem like stock picks
I actually like Sharpe Clingan Scoot Camara Deni core quite a bit and Id rather start with that core than be in Utah Wiz Brooklyn land (even sans the picks) but I think its fair to be skeptical of Cronins track record to date
Ayton was essentially just swapped for Nurkic – retaining Nurk would have changed zilch.
Thybulle was not perpetually injured. He played 267 of a possible 308 games (87%) in his first four seasons. You’re just making things up in service of your argument.
If he can somehow find a taker for Jerami Grant without giving up his 1st round assets, then they might have something building. Having Ayton and Grant on the same team is reckless roster management.
He’s the AKME of the Western Conference.
Well he’s almost done digging out of the years of piss poor decisions made by Olshey.
There were several players where foundation was laid during the trade deadline that hopefully will pay off during the summer.
Now if Grant and Ayton are on the roster come this fall, then it’s a different conversation.
How can a guy managing an awful team get this long of an extension when the team still isn’t any good after 4 years?
Does Chauncey get extended too?
Or does this just solidy the GM’s power to fire him, since a prospective new head coach can see the GM has stability?
They have a sniff of a play-in and they call it accomplishment …… the bar is this low.
The roster is expensive, a future of Avdija, Sharpe, Scoot, Clingan won’t scare anyone.
Cronin’s actual GM record
2025 SEASON
Acquire Deni Avdija for Malcolm Brogdon (expiring) + Bub Carrington (14th), 1x FRP, 2x SRP
Draft Donovan Clingan (8th)
Trade Tyler Kolek (34th) for 3 future SRPs
Reasonable price for Avdija, and they drafted center of future w/ Clingan (4th in BPG despite only 20 MPG).
2024 SEASON
Draft Scoot Henderson (3rd)
Draft Kris Murray (23rd)
Draft Rayan Rupert (43rd)
Re-sign Jerami Grant (5Y / 160)
Sign Matisse Thybulle (3Y / 33M)
TRADE: Damian Lillard, Jusuf Nurkic, Nassir Little, Keon Johnson for Jrue Holiday, DeAndre Ayton, Toumani Camara, 3x FRPs from MIL
TRADE: Jrue Holiday for Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams, 2024 FRP (Bub Carrington), 2029 FRP
TRADE: Acquire Dalano Banton in salary dump (highly protected SRP)
The Bucks FRPs are among the best draft assets in the NBA as they will convey by the time Giannis is declined/gone.
You may note the Blazers used the Jrue portion of the Lillard return to acquire Avdija the following year.
Criticisms of Ayton fall on deaf ears to me considering the Blazers were already paying Nurkic and he isn’t even rotation-caliber anymore. Ayton is overpaid but he is still starting caliber.
Thybulle’s contract is fine for a 2x All-Defense guy, basically Isaac Okoro money.
Grant is the one blemish and might have been partly to appease Dame prior to his trade request. The idea was being able to trade him later, but Grant fell off a cliff this season which throws a major wrench into that.
2023 SEASON
Draft Shaedon Sharpe (8th)
Draft Jabari Walker (57th)
Re-sign Jusuf Nurkic
Re-sign Anfernee Simons
Sign Gary Payton II
Acquire Jerami Grant for 1x FRP, 2x SRP
Trade: Josh Hart, 2x SRP
Acquire: Matisse Thybulle, Cam Reddish, 2023 FRP (Kris Murray)
Trade: Gary Payton II
Acquire: Kevin Knox, 5x SRPs (Rayan Rupert)
2022 SEASON (Cronin takes over December 1st, 2021 w/ the team 11-11)
Trade Norm Powell + Robert Covington for Eric Bledsoe (salary dump), Justise Winslow, Keon Johnson, SRP
Trade: CJ McCollum, Larry Nance, Tony Snell
Acquire: Josh Hart, Joe Ingles (Salary Dump), 1x FRP, 3x SRP (Jabari Walker)
TLDR Cronin has been fine, the Blazers have a lot of incoming draft capital and he inherited a tire fire pretender from Olshey. The Blazers also have a lame-duck owner in Jody Allen and he’s had to work within the constraints of that.
Love how divided opinion is on this extension. I know if he was my team’s GM I’d be very dissatisfied.
You’ve got Scoot Simons and Sharpe in the backcourt who have all had moments but none look worth building around.
