Dame's supermax

[BonesJones]

Too many people have a "Finals or Bust" or "Championship or Bust mentality. If a supermax keeps Dame in a Blazer uniform for his entire career and we never make it to the 2nd round over the next decade, I'd still give it to him.

 

[CupWizier]

So youd let Dame walk?

Oh heck no. We should immediately trade him for some draft picks and an expiring contract. Maybe we can get a couple of late first round picks out of it, lol.

(pretend this is in green font)

 

[BigGameDamian]

New ownership may want to rebuild the team and start over fresh from top to bottom.

I agree and that's why I'm not expecting much.

 

[stampedehero]

All this talk about AD potentially declining his supermax to become a FA and essentially force a trade gets me thinking. Dame will also be eligible for a four year extension this summer at 35% of the cap. He can choose to wait and if he makes another all NBA team next season, he'd automatically be eligible for a 5 year extension.

Either way, we'd lock him in through his prime at a huge #.





Would you offer that? The ownership issue is on the back of my mind, but I think it's a no-brainer. The % of cap is the biggest hurdle to get over, but with a clean slate coming in 20-21, I think a new GM can build around him.

Damn. That's stratosphere money.

 

[e_blazer]

The only way I'd move Dame is if the Blazers decide it's time for a rebuild. In that instance, I don't see it as fair to Dame to saddle him with a crappy roster and no chance to win in his prime years. Also, I don't think it would be effective for the Blazers' rebuild to have a guy as good as Dame dragging his team to more wins than you'd like if you're hoping for a series of top draft picks. I think in that instance, and that instance alone, trading Dame to a contender for quality young guys, picks and ending contracts would make sense. Otherwise:

 

[Sarni]

If you sign a player that is not LeBron to 35% of your cap without already having nearly enough talent around him to be competitive then you are basically making sure that you won’t be competitive for the length of this deal unless you draft perfectly. Then again Portland is not a FA destination so that’s probably the only way we are going to succeed anyway so yeah, go for it.

 

[BonesJones]

I mean, what's the difference between 30% and 35% in 2021? $6M? What's that really going to affect...? Letting Dame walk over that would be absolutely ridiculous.

 

[tykendo]

MUST SIGN DAME. It's all fantasy money anyways. Draft picks and garbage are no guaranty of success. Maybe the Blazers draft the world's greatest player, and after his rookie deal, he says "F PDX, i'm outta here". Dame is a super player, and a super dude, and he likes us. LIKES US. Any question.

 

[Labinot41]

For a top 10 player in the league with great intangibles, it's not.

A lot of people (including many experts) have Lillard not even in their top 10, because he's to one dimensional. And you do not know if he will be as good as he is now from the age of 32.

 

[BonesJones]

A lot of people (including many experts) have Lillard not even in their top 10, because he's to one dimensional. And you do not know if he will be as good as he is now from the age of 32.

Dame was 4th last year in MVP voting. Hes a top 10 player, and a bonafide superstar. He's also underrated so dont give me that "some experts say..." stuff.

He also takes great care of his body while working hard. I doubt he's worse at 32 than he is now. He'll deserve every penny. You reward a guy like him.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

While I absolutely understand that giving guards in their mid 30’s gigantic contracts can bog down an organization, and I also feel somewhat uneasy about “life time achievement” contracts. Id still give Dame whatever he wants to keep him here. It would be worth it to have a super star play here his whole career be treated right, if he even makes it to the 2nd round a few more times he will more than likely be a HoFer too. That would be good for the Blazer organization.

 

[Labinot41]

Dame was 4th last year in MVP voting. Hes a top 10 player, and a bonafide superstar. He's also underrated so dont give me that "some experts say..." stuff.

He also takes great care of his body while working hard. I doubt he's worse at 32 than he is now. He'll deserve every penny. You reward a guy like him.

I didn't say he is not in my top 10, but 240 Million for 5 year is tooooo much. I probably would not even give it to anthony davis

 

[BonesJones]

I didn't say he is not in my top 10, but 240 Million for 5 year is tooooo much. I probably would not even give it to anthony davis

Lmao. So youd let every superstar walk away in free agency for morning in order to save $6M-$7M a year? Do you realize how silly that is?

 

[BonesJones]

While I absolutely understand that giving guards in their mid 30’s gigantic contracts can bog down an organization, and I also feel somewhat uneasy about “life time achievement” contracts. Id still give Dame whatever he wants to keep him here. It would be worth it to have a super star play here his whole career be treated right, if he even makes it to the 2nd round a few more times he will more than likely be a HoFer too. That would be good for the Blazer organization.

