Dame all but demanding vet roster

[Tince]

CJ should have just said " I don't know; nobody knows."
Why feed the gossip machine CJ?

CJ did say "This isn't Dame telling me these types of things..."

 

[BIG Q]

I'm just waiting for Big Q to come in and start trashing CJ for undermining Portland's leverage

I'll oblige in that CJ is known to be a pundit as well as a player. Can't do anything to stop somebody from outside of the Blazers. My issue is Dame is in the organization. If you want to say Dame is a pundit now like CJ has been positioning to be for years, then sure, Dame can speak to anything he wants, though I doubt that is the case. Put it this way, here is a list of titles saying nothing;

GM
Asst GM
Team President
Coach
Asst Coach
Teammates
Video Replay Guru
Locker Room Attendant

And there are many more associated with the Portland Trailblazers quietly doing their jobs to improve the team. If any of the above was discussing the teams plans publicly would be facing some serious internal problems up to losing their jobs. Why would they possibly lose their jobs? You let the GM do his job. When he thinks he has something to report, then he runs it through the final decision making team. I own a patent on a new product yet to be released. Of course I have NDA's, but if anyone from my team was discussing or leaking what my business plan is, yes, they would have problems. As the Chairman I need to have the latitude to execute my plan and vision for my organization without being undercut. Seems simple to me. Many of you obviously don't appreciate the nuances of trade secrets and implementing a plan quietly so it is not disrupted prematurely. All good. As Tince said, some of us who disagree with him should take our 50+ years of fandom to another team. I'm taking that under advisement. Tykendo called me a hater. Another suggested I sounded like Dwight Jaynes. Whatever. I'm a bit more shrewd and internal in my business dealings. The plan is the plan until it is no longer the plan, but we don't give the plan away to diminish our position. Pete Carroll doesn't make the playbook available to the entire league. That's enough.

 

[e_blazer]

If you listen to the full interview, CJ didn’t say anything different about Dame’s future than most of us in the “give it a shot to rebuild around Dame” camp have been saying. The Blazers are going to go through the draft and initial free agency period with the intention of forming a team around Dame that has a “puncher’s chance” of competing for a title. If they can’t do that, then there will be discussions about which teams fit with a mutual interest situation of being able to offer Portland a good return for Dame while remaining a viable contender themselves. CJ says his best guess is that the Blazers won’t be able to build a contender and Dame will get traded. CJ is a smart guy, but he’s not a GM. We shall see what happens over the next month or so.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Really tough to look past CJ saying Dame is leaving.
Not sure how else you would take that? Course I’m sure it can be spun.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

So now all the tankers want to tank another year?

 

[Pinwheel1]

I thought CJ was pretty accurate in this portion of the interview. "It's more about what assets teams can offer for Dame".
I think he was wrong on the betting statement, but the rest was a solid take.

 

[Natebishop3]

Why feed the gossip machine CJ?

Attention.

 

[tykendo]

New Orleans isn't a hot bed of basketball, at all. They don't even get close to a sellout very often . It's a football town. But Screamin' A was talking like Nawlin's would be a better place. Whatever on Screamin' A. Your hate for PDX is noted.

 

[Whyachi]

I thought that idea was totally bizarre.

It's one thing to say there is value of having vets on your team, but for the commish to require every team have two really old vets who don't play (he used Haslem as the example), doesn't make much sense to me.

Eric Bledsoe is still under contract. Get him a jersey to be the veteran bench advisor for Portland ?? He's one of Billups "guys". They bonded during Chauncey's assistant coach warm-up season before becoming the Blazers head coach.

 

[OneSport3]

Really tough to look past CJ saying Dame is leaving.
Not sure how else you would take that? Course I’m sure it can be spun.

To be fair, I don’t think he’s saying that Dame wants to leave or will ask to leave. I think CJ is thinking from the franchise’s perspective and realizing that they won’t be able to create a contender and to start the reset sooner rather than later.

 

[e_blazer]

Really tough to look past CJ saying Dame is leaving.
Not sure how else you would take that? Course I’m sure it can be spun.

If he’d said that, I guess I’d agree with you.

 

[tykendo]

I thought CJ was pretty accurate in this portion of the interview. "It's more about what assets teams can offer for Dame".
I think he was wrong on the betting statement, but the rest was a solid take.

