Damian Lillard Appreciation Thread

[HoopsFanAZ]

Chris Haynes is a gigantic d*****bag. His article fails the smell test — a hit piece pure and simple.

Goodwin went scorched Earth on Lillard returning. He failed in everything but ensuring Lillard wasn’t returning.

Not shutting Goodwin out would have been idiotic on Cronin’s part.
And there was no point in talking with Miami.
Haynes puts in just enough of what was reported by various sources to act like his story is on the level.

Not buying it.
Lillard, knowingly or not, allowed others connected to him to harm his reputation that he had earned. Goodwin should be fired and Haynes’ calls blocked. Poison a relationship and this is what happens.

I have no interest in defending Kolde or Cronin. I also have no patience for hacks in the media manipulating situations and then acting innocent afterwards.

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

I still think Lillard is a good guy. Somehow though, he wasn't able to step outside himself and see how all that his agent, and maybe Riley, were doing was perceived.

He got emotional cause of his divorce, then again, he was always an emotional guy. Not surprised.

 

[RonBrewer]

If Dame truly tried to rescind his trade, He's back up to my favorite Blazer of all time.

I hate it that he burned too many bridges and he did do that. He loves Portland, i have no doubt about it that he will live the rest of his life here.

I really hope he comes back and retires a Blazer.

RIP CITY FOR LIFE DAME DOLLA

 

[TBpup]

But how do you feel about Dame putting this out after the Blazers did him a solid?

He said he wanted out. He said he wanted to go somewhere he could compete. Joe sends him to the best place possible....
And Dame drops this on the way out. Was a fan. Not as much anymore. Cronin did him a HUGE solid. But Dame and his mouthpiece couldn't leave with class. Disappointing.

 

[TheGoldRanger]

There are always 2 sides to every story. From what I’ve read so far, I honestly commend Joe for doing what he had to do. It was as tough a decision that ANY GM in the history of the NBA ever had to make. I get both sides of it and don’t hate Joe or Dame. I still hate Miami though. Fuck Miami.

 

[HoopsFanAZ]

I have no problem with Lillard as I don’t know the conversations he had. His actions had previously been stand-up guy stuff. His agent forgot the big picture of his client’s interests; Goodwin’s words are damning. Haynes’ writing and interviews made him a no-go source for me quite a while ago. If Lillard is pushing this latest agenda, he’s not helping himself … we’ll see if he follows this up with his own words.

 

[RonBrewer]

He said he wanted out. He said he wanted to go somewhere he could compete. Joe sends him to the best place possible....
And Dame drops this on the way out. Was a fan. Not as much anymore. Cronin did him a HUGE solid. But Dame and his mouthpiece couldn't leave with class. Disappointing.

This is a fair take and i don't disagree with it at all. But man, regardless of all of that, i am crushed that he possibly had a change of heart and there wasn't a spot for him. Perhaps he was run by his agent. Maybe he never wanted to go as far as they went with it. Dame hasn't really said much at all other than he wanted to go to Miami. He's not really even dogged the staff until now and that wasn't even really dogging them.

I just hate it for the guy i loved for so many years. I have a big heart. A lot of these fans wanted him gone regardless and i was good either way. I just can't stand it that this is where the relationship ended up

 

[maxiep]

Even as someone who's made peace with this decision months ago, this still made me cry. He was willing to come back too. Fuck.

F**k me, that stung. I haven't been this sad since Big Bill.

 

[maxiep]

Obvious omission in the thank you message.

I think he's trying to take the letter "o" out of "J_e". I think he also missed an opportunity to mention PA.

 

[maxiep]

And another guy.

Bert Kolde.

That's like thanking Jar Jar Binks.

 

[STOMP]

Although, what is an "attractable asset"? Not very good writing....

not sure where you're quoting this from, but available or possible works so much better then attractable

STOMP

 

[RonBrewer]

F**k me, that stung. I haven't been this sad since Big Bill.

That last snippet got me in the feels man. I think he hates it deep down that he's leaving. I hope like hell one day he can return and retire a Blazer. It will be a glorious moment for me.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

The greatest ambassador we've ever had. Incredible dude and player. I wish we didn't fail him. I wish there was a happy ending. It's absolutely all love and I'm rooting for him every step of the way.

 

[RonBrewer]

The greatest ambassador we've ever had. Incredible dude and player. I wish we didn't fail him. I wish there was a happy ending. It's absolutely all love and I'm rooting for him every step of the way.

It can still have a happy ending. Would love to see him retire a Blazer and be the sixth, seventh man off of the bench in a deep run in three or four years.

 

[CJ_is_Gone]

if joe is bluffing here, i don't ever want to play poker with him. this seems so genuine. WTF

Im 99% sure that was genuine. That was immediately after the trade request went public.

