I'm a big Dame fan, at least I was. So I have some thoughts about this:
* first thing is I don't ever fully trust what any GM says. It's not their job to be 100% open and truthful with the fans. In fact, in many cases, that would be malpractice...or at least unilateral disarmament because 29 other GM's will be busy deflecting, dodging, strategically leaking, and outright lying.
* this situation didn't turn nasty at Dame's initial trade request. Pretty clear the Blazer FO was expecting it could happen and was probably prepared for it. It turned nasty when Dame's agent went scorched-earth-miami-or-bust and did a number on Portland's leverage. I think Pat Riley was a big part of that, but Dame is ultimately responsible for the actions of his agent.
* and it was those actions that put Cronin and the front office, and probably ownership, in the mood of telling Dame there was no coming back from that
* and even though I think Dame was ultimately responsible, or more accurately ultimately accountable, I think Dame got some really bad advice from his agent, and that Riley's fingerprints are all over that advice
I think it's sad that Dame wanted to rescind his trade request but the situation had deteriorated to the point it had. IMO, it was still a salvageable situation but I can see why the Blazers didn't want to go thru the effort or live with the distraction