How does Lillard take this?

[Bingo Bango]

Every year Portland misses out on the big trades. Every year some big star (and often more than one) is moving somewhere else, but never to Portland. We exist in the twilight zone, sort of in the NBA, but not really. We are the team you have to play during the regular season, the team that’s up there somewhere in the Pacific Northwest where it rains a lot, but not the team you’ll ever see in the Finals. We’re just the practice team for real NBA teams.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

He goes into the studio and records another diss track

 

[maxiep]

I think Dame is resigned to it. He's prized loyalty over chasing a ring. I think it's a legitimate choice and one that is both reputationally and financially more beneficial to him. Of course, he wants to win, but I think he's also realistic enough to know that the competitive landscape just isn't in our favor of competing for a championship. We can have lightning strike and go deep, but a ring is highly unlikely.

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

Like a pro. Has he ever shown anything less?…

 

[Bingo Bango]

I think Dame is resigned to it. He's prized loyalty over chasing a ring. I think it's a legitimate choice and one that is both reputationally and financially more beneficial to him. Of course, he wants to win, but I think he's also realistic enough to know that the competitive landscape just isn't in our favor of competing for a championship. We can have lightning strike and go deep, but a ring is highly unlikely.

Lillard is sort of like a Blazer fan himself. He hopes and hopes that something will change, that the team will somehow get over the hump and his dreams will all come true, but he’s also come to terms with the idea that it will never happen.

Still, he’s the guy out there busting his butt for 82 games every year. That’s a little different from the average fan who can shrug his shoulders after a loss and go back to his favorite video game.

 

[RR7]

I bet dame takes it a lot better than some in here do, that's for sure.

 

[tlongII]

He seemed to take it pretty well last night.

 

[Cugel]

I think he knows this season is yet another throwaway year. No reason for Joe to blow his load at this deadline. Nothing would get this team past the second round. WCF is Denver and Phoenix.

 

[blazedanugz]

Considering we got a really good return for Josh…I think he’s happy

 

[Natebishop3]

I bet dame takes it a lot better than some in here do, that's for sure.

If I was being paid an obscene amount of money I would take it well too.

 

[Predator]

If you read the Quick article and Quotes, Dame seemed pretty fine with it.

Side note: Everyone praising the Suns seems to have forgotten that Durant demanded a trade there recently, and most likely demanded a trade after the Irving trade as well.

 

[Ripcity4life77]

Honestly Dame will not say anything during the season and I want to be wrong on this next part and hope I am wrong on this next part so so much BUT my prediction if the following does not happen by let's say Mid July ish

Also assuming nothing much else happens at this deadline too

-- Blazers somehow IF they miss the playoffs score a Top 3 pick in draft
-- Blazers use Nurk , Knicks pick ( assuming they make Playoffs ) and others ( Little etc ) to get another impact player
-- Jody Allen sells the team to someone who seems to care about winning and NOT just will they go into the TAX hell

and honestly cannot think of any other good things that could happen that could change the direction of the Blazers into a contender

ALSO maybe a couple things that could drive Dame to the decision we all know I am about to bring up

1) Grants leaves the Blazers and get ZERO in return
2) Billups is fired ( maybe )

If the direction of this team looks no different then it did last summer then and it hurts my soul to say this and I would not blame Dame but he asks for a trade

I want to be wrong on this and hope I am but after seeing what just happened IF Dame really wants a ring by the time he retires then this could happen but depends IF the chase for a ring is greater then his loyalty to the Blazers.

 

[Hoopguru]

Honestly Dame will not say anything during the season and I want to be wrong on this next part and hope I am wrong on this next part so so much BUT my prediction if the following does not happen by let's say Mid July ish

Also assuming nothing much else happens at this deadline too

-- Blazers somehow IF they miss the playoffs score a Top 3 pick in draft
-- Blazers use Nurk , Knicks pick ( assuming they make Playoffs ) and others ( Little etc ) to get another impact player
-- Jody Allen sells the team to someone who seems to care about winning and NOT just will they go into the TAX hell

and honestly cannot think of any other good things that could happen that could change the direction of the Blazers into a contender

ALSO maybe a couple things that could drive Dame to the decision we all know I am about to bring up

1) Grants leaves the Blazers and get ZERO in return
2) Billups is fired ( maybe )

If the direction of this team looks no different then it did last summer then and it hurts my soul to say this and I would not blame Dame but he asks for a trade

I want to be wrong on this and hope I am but after seeing what just happened IF Dame really wants a ring by the time he retires then this could happen but depends IF the chase for a ring is greater then his loyalty to the Blazers.

All it would take is for Dames wife to want to move elsewhere and puts the pressure on him to do so. Honey I want to move to South Beach and enjoy the fantastic weather, you're moms all in too.

 

[Boise Blazer]

I think Lillard has resigned himself to the hope of that one magical Dirk type of run for one championship. He knows its not this year. Sucks but I'm sure after 10+ years he understands it better

 

[KingSpeed]

Dame’s staying

 

[STOMP]

I could put up with a lot this year for 42.5 Million... so sorry if I don't view him as some sort of downtrodden victim.

STOMP

 

[wizenheimer]

I do find it a bit weird that some posters who have been big advocates of trading Dame are now trashing Cronin & the Blazers for not treating Dame right by trading role players and picks they don't have for all-stars

 

[Bingo Bango]

I think he knows this season is yet another throwaway year. No reason for Joe to blow his load at this deadline. Nothing would get this team past the second round. WCF is Denver and Phoenix.