Things can change as you find out more information & as you deal with an agent who is acting like a petulant child

 

[CJ_is_Gone]

To be fair, this was at the beginning of the trade process and two months had gone by when Dame supposedly wanted to rescind his request. A lot of drama had happened in two months.

Most of which was not included in that article

 

[CJ_is_Gone]

if it's the truth...I don't have a problem with it. If Dame asked to rescind and Cronin refused, I don't have a problem with that being reported either. I can understand why Dame wanted to back off his trade request....and I understand why Cronin refused

I think I was pretty clear I don't completely trust any GM and that includes Cronin

I get that you're skeptical about after the fact spin...there's a lot of it going on from all sides right now. But that Haynes article doesn't smell strongly of spin, IMO, and it does seem mostly credible, with a Dame POV. And what's mostly credible is that Dame was very naive about how far his agent had taken things and about how deeply that had rankled the Blazers FO

Completely agree here.
It's a painful learning experience for everyone

 

[TheGoldRanger]

F**k me, that stung. I haven't been this sad since Big Bill.

That last sentence got me for sure.

 

[Tince]

Nothing but love for Dame.

Like everyone else in this situation, he's not perfect; but unlike most people in this situation, he's provide us fans a bunch of great memories!

 

[maxiep]

I knew that after a deal was done, Dame and his agent would write a nice farewell message to cool the temperature and provide Dame an opportunity to recapture some goodwill. I knew I was going to be played, and I still couldn't help my emotions.

 

[Natebishop3]

I don’t think people should boo Dame when he comes back in January, but can we get a “fuck you goodwin” clap clap clapclapclap

 

[Trailblazers76]

Forgive me if this has been posted but here's a bit from Dame's goodbye letter to Portland. He really is a class act. Thanks for the memories Dame!

He concluded his letter by reflecting on how special his time here was, saying he leaves “with nothing by love for the fans and this city.”

“Even in this moment I feel sad that we never accomplished what I so badly wanted to. I don’t cry much, but I know my love for you is real because I am for sure dropping some tears right now,” Lillard said. “Rip City you know my heart and where I stand because I’ve stood there for over a decade so to have to move off my square hurts my heart.”

Saying the show must go on with or without him, the Letter O bid Blazers fans goodbye while instilling the slightest, aching glimmer of hope for the future.

“I do believe a day will come where I put a Blazers uniform on again, and hopefully by then I’ll be forgiven for breaking your hearts along with my own.”

Damian Lillard writes long, heartfelt letter to Rip City: ‘Dame Time has run out’ - oregonlive.com

 

[Strenuus]

View attachment 57657

Jesus bro. That hurts my heart man.

 

[Propagandist]

For the most part, and throughout his career, I have been in the Dame-is-the-best camp. After the trade request I vacillated I will admit, and lately I’ve gone back and forth, but after that goodbye letter and the Haynes article I think fuck Joe Cronin.

 

[THE HCP]

Dame will return to RipCity in January….the fans will welcome him back like we’ve never seen or heard in the RG before….he will then score 72 on us in a Bucks 150-149 Bucks win!

 

[THE HCP]

Fuck off Dame. You let your personal problems infiltrate your professional life. Have fun in Wisconsin.

Clown

 

[THE HCP]

He got emotional cause of his divorce, then again, he was always an emotional guy. Not surprised.

“He got emotional because of his divorce” Imagine that.
You people amaze me.

 

[Phatguysrule]

if it's the truth...I don't have a problem with it. If Dame asked to rescind and Cronin refused, I don't have a problem with that being reported either. I can understand why Dame wanted to back off his trade request....and I understand why Cronin refused

I think I was pretty clear I don't completely trust any GM and that includes Cronin

I get that you're skeptical about after the fact spin...there's a lot of it going on from all sides right now. But that Haynes article doesn't smell strongly of spin, IMO, and it does seem mostly credible, with a Dame POV. And what's mostly credible is that Dame was very naive about how far his agent had taken things and about how deeply that had rankled the Blazers FO

This is my take as well. Dame trusted his agent and let his agent handle it. His agent destroyed the relationship between Dame and the team before Dame could salvage it.

Dame probably did the right thing in letting his agent handle it. If it were a better agent. But it wasn't a better agent. It was this piece of shit.

I don't blame Dame or Cronin. I'd have hurt feelings if I were either of them. And I probably wouldn't be excited about talking to each other at the practice facility.

 

[Propagandist]

Fuck off Dame. You let your personal problems infiltrate your professional life. Have fun in Wisconsin.

This is joking, right? Textbook irony joking, yes? Please.

 

[Propagandist]

He got emotional cause of his divorce, then again, he was always an emotional guy. Not surprised.

Wait! No way! You were serious! @SlyPokerDog I’ll throw in to ban this guy.