You’ve then got Ayton, Williams, Clingham and Reath all ay centre. Lots of deadwood and a rookie who looks promising but should be getting more minutes.
Jerami Grant overpaid and underproducing.
Mattise a value role player on a winning side but a waste of time of a rebuilding side.
Toui Camara looks the goods and that was a steal by the front office.
Deni to me is overrated, it’s empty numbers on a losing side with plenty of turnovers. On any actually good side he’s not putting up those numbers.
So in his 4 years he still hasn’t found who his franchise cornerstone. I think you’ve definitely got a good start to something with Sharpe Camara and Clingham but aside from that I’d be trading away, loading up on picks and looking for that franchise piece.
I’d trade Scoot for Keegan Murray.
Kings get their point guard who I think works well off Sabonis and sets them up if they rebuild.
For Portland Murray brothers unite and Camara and Murray are your forward duo with Clingham and Sharpe at the 5 and 2.
I’d give away Simons and Thybulle for Cole Anthony Jonothan Issac and a first round pick.
Then in the draft I’d take Kasparas or Fears to compete with Cole.
I’m really high on Cole, think he’s a leader and great for the culture. He’s got big upside on offence and just needs opportunity. But the beauty would be you can still have him in a sixth man role if your rookie goes well.
That leaves you with
Kasparas/Fears Sharpe Camara Murray Clingham
With Cole on the bench
Then listen to offers on Grant, Deni, Ayton and Williams. Try take back picks. Should be able to get a good return on some of that and go from there
“I’d trade Scoot for Keegan Murray.
I’d give away Simons and Thybulle for Cole Anthony Jonothan Issac and a first round pick.”
No offense but you just suggested the Kings would trade their only PF while the Blazers already have Avdija, Grant, and Camara lol.
You’re also suggesting they trade from Simons/Scoot at PG to COLE ANTHONY & a first lol
Scoot is 20 years old and still worth betting on over a random first.
You say Avdija is a losing player and then say 24-yo COLE ANTHONY is good for the culture lol. Dude is a backup and in his 5th season of not doing s*** besides inefficient scoring for a middling team.
Wow Mr defensive here…
Deni is also in his 5th season and only ever played on losing sides which makes my point.
Cole in his 5th season is going to make the playoffs for a second time.
Cole I think is great for the culture because look at how that Magic team has turned it around from being terrible to a playoff side.
He’s a big part of the team culture there and I think if traded and given the opportunity could have a Jalen Brunson like leap. Not that he will turn into an all star but go from role player to certain starter. But like I said if not I’d draft a guy like Fears and have them compete.
As for the Murray deal who cares about what you have and what they have. I said I’d have Grant,l and Deni up for offers and out the door with Camara at SF. As for the Kings it would be up to them if they wanted to do that. They don’t have much at PF but they also don’t have much at PG either…
My whole point is this team doesn’t have its franchise cornerstone and so I’d build the best foundation for that guy. Sharpe at SG, Toui Keegan and Clingham. You’ve got a good second option in Sharpe, Camara a solid 3 and D forward, Keegan again excellent shooting big then Clingham who hopefully develops into a 15-15 paint beast.
Great mix of shooting, defence, athleticism and what not all ready for a point guard to take over cause Scoot ain’t that guy
“Cole I think is great for the culture because look at how that Magic team has turned it around from being terrible to a playoff side.”
Through Dec 31st: 11.8 MPG (20-13 Team Record)
Jan-March 10th: 22 Games Started, 26.3 MPG (10-22 Team Record)
Mar 11-Present: 3 Games Played, 13 MPG (8-4 Record)
Ah yes, tell us what a huge impact Cole has on winning LOL
There’s a reason he lost his job to CORY JOSEPH.
———————–
“He’s a big part of the team culture there and I think if traded and given the opportunity could have a Jalen Brunson like leap.”
DELUSIONAL. Brunson was a perennial sixth man candidate / was too good not to start. Cole isn’t even Top 40 at his position.
—————————
“Deni is also in his 5th season and only ever played on losing sides which makes my point.”
Conversely, Deni is Top 15 at his position, which is wild considering they make the same money.
Unlike Cole, Deni has been directly responsible for POR playing at a higher level the last few months.
Through Dec 31st: 32 GP, 14 GS, 27 MPG, (11-21 Record)
Jan-Present: 40 GP/GS, 33 MPG (24-25 Record)
^Including a 2-5 record without him.
