This part here doesn't make any sense to me. None of the players are waiting for Lillard to show up, or whatever/whomever may come in a trade. This idea of players being in limbo because of the Lillard situation is nonsense. Limbo is the natural state for most of them. They just have to focus on the job at hand, and whatever happens, happens. You could be considered the "heart" of the team, told you are safe, then a few days later traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. "If Lillard is excused from team activities in the preseason, it's going to demolish Portland's outlook, on top of losing one of the three best players in franchise history. Players will know they're in limbo, they won't have the return assets in place, and they'll just be missing the player impact inherent in Lillard's salary."
since I don't have a twitter account I can't read the replies, but I can sure imagine once the shock of Dame asking out wore off, I've come around to thinking that Cronin's approach after the trade demand has been next to perfect Pat Riley, Dame's camp, Miami media & bloggers, and most NBA media all assumed the Heat & Dame had all of the leverage and Portland would cave. Funny think though is that the longer Portland doesn't cave the more the imagined leverage Miami and Dame had slips thru their fingers
Pat Riley probably is in the ear of a lot of writers. Miami has more to lose if Portland waits it out. Portland has every reason to wait, with more and more assets becoming available over time and Miami has lost a few key players and wants to make the playoffs.
I'm not sure what path we are going down. it doesn't seem clear yet to me. He is better than either of those two and if team becomes clear on what they are doing, he would have more trade value.
I'd like to see us sit on Dame for a long, long time. Maybe as long as the trade deadline. Let him sit out if he can't be a positive locker room guy, or if he just doesn't align with our guard-dominated rotation. Hell, it probably makes him more valuable if we don't play him. He's a dude who can miss half a season and everyone know it'll only make him more pissed off and eager to rip everyone's hearts out in the playoffs. Plus, who wouldn't love to sign an absolutely 100% Dame in January? And you think he'll bitch about it not being Miami after he misses a couple months of playing? Hah! It'll kill him to be lumped into the same shitheap as Ben Simmons. He will be ready to rampage with whoever gets him. There are a LOT of really good teams out there, and with teams like OKC and Houston on the come up, there's bound to be 2-4 "contending" teams who start to panic when they look around and realize they're only 4 games over .500. Dame is the biggest "Break Glass in Case of Emergency" player you can imagine. The problem is that there aren't any fires right now. Franchises are selling "opportunity" and "potential." That sells tickets this time of year (as much as anything can, anyway). There will be towering infernos as the season progresses, and, ironically, it'll be the Blazers with the everyone's best chance of putting them out.
I agree. By all star break, teams have a better understanding of their contender status. Win-now teams at start of season would know if they are a Dame upgrade or Dame acquisition away from going all the way. We (blazers) can juice the most return for him that time. Dame, like KD in the same exact situation last year, is a pro, he will not be a distraction.
last 2 or 3 seasons the trade deadline has come before the all-star game. trade deadline was Feb. 9; all-star game Feb. 19
it used to be the deadline was after the all-star break. So GM's and assistant GM's and owners could get together face-to-face and talk about trades. ut for some reason the NBA flopped to dates and moved the trade deadline to earlier in the season
I've always thought it was an error. I loved all the drama around All-Star Break. I can see how they would want the focus on the weekend, rather than the back office stuff. It keeps the season more exciting.
The end of that article is silly. What pain? Oh no Lillard isn't playing and we didn't get another player, I guess we will have to change course...to uh...the SAME EXACT COURSE and continue to rebuild with a 5-10 year horizon for being contenders. Like what? This doesn't negatively impact us in the slightest. We already were on the short list of least desirable locations for free agents (weather, state income tax, lack of nightlife etc.) so that doesn't change. How does it hurt us? I mean MAYBE if it was a distraction for the team, but I don't think Scoot or Sharpe will care or be affected and the rest of the team doesn't really matter. Unless Dame goes absolutely radioactive and tries to poison the team through Grant, or himself in the ears of players, but that would do irreparable damage to Dame's brand. I just don't see it. We have at least a year to get this done, but does Dame?
