Notice Joe Cronin Press Conference

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I was in a loud casino when I listened to this live, so I didn't get a chance to hear all of the details. Re-listening to it again, here are a few of my take-aways:
- Joe comes across as very honest and transparent. I want to root for him.
- I like how he constantly notes doing the right thing for the team. Not looking for the short-term band-aid.
- I like his attitude that the Blazers will be in the win-now mode very soon with Anf/Sharpe/Scoot.
- When questioned about his communication with Dame, I found his comment about "finally hearing the truth ..." (9:44) then quickly changed that to "finally face that reality..." Hmm. Does Joe feel that Dame wasn't always telling 'the truth'? Not sure if that was a bit of a slip.

Dame has been my favorite player for many years. It hurts to see this play out. Personally, I hope Dame finds a good landing spot. But I'm a Blazer fan first and liked what I heard from Joe. Let's maximize this return even if it takes months. If necessary, let's keep Dame into the start of next season. Joe holds most of the cards here. Listening to the national media, they frame it like the Blazers have no options.

How Joe handles this situation will define the course of this franchise for years to come. As Joe said, this is the time to "Be really diligent. Take our time. Not being impulsive... Be patient. Do what's best for the team." (12:39)

Now it's time to back up those words, Joe.
 
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Wow. They were not happy. Grant especially. Awkward!

That idiot said to two NBA veterans that they were being "added to" a 19 year old and a 20 year old: a rookie and a second year rookie. I could feel the heat coming through the screen on my phone.
 
BBert said:
Wow. They were not happy. Grant especially. Awkward!

That idiot said to two NBA veterans that they were being "added to" a 19 year old and a 20 year old: a rookie and a second year rookie. I could feel the heat coming through the screen on my phone.
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I can't believe Fentress actually went there...talk about sucking the joy out of the occassion for Grant and Thybulle....fuck that guy! He should lose his press pass.
 
Natebishop3 said:
What kind of reporter starts a question with "the fans think"
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Yep.

Not a popular question, but a fair question, and, of course, as a beat writer, you are a conduit between the team and the fans, so you're wasting air to own that. Just ask the question straightforward and professionally and be done with it, You don't need to qualify it ... it makes one look weak.

Always makes me think of "Moneyball" when they cut or trade guys. People don't like bad news, so just get it over with. When I'd write something and I'd get a call at the office or approached at a game by either a coach or fan that didn't like it, I gave an honest answer without himming and hawwing, because they weren't going to care for my answer whether I tried to butter them up or not, but, at least the one way I still retained an air of confidence, credibility and professionalism.
 
wizenheimer said:
Fentress....goodgawdallmighty

just when you think Portland sports reporting can't get worse, it gets worse

think about it....that means there's somebody on the horizon worse than Fentress
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You never heard of Canzano?
(Though not a "reporter" he does report on sports news.)
 
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Better ways to ask the same question ....

"Guys, with so much of the talk surrounding the team being about Dame's trade request right now, how do you balance the emotions of signing big contracts and helping secure your own future with what's being said nationally about the Blazers?"

"Jerami, Matisse, while this is a big day for both of you, obviously this stands to be a very different Blazer team in the upcoming season. How are you viewing what your role might be on the first Blazer team in 12 years without Damian Lillard?"

"Congratulations on the new contracts, fellas. Clearly, Blazer management felt you were guys it wanted here as it embarks on what figures to be a challenging season and a Portland team with a very different identity than it's had in a while. What would your response be to those who don't think it can compete consistently in the West, and how are you preparing for the season while all the talk about a Dame move is filling the papers and airwaves?"
 
wizenheimer said:
posters here aren't paid for their takes; aren't paid for their analysis; aren't paid for what they write. Fentress is
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So much this. Either we should all be getting paid, or Fentress should be relegated to a message board. That wasn't the best comparison.
 
Seems like if you have work/explored 12 potential deals, something should have been agree on? Even if they involved our 2nd & 3rd pick plus some?
 
Does anyone have concerns about Joe being able to negotiate trades?
He a super nice dude and is probably great with numbers and talent evaluation but can he negotiated effectively with other GM's?
 
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Hoopguru said:
Does anyone have concerns about Joe being able to negotiate trades?
He a super nice dude and is probably great with numbers and tent evacuation but can he negotiated effectively with other GM's?
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The Clippers trade is open for criticism, plenty of it apparently. But even the critics admit Cronin probably had Vulcans sitting on his shoulder squawking about luxury taxes

but other than that:

* The CJ/Nance trade was fine; in fact it was a good one only made a little less good by Paul George getting Covid
* and welded to the CJ trade was the Grant trade. Blazers got him for a 2025 protected 1st and a TPE
* trading Payton for 2nd and a TPE was fine too, although Payton should have never been a Blazer
* With Cronin's recent statement that Hart asked for a trade, back east apparently, the Hart trade was a good trade. Getting Thybulle and a 1st for Hart is decent value

so I'm not getting a reason to worry other than it's Cronin vs Pat Riley...yeah, that's a concern

also, you might have to give Cronin a little credit for trades not made around Portland's last 2 draft picks
 
for the blame-Cronin people:



that's actually a revealing compilation

and it probably explains some of Dame's anger

but it sure doesn't justify what his agent is doing
 
wizenheimer said:
for the blame-Cronin people:



that's actually a revealing compilation

and it probably explains some of Dame's anger

but it sure doesn't justify what his agent is doing
Click to expand...

for someone learning the job of a gm its much safer and easier to get into a rebuild mode with youth. Nothing wrong with that if it's the goal.