Totally agree. He was right saying it would take a ton of compensation . But Dame himself expressed that , with the amount of compensation needed to facilitate a trade like that, would there still be enough for that team to be great. Looked like he wasn't convinced there would be. Thought the betting statement was silly from CJ. " I'm not a betting man", reminds me of , " I don't drink beer, but if i did"

 

[Whyachi]

hey.. at least Steven A. pronounced Oregon correctly

 

[JDC]

Yeah I just don't see an deal close to appealing enough from any of contender + Brooklyn to trade him.

 

[Tince]

Eric Bledsoe is still under contract. Get him a jersey to be the veteran bench advisor for Portland ?? He's one of Billups "guys". They bonded during Chauncey's assistant coach warm-up season before becoming the Blazers head coach.

I don't think he is still under contract, but to that point, I'm not sure he's exactly what the Blazers needed last season.

 

[1 Eye Jack]

I thought CJ was pretty accurate in this portion of the interview. "It's more about what assets teams can offer for Dame".
I think he was wrong on the betting statement, but the rest was a solid take.

hell I said the same thing after his last game “good chance we just saw Dames last game as Blazer”

 

[wizenheimer]

I'll oblige in that CJ is known to be a pundit as well as a player. Can't do anything to stop somebody from outside of the Blazers. My issue is Dame is in the organization. If you want to say Dame is a pundit now like CJ has been positioning to be for years, then sure, Dame can speak to anything he wants, though I doubt that is the case. Put it this way, here is a list of titles saying nothing;

GM
Asst GM
Team President
Coach
Asst Coach
Teammates
Video Replay Guru
Locker Room Attendant

And there are many more associated with the Portland Trailblazers quietly doing their jobs to improve the team. If any of the above was discussing the teams plans publicly would be facing some serious internal problems up to losing their jobs. Why would they possibly lose their jobs? You let the GM do his job. When he thinks he has something to report, then he runs it through the final decision making team. I own a patent on a new product yet to be released. Of course I have NDA's, but if anyone from my team was discussing or leaking what my business plan is, yes, they would have problems. As the Chairman I need to have the latitude to execute my plan and vision for my organization without being undercut. Seems simple to me. Many of you obviously don't appreciate the nuances of trade secrets and implementing a plan quietly so it is not disrupted prematurely. All good. As Tince said, some of us who disagree with him should take our 50+ years of fandom to another team. I'm taking that under advisement. Tykendo called me a hater. Another suggested I sounded like Dwight Jaynes. Whatever. I'm a bit more shrewd and internal in my business dealings. The plan is the plan until it is no longer the plan, but we don't give the plan away to diminish our position. Pete Carroll doesn't make the playbook available to the entire league. That's enough.

so basically you're doubling down on your "Dame should shutup and go camping" stuff without offering a single shred of evidence that Dame talking to people is undermining Portland's leverage

 

[Tince]

I'll oblige in that CJ is known to be a pundit as well as a player. Can't do anything to stop somebody from outside of the Blazers. My issue is Dame is in the organization. If you want to say Dame is a pundit now like CJ has been positioning to be for years, then sure, Dame can speak to anything he wants, though I doubt that is the case. Put it this way, here is a list of titles saying nothing;

GM
Asst GM
Team President
Coach
Asst Coach
Teammates
Video Replay Guru
Locker Room Attendant

And there are many more associated with the Portland Trailblazers quietly doing their jobs to improve the team. If any of the above was discussing the teams plans publicly would be facing some serious internal problems up to losing their jobs. Why would they possibly lose their jobs? You let the GM do his job. When he thinks he has something to report, then he runs it through the final decision making team. I own a patent on a new product yet to be released. Of course I have NDA's, but if anyone from my team was discussing or leaking what my business plan is, yes, they would have problems. As the Chairman I need to have the latitude to execute my plan and vision for my organization without being undercut. Seems simple to me. Many of you obviously don't appreciate the nuances of trade secrets and implementing a plan quietly so it is not disrupted prematurely. All good. As Tince said, some of us who disagree with him should take our 50+ years of fandom to another team. I'm taking that under advisement. Tykendo called me a hater. Another suggested I sounded like Dwight Jaynes. Whatever. I'm a bit more shrewd and internal in my business dealings. The plan is the plan until it is no longer the plan, but we don't give the plan away to diminish our position. Pete Carroll doesn't make the playbook available to the entire league. That's enough.