Exactly. I wouldn't sell that for a 10% bump in our odds to win a championship in the next decade. Theres more to it than that.

 

[Labinot41]

Lmao. So youd let every superstar walk away in free agency for morning in order to save $6M-$7M a year? Do you realize how silly that is?

The Thing is i Don't trust olshey to build a Championship Team BEFORE he Sign Lillard to 240, if we have a Championship Team at that Time i'm 100% okay with that Contract. But that won't happen

 

[BonesJones]

The Thing is i Don't trust olshey to build a Championship Team BEFORE he Sign Lillard to 240, if we have a Championship Team at that Time i'm 100% okay with that Contract. But that won't happen

So you get rid of Lillard for nothing?

Smh.

 

[KingSpeed]

Too many people have a "Finals or Bust" or "Championship or Bust mentality. If a supermax keeps Dame in a Blazer uniform for his entire career and we never make it to the 2nd round over the next decade, I'd still give it to him.

Yep. And look at Dirk. Finally won title in what his 14th season? Dame has lots of time to win us a title.

 

[Labinot41]

So you get rid of Lillard for nothing?

Smh.

I would hate to loose Lillard, but then we could at least start the rebuild. As much as i love Lillard, that Contract is ridiculous

 

[DollaBel]

I’d give it to him for a few reasons

1. Its not like we’re using our money wisely anyway, we have guys getting paid minimum contracts on our roster RIGHT NOW who are outperforming players who are getting literally 10 times the amount. Dame isnt even getting paid nearly as much as he would be on the supermax and we’re managing our money terribly. If we’re building around Lillard give him his money, we work the rest out later.

2. He deserves it and is our franchise. I’d love for him to retire our greatest ever player.

3. I wouldn’t be surprised if we didn’t get a player of his caliber for a decade even if we did trade him away for assets, so I don’t understand the logic in blowing it all up.

4. I don’t want to watch my team lose games.

At the same time though I wouldn’t be surprised if he took less to try make the team better overall.

 

[calvin natt]

That deal would be 100% emotional and loyalty driven. Not a smart basketball or financial decision.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

How do you keep him content?

This core has too many holes to be a contender.

Unless that third star is Anthony Davis or Kawhi Leonard, a third piece won't change this teams chances.

Again, if Dame requests a trade -- this is 100% on Olshey's poor management, and not on Dame.

 

[calvin natt]

How do you keep him content?

This core has too many holes to be a contender.

Unless that third star is Anthony Davis or Kawhi Leonard, a third piece won't change this teams chances.

Again, if Dame requests a trade -- this is 100% on Olshey's poor management, and not on Dame.

I don’t think being unable to land a mega super star means poor management. Olshey drafted a star, Lillard. He would love to have Anthony Davis or Kawhi Leonard. Easier said than done.

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

A good question is how much is too much?

 

[blue9]

A good question is how much is too much?

I mean, what he's making now seems appropriate. Anything more is too much.

 

[BonesJones]

I would hate to loose Lillard, but then we could at least start the rebuild. As much as i love Lillard, that Contract is ridiculous

Yayyyy, let's be the Suns for 5 years so we don't have to pay the best Blazer ever an additional $6M a year!

Silly.

 

[42N8Bounce]

I don't believe a player's value is 'championship or bust.' I enjoy watching Dame play. He represents the team and city well. He's the type of player that doesn't come around very often.



Pay the man.

 

[Strenuus]

Its a no-brainer. You keep Lillard. There is no discussion to the contrary, because there's no solution that is better.

 

[Blazers Roy]

Yayyyy, let's be the Suns for 5 years so we don't have to pay the best Blazer ever an additional $6M a year!

Silly.

Bones... i like Lillard (and CJ) as much as anyone on this board, but come on... It wouldn't be outlandish to say that we need to tear this whole team apart right now.

If we play our cards right we could have like 6 amazing picks during the next 3 seasons.
You can watch re-runs from the past 2 seasons in the meantime - that way you wouldn't miss anything from our current timeline: same games, same playoff exits.

 

[BonesJones]

Bones... i like Lillard (and CJ) as much as anyone on this board, but come on... It wouldn't be outlandish to say that we need to tear this whole team apart right now.

If we play our cards right we could have like 6 amazing picks during the next 3 seasons.
You can watch re-runs from the past 2 seasons in the meantime - that way you wouldn't miss anything from our current timeline: same games, same playoff exits.

You'll want future stars to be loyal to the organization when the organization wasnt loyal to the one star we had that represented Portland better than any of them and was likely better than any of them?

 

[BonesJones]

The lack of loyalty to Dame is disgusting.