Joe seems to be a very methodical person and as he mentioned the teams that have done well are the ones that take time and be patient. The slow go approach.
The goal post changed after #3 and he probably convinced Jody that its an opportunity to shift gears.
Wish the team would get new owners and really wipe the slate clean. And a GM that can be aggressive.
 
wizenheimer said:
for the blame-Cronin people:



that's actually a revealing compilation

and it probably explains some of Dame's anger

but it sure doesn't justify what his agent is doing
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I get it, but the team simply doesn't have any assets for trades. Simons seems to have very little value around the league. Nurk isn't going to bring back a big piece. So the two "chips" as it were was Sharpe and the third pick, which ended up being Scoot.

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what Cronin wants or what Dame wants, it's what's best for the team. I think that's what a lot of the hardcore Dame fans just aren't getting. If Cronin pushed in all his chips (meaning everything not named Dame) and he went out and got a player like Siakam, or Jaylen Brown, or even Paul George, would this team be a contender? Probably not. This team was/is so far away from competing for a championship that it's hilarious. Cronin had to tear down the remnants of the Neil Olshey show and unfortunately that takes time. It's going to take time to amass assets again. It's going to take time to get our picks back from Chicago.

It seems like some people wanted to buy another ticket to ride the Damian Lillard treadmill train for just a little bit longer, and some of us are/were ready to get off that train. It's sad to see things end, but time waits for nobody. Now it's all aboard the Scoot Wagon!
 
Natebishop3 said:
I get it, but the team simply doesn't have any assets for trades. Simons seems to have very little value around the league. Nurk isn't going to bring back a big piece. So the two "chips" as it were was Sharpe and the third pick, which ended up being Scoot.

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what Cronin wants or what Dame wants, it's what's best for the team. I think that's what a lot of the hardcore Dame fans just aren't getting. If Cronin pushed in all his chips (meaning everything not named Dame) and he went out and got a player like Siakam, or Jaylen Brown, or even Paul George, would this team be a contender? Probably not. This team was/is so far away from competing for a championship that it's hilarious. Cronin had to tear down the remnants of the Neil Olshey show and unfortunately that takes time. It's going to take time to amass assets again. It's going to take time to get our picks back from Chicago.

It seems like some people wanted to buy another ticket to ride the Damian Lillard treadmill train for just a little bit longer, and some of us are/were ready to get off that train. It's sad to see things end, but time waits for nobody. Now it's all aboard the Scoot Wagon!
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I think the point, for those that compiled that video, is that if Cronin was saying those things publicly he was almost certainly saying those things privately to Dame; and had been saying them for 18 months. Dame's perspective might have blinded him to the team's needs, but that perspective was probably stoked by things that Cronin told him

for instance, we heard that the Blazers might have been able to trade Ant +3 + filler for Siakam but Siakam would not commit to re-signing with any team. Declining that trade would have made good sense for Portland. But I sure can see how declining the trade would have looked like Cronin going back on his word to Dame if he did say all those things to Dame in private. Especially if what Sly reported was said in the meeting on the 26th and what Dame's agent found out later
 
Why do so many people say that the trailblazers are rebuilding?

I don't see any indication of that, and
Joe has said that Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe will be ready to win now sooner than you think.
 
wizenheimer said:
I think the point, for those that compiled that video, is that if Cronin was saying those things publicly he was almost certainly saying those things privately to Dame; and had been saying them for 18 months. Dame's perspective might have blinded him to the team's needs, but that perspective was probably stoked by things that Cronin told him

for instance, we heard that the Blazers might have been able to trade Ant +3 + filler for Siakam but Siakam would not commit to re-signing with any team. Declining that trade would have made good sense for Portland. But I sure can see how declining the trade would have looked like Cronin going back on his word to Dame if he did say all those things to Dame in private. Especially if what Sly reported was said in the meeting on the 26th and what Dame's agent found out later
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I just don't think he was lying as some people are screaming at the heavens. I think he was naïve to the reality of what could be done.

I have speculated that Joe was doing a shadow rebuild, because most of the moves don't make sense if you're trying to build around Dame, but why keep Dame? What would be the point of keeping him on the team if you're trying to rebuild? I try to look at motive and I don't see it. Unless Joe was being nefarious and his intention was to force Dame to ask for a trade so that Dame could be the bad guy. I guess that's possible. He doesn't seem like he's the kind of person to do that though. That's the kind of thing that I could totally see Neil doing.

