Zombie Damian Lillard to request trade in coming days (nope, he's not.)

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B-Roy said:
He definitely said I'm not leaving PDX. There were two words after that I didn't hear too clearly and there's obviously no replay. He's in Vegas with friends and family so it was a bit loud.

EDIT:

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Sounds annoyed that this foo is bothering him at dinner.
 
illmatic99 said:
i don't think it's just olshey.

i don't think ownership wants to pay to win. how we went from PA throwing money down the drain to this penny pinching broke franchise in just two years is shocking to me.
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It's clearly because they're getting ready to sell the team. I have seen corporations do the same thing. They start to penny pinch to make their books look better.
 
Natebishop3 said:
It's clearly because they're getting ready to sell the team. I have seen corporations do the same thing. They start to penny pinch to make their books look better.
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As has been mentioned ad nauseum here by multiple posters, saving ~$10-20 mil in luxury tax payments means absolutely nothing when the valuation of the team is nearing $2 billion. That ain't the reason.

I'd just say our ownership group is rather clueless on how to win in the NBA.
 
illmatic99 said:
As has been mentioned ad nauseum here by multiple posters, saving ~$10-20 mil means absolutely nothing when the valuation of the team is nearing $2 billion.
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Then it's as simple as they're not committed to winning because they're looking to sell the team, so why would they spend more than they have to? The team is plenty successful (in their eyes) at this current price. If you were going to sell a house, and the house is perfectly habitable, but it needs a bunch of updating..... why would you do it in a hot market? You could just the house as-is and still make a bunch of money.
 
Natebishop3 said:
Then it's as simple as they're not committed to winning because they're looking to sell the team, so why would they spend more than they have to? The team is plenty successful (in their eyes) at this current price. If you were going to sell a house, and the house is perfectly habitable, but it needs a bunch of updating..... why would you do it in a hot market? You could just the house as-is and still make a bunch of money.
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Possibly. but the Blazers have been an absolute cash cow for the Allen trust.
 
illmatic99 said:
Possibly. but the Blazers have been an absolute cash cow for the Allen trust.
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It's also possible they're not looking to sell the team, but the fans have proven to be more than patient with a treadmill team. So maybe they think the fans will continue to support the team, even if they dump Dame and keep CJ.
 
PtldPlatypus said:
Is amazing to me that someone who posted incessantly throughout this past season that Dame deserved to be dealt somewhere else so he could have the chance to win would call it "annoying" when Dame says that he wants this team to make the moves/effort necessary for him to win here, with the understanding that if they're not willing to, then he might need to go elsewhere to have that chance.
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Absolutely but shit the way he’s going about it is annoying. Like there was no reason to answer that question on IG live. At this point what is he waiting for ? This team isn’t going to get better
 
Natebishop3 said:
It's also possible they're not looking to sell the team, but the fans have proven to be more than patient with a treadmill team. So maybe they think the fans will continue to support the team, even if they dump Dame and keep CJ.
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You wouldn't get that sense reading any Blazer forum or reddit or Blazers twitter. I think that patience is wearing very thin right now.

I am really curious how season ticket sales are going this year.
 
illmatic99 said:
You wouldn't get that sense reading any Blazer forum or reddit or Blazers twitter. I think that patience is wearing very thin right now.

I am really curious how season ticket sales are going this year.
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Sadly I think this forum, or even Reddit are a small piece of the pie. The people who call into the radio shows and sound like they have never heard of PER or AST% or any kind of advanced analytics are a much larger demographic.
 
Natebishop3 said:
Sadly I think this forum, or even Reddit are a small piece of the pie. The people who call into the radio shows and sound like they have never heard of PER or AST% or any kind of advanced analytics are a much larger demographic.
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Absolutely true. We are not representative of the average fan, and I think it's fair to assume that most average fans are satisfied with a team that wins more often than it loses. As long as they're likely to see a victory when they attend a game, the season as a whole is irrelevant.
 
PtldPlatypus said:
Absolutely true. We are not representative of the average fan, and I think it's fair to assume that most average fans are satisfied with a team that wins more often than it loses. As long as they're likely to see a victory when they attend a game, the season as a whole is irrelevant.
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that is a sad state of affairs. We've become the Indiana Pacers -- this is exactly what i observed of that fan base during my almost decade there.
 
PtldPlatypus said:
Absolutely true. We are not representative of the average fan, and I think it's fair to assume that most average fans are satisfied with a team that wins more often than it loses. As long as they're likely to see a victory when they attend a game, the season as a whole is irrelevant.
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Anyone who has ever tried to have a conversation with a truly casual fan about the team knows exactly what we're talking about. It's the same as someone who is a Star Wars fanatic and someone who has only seen the movies once. You're over here talking about the cartoons and the comics and the books and they're like "I thought Rey was cool!"
 
