Dame asks for trade (And there it is)

[maxiep]

This is worse than what Clyde did.

They're different. We really did do a favor for Clyde. He didn't demand a trade to Houston. It was his behavior afterward that was so distasteful.

It's Dame's behavior while he is still on this roster that is so troubling. Where I assume they will be the same is after Dame is traded, he behaves the same as Drexler has toward the Blazers.

 

[riverman]

On a positive note, I won't have to listen to him pretending to be a musician anymore.

 

[wizenheimer]

Im personally annoyed. But I'll still wish him success.

I'm a Dame fan but I'm annoyed by it all too

this just has the feel of Dame holding a major grudge against Portland and wanting to cause Cronin, and Jody, some grief on his way out. Things must have happened and been said that we haven't really heard about

 

[illmatic99]

I'm a Dame fan but I'm annoyed by it all too

this just has the feel of Dame holding a major grudge against Portland and wanting to cause Cronin, and Jody, some grief on his way out. Things must have happened and been said that we haven't really heard about

I still trust Dame more than I do Joe or Jody

 

[wizenheimer]

I still trust Dame more than I do Joe or Jody

I'd think Dame views the years of penny-pinching by the Vulcans in a very negative light. What Sly said about what he heard makes sense too

 

[glredig]

I'm a Dame fan but I'm annoyed by it all too

this just has the feel of Dame holding a major grudge against Portland and wanting to cause Cronin, and Jody, some grief on his way out. Things must have happened and been said that we haven't really heard about

That's definitely been my impression.

He could have been lying this whole time, but this really feels like he feels betrayed by the organization in some way.

Who knows, though. 99% of what's factoring into this for Dame is stuff we'll never know about. Personal life, private conversations, perspective changes, etc. We'll never know. It's disappointing as a fan... Justified or not, the fans are really getting the short end of this battle.

 

[LayneStaley]

I hope Spo lays into him about his shitty D and killing ball movement by pulling up from the logo.

 

[TBpup]

The Blazers paid Keljin Blevins for 2 freaking years. A player who hasn't sniffed anything from any other team. I get that Jody didn't want to pay the Lux Tax on a team no where near contending, that is just smart business. I am NO FAN of Jody's, but who wants to pour more money down a hole for a team and style that would routinely get swept.

 

[Haakzilla]

...maybe, instead of writing an open letter to Portland/fans when this all said and done, he will write a new thank you rap song so there's that!

 

[Natebishop3]

 

[SIeepwalker]

I don’t think it has anything to do with Dame wanting out, many don’t fault him for that. It’s handcuffing us by only saying Miami, but now his agent coming out calling other teams trying to scare them off a Dame trade.

it’s truly painting the Blazers in a corner and that’s not cool, and where the heat is coming from.

The FO did that to themselves. They have nobody to blame but themselves

 

[SIeepwalker]

I'd rather wait a month than a couple days and get Jaquez Jr...

 

[BassPlaya]

On a positive note, I won't have to listen to him pretending to be a musician anymore.

 

[TheGoldRanger]

Per what Woj reported and Goodwin confirmed, the fact that is what is being done and that he is telling other teams not to trade for Dame....that is Dame's permission and approval. Not only did Dame sign for the largest SuperMax he could, then as soon as he possibly could, he asked for a trade. IIUC, there had to be a year wait. Well, he waited the least amount of time possible, then asked for a trade, and is now trying to dictate where he is going to go thereby limiting what Portland would get back.

To have a preferred list of teams is one thing. To go scorched earth and approve of his agent to let any other team to not trade for him....very disappointing and am losing respect. And I'm tired of the loyalty mantra. Can anyone point out where he took less money to stay here? Did he remain loyal to Portland for less? No, he took the absolute most that he could....and after doing so, waited the minimum amount of time to ask out.

This has me fired up and I'll come down from this in a bit, but by doing what he is doing, he is trying to hurt the franchise and it's future.....which he has shown now he doesn't care about. "Want to be here." Want to be the greatest Blazer ever." "Here for the grind"....but want to go to a team in the Conf Finals 3 of the last 4 years.

Can I trade my Lillard jersey in for Sharpe's or Scoots?

I honestly threw my Lillard jerseys away but I feel you TB. I felt like if I donated my jerseys and saw someone walking around with them I’d want to punch them in the face. I remember how he embraced the moment when Aldridge left for nothing. He’s been a little bitch about the situation and I agree with what you’ve said about him. If he wears the number 0 for the Heat I hope it will represent how many championships he will retire with.

