The funniest part about some people in here taking Joe's side is that they completely ignore that yesterday when Woj was asked if he could see Dame returning Woj said he couldn't because neither side is interested in that. If Joe didn't want Dame out why wouldn't he want Dame to change his mind? And Woj is carrying Joe's water.
I disagree. I think backchannel communication needs to be made between the two parties to lower the temperature. Dame has to see he's destroying his legacy at Bud Light speed with his demand.
I'm not pissed at Dame for trying to get where he wants. I want Joe to make the best trade possible. I'd like for it to be to a team where Dame can win because I'm still a Dame fan but I don't give a damn if it's to the Heat. Dame should try to get himself to the best situation possible. We should not care about accommodating him. I'm not mad at Joe for how he is handling things now and I'm not mad at Dame either even though they're now pitted against each other.
Can't you see how you're being anchored by Riley? Jovic and Jaquez? Those are role players at best. Robinson has one of the worst contracts in the League. Lowry doesn't help us.
Right. For those few people that want the team to make a bad deal with Miami just to make Dame happy, that's some bullshit. Otherwise, seeing both sides doesn't make anyone less of a fan. I get why Dame is doing what he is doing and don't blame him for it and I'm hoping Joe doesn't cave to it one little bit.
You may have mis-read my post. If any of Herro, Lowry or Robinson actually ends up in Portland, I will be supremely dissatisfied. The necessary salary filler from Miami needs to end up somewhere else, and the pieces coming back to Portland need to either be reasonably-costed or short-term contracts on young players (like Simmons).
Agreed. It feels uncomfortable and wrong. Like underwear riding up your crack.
Why do people keep asking these questions? We don't fucking know but we do know other teams with similar if not worse assets have pulled off win now trades during the last year and a half. So I don't know what deals were out there, I don't know who Joe tried and failed to get. I just know that he said one thing and did the opposite. I'm not even saying that was the worst move for the team. It was just the worst way to handle things if he didn't want to lose Dame. Joe has probably actually been really smart he's just been very opaque about his plans and that is why I don't blame Dame for doing whatever the fuck he wants to get wherever the fuck he wants.
There's a midpoint where both sides win. The meeting could have concluded with a "mutual agreement" where both sides acknowledge it was time to move on from one another. We would try to send Dame to the best situation for him, and Dame thanked the Blazers, the fans, and the front office for trying to do right by him. No specific destination requests (although those could be communicated behind the scenes)
And Dame is partially to blame for that. His public utterances have kneecapped our front office for a year and a half. If he just would have kept quiet in public (push hard behind the scenes), our front office could have been dealing from a position of strength.
The way out of that box is just to refuse to accept a deal that doesn't meet a certain standard (e.g., Durant level). Just be patient and make clear that Dame is still a valued member of this franchise. Lillard won't sit or play half-a**ed. He'll kill himself to play so well teams will offer us the moon for him, and it will be to a contender.
I've noticed a couple things since the Lillard trade request. First, the barricade holding back Blazer fans that just want to fight and argue has been weaponized. This isn't basketball right now, it's getting dirty, it's getting personal. Blazer fans that simply compliment Lillard for having a great career in Portland are walking on eggshells. Best advice is to hide in the cellar until the angry hoard passes by.