Natebishop3 said:
Sadly I think this forum, or even Reddit are a small piece of the pie. The people who call into the radio shows and sound like they have never heard of PER or AST% or any kind of advanced analytics are a much larger demographic.
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With any team, the majority of followers are just that. Civic pride, and enjoy watching for entertainment. Us FANATICS , every move, or non move, is escalated in importance. For many of us, our world, at least entertainment - wise, revolves around the sports world.
 
tykendo said:
With any team, the majority of followers are just that. Civic pride, and enjoy watching for entertainment. Us FANATICS , every move, or non move, is escalated in importance. For many of us, our world, at least entertainment - wise, revolves around the sports world.
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But that's why they're less likely to think that trading Dame will send the majority of the fans to the exits. They're probably banking on most fans sticking around for a CJ led team that still probably makes the playoffs but continues to get eaten up in the first round.

Frankly, if they trade Dame and don't fire Neil, I'm going to hit the pause button on my fandom.
 
I'm wondering how this saga hanging over the team's head will affect their play on the court. Any sign of a downturn (losing streak, Chauncey having a slow start, or injuries, what have you...) early in the season is going to spiral out of control. Everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) is going to pounce on even the most minute negative thing that will happen to the team over the course of the season. Hell, even the NBA scheduled nearly all of our national TV games earlier rather than later potentially because of a pending trade demand come deadline.

None of this sounds like a recipe for a winning season. You have CJ looking absolutely JACKED working out daily, Nurk is looking like a monster in workout vids, Powell is getting after it daily, Nas and Ant look like they're all gonna improve, and then you have Dame letting out subtle jabs expressing his opinions on a weekly basis.

I get Dame's frustrations and share many of them, but part of me wants him to just STFU. He's under contract for 4 more years and said repeatedly that anything he has to say he will to Olshey directly-- i just wish he'd get off IG/Twitter sometimes and do what he says he's gonna do. He's not an idiot-- he knows how this will play in national media.
 
illmatic99 said:
I'm wondering how this saga hanging over the team's head will affect their play on the court. Any sign of a downturn (losing streak, Chauncey having a slow start, or injuries, what have you...) early in the season is going to spiral out of control. Everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) is going to pounce on even the most minute negative thing that will happen to the team over the course of the season. Hell, even the NBA scheduled nearly all of our national TV games earlier rather than later potentially because of a pending trade demand come deadline.

None of this sounds like a recipe for a winning season. You have CJ looking absolutely JACKED working out daily, Nurk is looking like a monster in workout vids, Powell is getting after it daily, Nas and Ant look like they're all gonna improve, and then you have Dame letting out subtle jabs expressing his opinions on a weekly basis.

I get Dame's frustrations and share many of them, but part of me wants him to just STFU. He's under contract for 4 more years and said repeatedly that anything he has to say he will to Olshey directly-- i just wish he'd get off IG/Twitter sometimes and do what he says he's gonna do. He's not an idiot-- he knows how this will play in national media.
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It's just weird to me how Dame's attitude shifted so abruptly. I wanted him to start being more vocal and throwing his weight around, but it feels like he's a lot closer to the edge than I would expect. Makes me wonder if he has been privately telling Neil the roster sucks for a while, and Neil just isn't getting it done.
 
Natebishop3 said:
It's just weird to me how Dame's attitude shifted so abruptly. I wanted him to start being more vocal and throwing his weight around, but it feels like he's a lot closer to the edge than I would expect. Makes me wonder if he has been privately telling Neil the roster sucks for a while, and Neil just isn't getting it done.
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the cryptic IG posts, the lack of a firm commitment long term, the jabs in media will inevitably cause tension in the workplace.

It's what Lebron and Kawhi have done for years with their respective teams. We haven't experienced that with Dame ever. This was the guy who would always dismiss the idea of asking for player options in the last year of deals because "why would he want to leave?"

Olshey has not done his job well, Terry was a disaster, and ownership group is middling, but they have ALWAYS been loyal to Dame and included him in every decision. Think it was just a coincidence that Biofreeze (for whom he was a national spokesman) just happened to be our jersey sponsor three years ago? They have given him every penny they possibly can. And he has more benefits with this team and city than any other he can imagine. Loyalty is earned, I acknowledge that-- but the franchise and this fanbase doesn't deserve anything less from him.

It really pisses me off how much Philly fans and people like Morey/Stephen A are thirsting over our guy, and Dame is doing very little to curb it these days, unlike in the past.
 
Natebishop3 said:
But that's why they're less likely to think that trading Dame will send the majority of the fans to the exits. They're probably banking on most fans sticking around for a CJ led team that still probably makes the playoffs but continues to get eaten up in the first round.