 

[riverman]

The FO did that to themselves. They have nobody to blame but themselves

completely disagree...Dame signed a max extension last summer after sitting out a season with surgery...with 4 years on his deal, his timing hurts the franchise...if he had 1 year left, it's a different story. Dame made this happen, not the franchise. Joe needed rookie scale starters to pay Dame 63 million when he turns 36...in my world, you honor your contracts especially when they are that generous.

 

[illmatic99]

I honestly threw my Lillard jerseys away but I feel you TB. I felt like if I donated my jerseys and saw someone walking around with them I’d want to punch them in the face. I remember how he embraced the moment when Aldridge left for nothing. He’s been a little bitch about the situation and I agree with what you’ve said about him. If he wears the number 0 for the Heat I hope it will represent how many championships he will retire with.

Sheesh.

What should i do with his shoes?

 

[illmatic99]

Get in a room and hash out? How can they do that when you are blabbing every second to the media and negotiating in public? Fuck Aaron Goodwin.

 

[SIeepwalker]

after sitting out a season with surgery

You mean, after being convinced by the FO to tank two years in a row under false promises that assets acquired that way would go towards building a championship roster. You know Dame would be all about chasing that playoff push, even battling through an injury, if it was only up to him.

Dame made this happen, not the franchise. Joe needed rookie scale starters to pay Dame 63 million when he turns 36

Dame wouldn't not be making a bigger %age of the cap. Throwing that 63M number and comparing it to today's contract like it means something doesn't make sense

 

[SIeepwalker]

I honestly threw my Lillard jerseys away

Absolutely insane

 

[riverman]

You mean, after being convinced by the FO to tank two years in a row under false promises that assets acquired that way would go towards building a championship roster. You know Dame would be all about chasing that playoff push, even battling through an injury, if it was only up to him.


Dame wouldn't not be making a bigger %age of the cap. Throwing that 63M number and comparing it to today's contract like it means something doesn't make sense

well you can spin it how you like...to me it's really clear. We were losing with Dame playing. Any sane GM would realize that we need to build through the draft especially after striking out on Ant deals...teams wanted Sharpe...not Ant...Joe wouldn't trade Sharpe for an older vet and that was the smart call..teams didn't want Dame to be happy or the Blazers to be better. They all wanted Dame....have for half his career.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I didn't want to start another thread, so I'll put it in here.

With the caveat that we don't know everything that was said in private, I have a question. What is going on with Dame emotionally?

I ask the question because he spent over a decade quietly building a brand that has allowed him to be well-compensated outside of basketball. Loyalty. Hard work. Respect. Now, he's pouring gasoline over that brand equity.

Please don't respond discussing whether or not he's entitled to be frustrated and ask for what he wants. I get that and that's not the answer for which I'm looking. What I don't get is why he's being so ham-handed. He's a smart guy. There were a million better ways to handle a divorce from the Blazers. The Blazers likely want to separate from Dame as well, and want to be seen as good guys as well upon his exit. In other words, all of this could have been done behind closed doors. No matter how frustrated he is by the Blazers, he has to know he's committing marketing suicide.

So, why has Dame gone from building an eleven-year brand of doing things the right way to two weeks of being more petulant than Ben Simmons or LeBron James? It has to be more than wanting to win a ring. It has to be something going on in his off-court life. It is this aspect of his trade request to one team that I can't understand.

Apologies for the rambling post, but I am honestly confused.

Because Step 1 was lowering his trade value, because Miami offer would be questionable. And Lillard did just that with his offseason comments.

 

[SIeepwalker]

well you can spin it how you like...to me it's really clear. We were losing with Dame playing. Any sane GM would realize that we need to build through the draft especially after striking out on Ant deals...teams wanted Sharpe...not Ant...Joe wouldn't trade Sharpe for an older vet and that was the smart call

That can be your opinion. That's completely fine. I've certainly asked myself at the start of the offseason if going the rebuild route wasn't the better move. I was ok with trading And and #3 but wanted Sharpe here for sure.
What I can't forgive is Cronin not being honest and transparent about the direction he wanted to take. You can't promise Dame that they are going to be "extremely aggressive" (his words) shopping the picks, and build a contending roster, then do jack shit in the draft and jack shit in free agency and act surprised when Dame is legitimately pissed.
All I'm mad about is the way the situation was handled by the FO to make Dame take the fall (seems successful too which is disgusting) instead of maning up and telling Dame clearly they wanted to go the rebuild route.

 

[TBpup]

You mean, after being convinced by the FO to tank two years in a row under false promises that assets acquired that way would go towards building a championship roster. You know Dame would be all about chasing that playoff push, even battling through an injury, if it was only up to him.