You think we can get past Phoenix next year, or the year after?

 

[Blazinaway]

You think we can get past Phoenix next year, or the year after?

depends on PHX health, they are counting on a couple guys (Durant especially and Chris Paul) who are older and injury prone.

 

[Bingo Bango]

Considering we got a really good return for Josh…I think he’s happy

A really good return? The trade, however nice it was, is just tinkering around the edges. It’s not a difference maker. Portland fans can congratulate themselves for getting a good return for Josh Hart, but meanwhile Phoenix fans are celebrating getting Kevin Durant.

 

[Bingo Bango]

depends on PHX health, they are counting on a couple guys (Durant especially and Chris Paul) who are older and injury prone.

Give me a break. You can speculate all you want about the potential downside of the trade, but Phoenix has at least given themselves a shot at the title, while Portland is nowhere close to a title.

 

[Bingo Bango]

I could put up with a lot this year for 42.5 Million... so sorry if I don't view him as some sort of downtrodden victim.

Even fabulously wealthy players (and the NBA is full of them) want to win championships.

 

[blazedanugz]

A really good return? The trade, however nice it was, is just tinkering around the edges. It’s not a difference maker. Portland fans can congratulate themselves for getting a good return for Josh Hart, but meanwhile Phoenix fans are celebrating getting Kevin Durant.

Yes a good return. We got a valuable asset, in the best draft in years for an expiring contract. What did you expect to get from hart?
We now have 5 FRPs if we take protections off the bulls pick. If not and we do t make the playoffs then we have two picks in this deep draft

 

[wizenheimer]

A really good return? The trade, however nice it was, is just tinkering around the edges. It’s not a difference maker. Portland fans can congratulate themselves for getting a good return for Josh Hart, but meanwhile Phoenix fans are celebrating getting Kevin Durant.

If RealGm is any indication, there are a lot of Phoenix fans who hate the trade

 

[andalusian]

A really good return? The trade, however nice it was, is just tinkering around the edges. It’s not a difference maker. Portland fans can congratulate themselves for getting a good return for Josh Hart, but meanwhile Phoenix fans are celebrating getting Kevin Durant.

Just like Brooklyn fans celebrated getting Durant, Kyrie and Harden?

 

[blazerkor]

I think Dame is probably feeling so good about the state of his game that he just wants to get some playoff run in. If he can get that, even if it's a quick first round exit and the Knicks can get that then punting won't look so bad. We will have the Knicks' pick and the ability to trade the rights to the player we pick with it along with four FRPs, we'll still have Shae, we'll still have Ant and Nurk's contracts, we'll still be the only team that has Grant's bird rights, we'll have reset the repeater tax clock to where we can't be a repeater team until the new TV deal kicks in.

I'm not holding my breath that the most optimistic outlook on this is accurate but if the objective is trying to make this team a contender on draft day then we may have just done that but it would take a lot of guts to do the kind of things necessary on draft day that would make us relevant and Joe hasn't shown a lot of guts yet but that also doesn't mean he doesn't have them.

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

I think Dame is probably feeling so good about the state of his game that he just wants to get some playoff run in. If he can get that, even if it's a quick first round exit and the Knicks can get that then punting won't look so bad. We will have the Knicks' pick and the ability to trade the rights to the player we pick with it along with four FRPs, we'll still have Shae, we'll still have Ant and Nurk's contracts, we'll still be the only team that has Grant's bird rights, we'll have reset the repeater tax clock to where we can't be a repeater team until the new TV deal kicks in.

I'm not holding my breath that the most optimistic outlook on this is accurate but if the objective is trying to make this team a contender on draft day then we may have just done that but it would take a lot of guts to do the kind of things necessary on draft day that would make us relevant and Joe hasn't shown a lot of guts yet but that also doesn't mean he doesn't have them.

you keep saying we have four first round picks. Where did they come from?
What are you referring to?
If we do, why don't we consolidate and move up? Likely cant pry the number one pick but number 2?

you have thoroughly confused me on what assets we have currently.

 

[e_blazer]

Give me a break. You can speculate all you want about the potential downside of the trade, but Phoenix has at least given themselves a shot at the title, while Portland is nowhere close to a title.

Nobody who knows anything about the CBA and Portland’s assets thought that the goal for this season was to put together a contender by the trade deadline. Getting the pieces needed to contend is a chess game, not checkers. Cronin is still moving pawns to, hopefully, set things up for a bigger summer.

 

[wizenheimer]

you keep saying we have four first round picks. Where did they come from?
What are you referring to?
If we do, why don't we consolidate and move up? Likely cant pry the number one pick but number 2?

you have thoroughly confused me on what assets we have currently.

he's assuming the Blazers will make a deal with Chicago to lift protections on the 2023 first they owe. That would free up the 2025, 2027, & 2029 Blazer first round picks and be added to the Kincks pick they got yesterday

 

[Chris Craig]

He seemed to take the Cam Reddish trade well yesterday. He was nothing but a pro in his post game interviews. He understands it's a business. I think he understands there is way other teams get to easily trade for stars and contend while the Blazers have to build differently. He is loyal and patient. Can't ask for more from him.

Durant to Phoenix might sting a bit for him.