——————-
“As for the Murray deal who cares about what you have and what they have.”
Ah yes, who cares about the other team in Fake Trades World?
Not being “defensive”, you just made a lot of, shall we say questionable / shaded points. A Deni Avdija / Cole Anthony comparison was not exactly on my (or anyone’s) bingo card for 2025.
I would offer Ayton, Grant and Simons to Washington for Middleton, Smart, Holmes and Gill. Waiving Middleton, Holmes and Smart.
Resign Banton, accept Thybule’s player option.
Draft a SF or SG depending on where Sharpe plays. Also look at a young PF shooter.
Turn Dani into a super sixth man.
Sign there veterans (a guard, forward and big man to sit on the bench on veterans minimum contracts)
Let all the two ways guys walk and look at three others
Tank and develop the upcoming year
Give Scoot and Billups a full test drive for once.
This would be a fresh reset.
Trade Lillard for what……to still try to compete? Should of kept him
Just blow it up
Tre Johnson or Bailey
If Cronin was hired to tank (aka collect lottery picks), draft to script and make pedestrian trades that downgrade the current roster in exchange for future draft picks, then he did fine. Of course, most 10 year olds, with average 2k acumen, would likely do fine in that instance as well. On the other hand, if Cronin was hired to be a real GM (i.e., a team builder), then he’s spent 3.5 years proving he’s not up the job, and never will be.
@Real2k – Great job (truly) summarizing the transactional history. But Cronin’s ACTUAL record is 105 Wins, 198 Losses (4 seasons of not being even a play-in contender). More importantly, the team is no closer to be a contender now than when he was hired. I agree with you that some great pieces were added in the draft during Cronin’s tenure, and his pedestrian deals didn’t really leave the team worse off going forward. But neither of those suggest Cronin’s the right guy to actually build the team going forward.
Anyway, only in the NBA can a guy take over a team that hadn’t had a losing season in 8 years, oversee 4 straight losing seasons, and then be said to have done a good job. Cronin wasn’t handed a great situation, but it certainly wasn’t a roster with so little talent that it mandated 4 years in the lottery.
That comment is misleading. The last GM was fired and they were still in a strange limbo with Lillard. 4 seasons is not that long to completely reset the organization. No small market team can just call up other GMs and get Doncic. Portland has had long stretches of playoff success. I’m not sure why so many haters keep coming on these PDX threads to talk trash about this team but this organization knows how to build resilient, successful teams. This current team is a young team, but they look like they are having fun and winning quite often. Of course they don’t have all the pieces yet. Most eventual champions win on a team that didn’t draft them. I think Cronin has shown great patience and has made some smart trades to showcase veterans when necessary and trade them into teams where they can win. This type of player respect and empathy will pay off later when Stars are considering Portland as an option.
and btw… none of the older players on this team are bad players. Expensive contracts but not bad players. Once their contracts are shorter, Portland will have no problem trading those contracts for a $50m superstar when the opportunity arises.
“But Cronin’s ACTUAL record is 105 Wins, 198 Losses”
This is like saying Jon Horst is a great GM because look at the Bucks team record during his tenure.
How’s Calvin Booth doing over in DEN?
Is Danny Ainge a bad GM over in Utah?
Very curious how you’d measure those situations by comparison.
LMAO the Booth news just broke as I posted this….
Care to tell me what Denver’s record was in his tenure?
IMO, the objective in sports should be to win. I readily admitted that if the goal was to lose, then Cronin did a fine job. What’s your beef with that? You think Cronin did a good job even if the goal was to win even though he did nothing but lose-? I don’t believe that.
Both Booth and Horst were in different situations from Cronin. Each provided the missing components of a championship roster, working with limited resources. They didn’t have much draft capital, yet Booth fixed DEN’s wing problem (without which they don’t win) and Horst acquired Holiday (without whom they don’t win). Since then, neither has had much in the way of resources at all (particularly Booth because the owner didn’t want to pay tax), and the results were what they always are in that situation – hits and misses. I judge job performance based on what’s done to achieve winning results based on the resources available because I believe it the only coherent way to do it. Obviously, you use a different standard that makes sense to you.
In each of the last 4 seasons, they got half way through and started to tank. That is purposely losing… to get draft picks. I guess every tanking team should just fire everybody because they didn’t win that specific season, who cares about longer term success… Got it. Now I understand what you are saying. Dumb.