Frankly, if they trade Dame and don't fire Neil, I'm going to hit the pause button on my fandom.
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I'm not gonna lie, it would be a giant kick to the jewels. Personally, I would be heart broken. He's my favorite player ever for the Blazers. I wasn't happy when Clyde was traded, but it didn't break my heart. But i did move away to Denver and turned my focus completely to the Broncos. And since i didn't have a favorite Blazer player, i rooted for them to win, but didn't follow even remotely as close as i follow the team in it's current form. I've been following closely again, since Brandon & LaMarcus joined the team. I totally skipped the Jail Blazers Era. Didn't have a whole lot to like about that team.
 
illmatic99 said:
It really pisses me off how much Philly fans and people like Morey/Stephen A are thirsting over our guy, and Dame is doing very little to curb it these days, unlike in the past.
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Because loyalty is not un-conditional, nor should it be.
 
B-Roy said:
Because loyalty is not un-conditional, nor should it be.
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Clearly, and that is disappointing. Was always under the impression that Dame was "different." Even today, there's an article in the Athletic exalting Dame's loyalty to Weber-- makes part of what he preaches seem like just talk.
 
illmatic99 said:
Clearly, and that is disappointing. Was always under the impression that Dame was "different." Even today, there's an article in the Athletic exalting Dame's loyalty to Weber-- makes part of what he preaches seem like just talk.
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Naw, he's as loyal as any NBA player can be today. These media pariah can hover over a player, and sometimes it's just enough. CJ said he's all in. I have more belief in what comes out of CJ's mouth than the Media. Dame just looked annoyed. Like Elway, he is in a fish bowl. That's what happens when your the biggest star for a team. Everybody wants a piece. Elway is huge here in Denver STILL. But he had times when he was rethinking his future. But, the grass isn't always greener.
 
tykendo said:
Naw, he's as loyal as any NBA player can be today. These media pariah can hover over a player, and sometimes it's just enough. CJ said he's all in. I have more belief in what comes out of CJ's mouth than the Media. Dame just looked annoyed. Like Elway, he is in a fish bowl. That's what happens when your the biggest star for a team. Everybody wants a piece. Elway is huge here in Denver STILL. But he had times when he was rethinking his future. But, the grass isn't always greener.
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This isn't the media saying this stuff, it's Dame. It's literal words out of his mouth:

"I haven't made any firm decision on what my future will be."

"I am not leaving PDX, for now at least."

The media isn't posting cryptic shit about his dissatisfaction, he is: WTF does this shit even mean?



 
illmatic99 said:
This isn't the media saying this stuff, it's Dame. It's literal words out of his mouth:

"I haven't made any firm decision on what my future will be."

"I am not leaving PDX, for now at least."

The media isn't posting cryptic shit about his dissatisfaction, he is: WTF does this shit even mean?



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He also just had an amazing series, which his team failed to win, and was frustrated beyond belief, like many of us. I've said many "Doom & Gloom" statements about life sitches, that i look back on , were overblown responses.
 
illmatic99 said:
Clearly, and that is disappointing. Was always under the impression that Dame was "different." Even today, there's an article in the Athletic exalting Dame's loyalty to Weber-- makes part of what he preaches seem like just talk.
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as a fan though, if dame is content with the status quo why would management not be either? I’d rather Dame ruffle some feathers
 
CJ is not on a team friendly deal. And he is getting long in the tooth considering there are guys out there with his talent but 6 years younger.
 
illmatic99 said:
This isn't the media saying this stuff, it's Dame. It's literal words out of his mouth:

"I haven't made any firm decision on what my future will be."

"I am not leaving PDX, for now at least."

The media isn't posting cryptic shit about his dissatisfaction, he is: WTF does this shit even mean?



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I can't (yet) and don't want to believe it, but the conspiratorial part of my brain says, "If an indispensable superstar who has repeatedly professed undying loyalty wants out, how does he make that happen without being perceived as a hypocrite? Perhaps by saying and doing things that might cause the local fans to turn on him...?"
 
B-Roy said:
as a fan though, if dame is content with the status quo why would management not be either? I’d rather Dame ruffle some feathers
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He has said at every opportunity that he is fully transparent with the FO directly. Yet he posts shit on twitter/IG, or says stuff that just fuels the fire for the media. ESPN didn't just get up one day and decide they're going to drive Dame out of Portland-- his posts/quotes initiated all this.

This isn't as much ruffling feathers as it is driving a narrative.

If Dame wants CJ traded or certain moves made by the FO and has expressed them to Neil, why would Neil not make those moves? Olshey knows his job security is tied at the hip with Dame's happiness. He's not gonna deliberately counter Dame's direction and force Lillard to go public-- Dame is doing that entirely on his own.
 
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