Dame wouldn't not be making a bigger %age of the cap. Throwing that 63M number and comparing it to today's contract like it means something doesn't make sense

I applaud Dame for playing through his injury....for multiple years, but how smart was that? On top of it, he went and played for the Olympic team, and then said something to the effect of, I have my ring/title. They were NOT winning with Dame playing. 137-173 his last 4 seasons there. As an owner, I'm certainly not investing in Lux Tax payments for that dreck. Playoff push to get swept....we've been there and done that to the point of insanity.

And the % of the cap will be the same...correct. But for a player with declining skills at that age. Anyone want to make a bet that he won't be as good the last two years of that contract as he was last season after he was finally fully recovered from the surgery that he put off for 2-3 seasons according to him?

No problem with a fan's devotion to a player. Fan is short for fanatic. But being head over heals for the good, means also being realistic about that which hasn't been so great. Dame is letting his agent torch the team on his way out. That is on him.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Im personally annoyed. But I'll still wish him success.

If we get a good young player (J Allen, Banchero, Claxton...), I'll root for him to win a chip. If we get crap, then he's the 2nd coming of LaMarcus to me.

 

[riverman]

That can be your opinion. That's completely fine. I've certainly asked myself at the start of the offseason if going the rebuild route wasn't the better move. I was ok with trading And and #3 but wanted Sharpe here for sure.
What I can't forgive is Cronin not being honest and transparent about the direction he wanted to take. You can't promess Dame that they are going to be "extremely aggressive" (his words) shopping the picks, and build a contending roster, then do jack shit in the draft and jack shit in free agency and act surprised when Dame is legitimately pissed.
All I'm mad about is the way the situation was handled by the FO to make Dame take the fall (seems successful too which is disgusting) instead of maning up and telling Dame clearly they wanted to go the rebuild route.

Joe crushed the draft..if you think that's jack shit well...our talent pool took a big leap around Dame with this draft..hell of an upgrade from Blevins. Since the demand, the best free agents are off the market now..that's screwed us as well Scoot >Tim Frazier Scoot > Shabazz Napier..Scoot > Keon Johnson.

 

[glredig]

That can be your opinion. That's completely fine. I've certainly asked myself at the start of the offseason if going the rebuild route wasn't the better move. I was ok with trading And and #3 but wanted Sharpe here for sure.
What I can't forgive is Cronin not being honest and transparent about the direction he wanted to take. You can't promise Dame that they are going to be "extremely aggressive" (his words) shopping the picks, and build a contending roster, then do jack shit in the draft and jack shit in free agency and act surprised when Dame is legitimately pissed.
All I'm mad about is the way the situation was handled by the FO to make Dame take the fall (seems successful too which is disgusting) instead of maning up and telling Dame clearly they wanted to go the rebuild route.

I understand defending Dame as far as who is more responsible for the situation. But we don't know how hard Cronin shopped #3+Ant. Maybe he did push to move them but other GMs knew that Dame was one foot out the door.
What we do know is that Dame has had a very public ultimatum for a long time. I can't pretend like that didn't affect our ability to make trades. We don't know if that ultimately made the difference, but I thought from the first time Dame went public that it was a poor choice. Set your hardlines in private and then act on them when needed.

Neither side is blameless in my opinion. But I don't feel bad for Dame at this point, and he's my favorite player of all time.

 

[SIeepwalker]

I applaud Dame for playing through his injury....for multiple years, but how smart was that? On top of it, he went and played for the Olympic team, and then said something to the effect of, I have my ring/title. They were NOT winning with Dame playing. 137-173 his last 4 seasons there. As an owner, I'm certainly not investing in Lux Tax payments for that dreck. Playoff push to get swept....we've been there and done that to the point of insanity.

As I said, if they thought they couldn't win with Dame that's fine. It's not being truthful about it that's disgusting

 

[PtldPlatypus]

What I can't forgive is Cronin not being honest and transparent about the direction he wanted to take. You can't promise Dame that they are going to be "extremely aggressive" (his words) shopping the picks, and build a contending roster, then do jack shit in the draft and jack shit in free agency and act surprised when Dame is legitimately pissed.

How exactly is it that you know that he wasn't aggressive? The fact that he didn't make a deal doesn't mean that he didn't seek them--simply that none that were offered were deemed acceptable.

 

[SIeepwalker]

Joe crushed the draft..if you think that's jack shit well...our talent pool took a big leap around Dame with this draft..hell of an upgrade from Blevins. Since the demand, the best free agents are off the market now..that's screwed us as well Scoot >Tim Frazier Scoot > Shabazz Napier..Scoot > Keon Johnson.

Yes Scoot is better than bench warmers I'm not sure what this has to do with anything.

 

[SIeepwalker]

Joe crushed the draft

A blind mouse could have done what he did in the draft. Drafting Scoot #3 isn't rocket science.