When are you going to provide us the deals that have been worsened or prevented due to Dame doing interviews saying he wants the team to contend?

You are making a lot of claims, but have yet to back them up with any evidence.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

To be fair, I don’t think he’s saying that Dame wants to leave or will ask to leave. I think CJ is thinking from the franchise’s perspective and realizing that they won’t be able to create a contender and to start the reset sooner rather than later.

There’s a spin for ya. He literally said he thinks we have seen the last of him as a Blazer.
He’s his best friend or at least one of them.
I know Blazer fans hate the thought of it but this is pretty clear.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I don't think you're oversensitive. I think Dame is just reiterating his position that it's time for management to put up or shut up. I do not think that backs anyone into any corners it just means that if we don't improve this team in a meaningful way that he will want out. I don't blame him and it gives Cronin the opportunity to explore trades to make the team better aggressively or once again punt on the team's success by trading Dame and going into a total youth rebuild.

I wonder if Dame could contribute to this being a self fulfilling prophecy?

ie perhaps Brooklyn/Boston/Toronto/etc was prepared to trade a star to Portland for #3 or some assets - but seeing that if they hold out Dame may actually be available to them in trade they decide not to approve their star going to Portland. Dame eventually doesn't get his contender and the team moves on.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

CJ should have just said " I don't know; nobody knows."
Why feed the gossip machine CJ?

Because he openly wants to be a media whore....

 

[Fairly-Hard]

If he’d said that, I guess I’d agree with you.

Oh boy here we go.
This will be comical how many ways his statements are going to be analyzed and reevaluated. Saying he thinks we have seen the last of him as a Blazer means he thinks he’s leaving. Pretty hard to not take that statement seriously.

 

[DDolla]

I just want Dame to win a ring, with Portland or another team. He deserve to win it. If he ask for a trade, hope he get to a contender and win it all.

 

[BIG Q]

so basically you're doubling down on your "Dame should shutup and go camping" stuff without offering a single shred of evidence that Dame talking to people is undermining Portland's leverage

It would be easier to discuss issues with you if you didn't feel the need to create a quote and attribute it to me. I didn't type that out. I stated to the effect that Dame could do whatever he wants in the off season including going into his studio or go camping. Whatever his heart desires. But you felt the need to go Screamin A and manufacture a false quote. Classy. Hope you are feeling it now. Meanwhile there is a lot of smart business stuff you completely ignored. Omissions are just as telling as the false quote you manufactured trying to be cute. As to the evidence that Dame talking to people is undermining Portland's leverage, there is none and may never be any. Why? Because they will never discuss it, except for maybe Dame. But the Trailblazers Organization will not discuss the coulda, shoulda, woulda's. They will not say they traded for player X because the asking price for player Y was just too expensive. Why was player Y too expensive? It could be for a whole myriad of reasons. But the one thing that can be controlled is not giving the play book away before commencing discussions for player Y. I know you understand this. I know you are smart. I've been around as long as you here. Sometimes I post, sometimes I just read. I enjoy draft/trade season. I become more engaged. Just be real and don't make up a quote attributed to me, and I will do the same.

 

[wizenheimer]

It would be easier to discuss issues with you if you didn't feel the need to create a quote and attribute it to me. I didn't type that out. I stated to the effect that Dame could do whatever he wants in the off season including going into his studio or go camping. Whatever his heart desires. But you felt the need to go Screamin A and manufacture a false quote. Classy. Hope you are feeling it now. Meanwhile there is a lot of smart business stuff you completely ignored. Omissions are just as telling as the false quote you manufactured trying to be cute. As to the evidence that Dame talking to people is undermining Portland's leverage, there is none and may never be any. Why? Because they will never discuss it, except for maybe Dame. But the Trailblazers Organization will not discuss the coulda, shoulda, woulda's. They will not say they traded for player X because the asking price for player Y was just too expensive. Why was player Y too expensive? It could be for a whole myriad of reasons. But the one thing that can be controlled is not giving the play book away before commencing discussions for player Y. I know you understand this. I know you are smart. I've been around as long as you here. Sometimes I post, sometimes I just read. I enjoy draft/trade season. I become more engaged. Just be real and don't make up a quote attributed to me, and I will do the same.