Occam's Razor... The explanation that requires the fewest assumptions is usually correct. I think Joe is an inexperienced GM, I think he's making moves that he thinks are the most logical and as he even said, he thought he was building but Dame didn't see it that way. It seems like he thought he could get more done than he could. Some people are naturally good at sales and negotiation. I don't get that impression from Joe. He strikes me as a numbers guy. I could see Dame feeling very betrayed because he trusted Joe, and Joe just can't deliver what he thought he could.
 
Natebishop3 said:
I just don't think he was lying as some people are screaming at the heavens. I think he was naïve to the reality of what could be done.

I have speculated that Joe was doing a shadow rebuild, because most of the moves don't make sense if you're trying to build around Dame, but why keep Dame? What would be the point of keeping him on the team if you're trying to rebuild? I try to look at motive and I don't see it. Unless Joe was being nefarious and his intention was to force Dame to ask for a trade so that Dame could be the bad guy. I guess that's possible. He doesn't seem like he's the kind of person to do that though. That's the kind of thing that I could totally see Neil doing.

Occam's Razor... The explanation that requires the fewest assumptions is usually correct. I think Joe is an inexperienced GM, I think he's making moves that he thinks are the most logical and as he even said, he thought he was building but Dame didn't see it that way. It seems like he thought he could get more done than he could. Some people are naturally good at sales and negotiation. I don't get that impression from Joe. He strikes me as a numbers guy. I could see Dame feeling very betrayed because he trusted Joe, and Joe just can't deliver what he thought he could.
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I think it’s more a case of the market driving Joe’s decisions at the past two drafts. Last year, I think it’s pretty clear that Joe intended to trade the 7th pick. The Blazers saw Sharpe as the BPA and picked him. In a lot of ways he was a question mark because he had no college experience. Other teams wouldn’t give Joe the experienced star he was looking for in return so Joe kept Sharpe.

This year, I think Joe also intended to trade the pick up until the time the lottery netted the Blazers the 3rd pick. Suddenly, Joe’s expectations for a return on a guy like Scoot or Miller went through the ceiling. At the same time, other GMs knew Joe was in a bind with Dame and played hardball, not offering what Joe expected as fair value. So, here we sit after 2 drafts with the roster somewhat unintentionally 2/5’s rebuilt and our All-Star demanding a trade.
 
Natebishop3 said:
I just don't think he was lying as some people are screaming at the heavens. I think he was naïve to the reality of what could be done.

I have speculated that Joe was doing a shadow rebuild, because most of the moves don't make sense if you're trying to build around Dame, but why keep Dame? What would be the point of keeping him on the team if you're trying to rebuild? I try to look at motive and I don't see it. Unless Joe was being nefarious and his intention was to force Dame to ask for a trade so that Dame could be the bad guy. I guess that's possible. He doesn't seem like he's the kind of person to do that though. That's the kind of thing that I could totally see Neil doing.

Occam's Razor... The explanation that requires the fewest assumptions is usually correct. I think Joe is an inexperienced GM, I think he's making moves that he thinks are the most logical and as he even said, he thought he was building but Dame didn't see it that way. It seems like he thought he could get more done than he could. Some people are naturally good at sales and negotiation. I don't get that impression from Joe. He strikes me as a numbers guy. I could see Dame feeling very betrayed because he trusted Joe, and Joe just can't deliver what he thought he could.
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I don't think Cronin ended up doing a shadow rebuild. I believe he believes he is retooling to win now with Dame. This is what Golden State was doing.
We'll see if he even goes to rebuild mode with Dame gone. By his words and actions, I don't think he is intending to tank.
If Nurk and Grant get traded for draft picks, that would be a rebuild.
 
Hoopguru said:
Seems like if you have work/explored 12 potential deals, something should have been agree on? Even if they involved our 2nd & 3rd pick plus some?
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Obviously, that can't be assumed. And doubtful anyone on this board knows how many potential deals are discussed that don't get done.

Of course, the other side of this is that Cronin got dragged ... and rightly so ... for his trades with the Clippers and Pelicans because he acted too quickly and didn't get a good return. Now some who skewered him about that are skewering him for not making a trade and accepting a poor return.

Cronin can't win.
 
wizenheimer said:
for the blame-Cronin people:



that's actually a revealing compilation

and it probably explains some of Dame's anger

but it sure doesn't justify what his agent is doing
Click to expand...


Eh. It's a bunch of soundbytes taken out of context and without knowing some of the things he knows now. And that's great if you're trying to push a narrative and don't want to consider all the factors. It's glitzy. It lacks substance, but it definitely will rile up those who want to be riled up.

It really doesn't explain someone's anger to me unless they're looking for a reason to be angry.
 
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