I added the camping part because it's camping season and I'm getting ready to go

you were the one that entered this thread all hot-n-bothered saying that Dame should shut the fuck up because he's trashing Portland's leverage...that's all you

 

[BIG Q]

When are you going to provide us the deals that have been worsened or prevented due to Dame doing interviews saying he wants the team to contend?

You are making a lot of claims, but have yet to back them up with any evidence.

Copied from another post for continuity;

As to the evidence that Dame talking to people is undermining Portland's leverage, there is none and may never be any. Why? Because they will never discuss it, except for maybe Dame. But the Trailblazers Organization will not discuss the coulda, shoulda, woulda's. They will not say they traded for player X because the asking price for player Y was just too expensive. Why was player Y too expensive? It could be for a whole myriad of reasons. But the one thing that can be controlled is not giving the play book away before commencing discussions for player Y. Everyone wants the team to contend. And i'm sure you know this. I'm just shocked that anyone would even dispute that silence is golden when conducting sensitive negotiations that involve so many individuals. There is no gotcha or victory lap here. Brooklyn and Portland are not going to release details of what they have/have not discussed. I accept that. There is your answer. If you can't see it, so be it. I have no need, want or desire to further expound on something that seems so clear to me. Can you tell me why silence is not golden in player negotiations. I thought Cronin screwed up himself talking about the pick being available on draft night and also about bringing in vets for Dame. Just shut up and do it. Damn. Keep that shit internal. Did you notice the pullback he later did. Joe had to know he said too much. I'm done. I've explained my side. I'm not trying to convince you or others. I'm fine with knowing I would follow and prefer others to follow sound business principals. That is all.

 

[e_blazer]

Oh boy here we go.
This will be comical how many ways his statements are going to be analyzed and reevaluated. Saying he thinks we have seen the last of him as a Blazer means he thinks he’s leaving. Pretty hard to not take that statement seriously.

He said that, if he were a betting man (which he says he’s not), he would bet that we’ve seen the last of Dame in a Blazers uniform. He says this in the context that he sets that:

1. Dame loves Portland.
2. He hasn’t spoken with Dame on this subject.
3. All Dame wants is a puncher’s chance.

He doesn’t know what players Portland may be able to get or what they will have to give up to get them. He doesn’t know whether Dame will think the resulting team has a chance to contend. He doesn’t know how much patience Dame has for the reload. In other words, he’s giving an opinion based on too many unknowns for it to have much value. At least, that’s the way I see it.

 

[OneSport3]

There’s a spin for ya. He literally said he thinks we have seen the last of him as a Blazer.
He’s his best friend or at least one of them.
I know Blazer fans hate the thought of it but this is pretty clear.

It’s not spinning. It’s called watching the clip and understanding context.

 

[PCmor7]

The Blazers are going to go through the draft and initial free agency period with the intention of forming a team around Dame that has a “puncher’s chance” of competing for a title. If they can’t do that, then there will be discussions about which teams fit with a mutual interest situation of being able to offer Portland a good return for Dame while remaining a viable contender themselves.

I think this is just an assumption, too. Before you even get to the "discussions about which teams fit," there should and I imagine would be the discussion about whether Dame and the organization want to move on from each other. They aren't remotely the same thing, yet I see over and over and over pundits and fans conflating them.

 

[BIG Q]

I added the camping part because it's camping season and I'm getting ready to go

you were the one that entered this thread all hot-n-bothered saying that Dame should shut the fuck up because he's trashing Portland's leverage...that's all you

Maybe this will help;

I would also want Cronin to shut the fuck up as well. Everyone, anyone connected to the Portland Trailblazers. Not just Dame.There is a reason they put a cover on playbooks. There is a reason pitchers and catchers put their gloves over their mouths when talking out at the mound. "The first rule of Fight Club is there is no Fight Club." The analogies are everywhere. I'm not inventing this up. Seriously, enjoy the camping trip. I'd love to take my boys but they are training 5-6 days a week and made the choice that they want to be professional soccer players. They are making the sacrifices.