Lakers wanted to pair Dame with Lebron, Nets wanted to pair Dame with KD in 2019

[B-Roy]

https://theathletic.com/2023591/202...mian-lillards-bubble-greatness-shone-through/

A source with knowledge of Lillard’s situation said there was Lakers interest in a superstar pairing with Lillard and LeBron James before the Davis deal went down in June 2019. What’s more, the source said there was a Brooklyn Nets scenario that never evolved which could have paired Kevin Durant with Lillard last summer if only he’d shown any interest (this was before Kyrie Irving’s inclusion had truly crystallized). Of course some of the game’s biggest stars, and/or the power brokers tied to them, have inquired about the possibility of Lillard pushing his way out to come join them.

All it would have taken is for Lillard to send up that bat signal signifying he was ready for a change, and his tale could have turned. But he never did. After he signed that four-year, $196 million supermax extension in June 2019, and considering his level of personal investment in the Trail Blazers organization, coach Terry Stotts and teammates like C.J. McCollum and Nurkic, there’s no sign of that changing anytime soon.

We really got blessed with Dame. Holy shit.

 

[AldoTrapani]

https://theathletic.com/2023591/202...mian-lillards-bubble-greatness-shone-through/



We really got blessed with Dame. Holy shit.

WOW I really feel bad for this dude. This guy deserves so much better. I can’t believe he chooses to play for our incompetent organization.

What a loyal ass guy

 

[Rastapopoulos]

WOW I really feel bad for this dude. This guy deserves so much better. I can’t believe he chooses to play for our incompetent organization.

It's dumb to feel sorry for him - he chose this course, and he knows our limitations. Feel glad for us instead.

 

[Orion Bailey]

It's dumb to feel sorry for him - he chose this course, and he knows our limitations. Feel glad for us instead.

Some people see the glass half empty. Others see it half full. These two types will never think the same.

 

[Natebishop3]

And of course none of those fuckers will come here to play with him.

 

[Chris Craig]

Some people see the glass half empty. Others see it half full. These two types will never think the same.

Maybe there is just half a glass. Maybe it's not full or empty

 

[Chris Craig]

And of course none of those fuckers will come here to play with him.

Maybe eventually if some other star wants to play with him so bad, they will come here

 

[illmatic99]

now what can we do to bring one of those guys HERE, rather than the other way around

 

[Road Ratt]

Some people see the glass half empty. Others see it half full. These two types will never think the same.

Those of us who see the glass as refillable, can just keep drinking.

 

[B-Roy]

now what can we do to bring one of those guys HERE, rather than the other way around

Nothing. None of those guys would come here because they would be seen as the sidekick. Blazers are Dame's team. I'm sure part of it is that they wanted Dame to be the sidekick on THEIR team.

Not to mention the cap moves that it would require Neil to make. Ain't happening.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Maybe there is just half a glass. Maybe it's not full or empty

If its half a glass and half full then it woule be 100% full. ?Unless you meant in half in a way it cant hold anything.

Those of us who see the glass as refillable, can just keep drinking.

So its always full!! Nice!

 

[Cugel]

Seeing how two coaches just got axed, it's possible Terry will too. For better or worse. Brett Brown got hosed. A team with huge potential in young guys and the blow it on tobais harris and grandpa al horford-munster. Should have thrown the kitchen sink at Butler. but NOOOOO

 

[riverman]

every team in the league wanted to add Dame to the roster every season....he's made his choice....fuck em

 

[riverman]

Seeing how two coaches just got axed, it's possible Terry will too. For better or worse. Brett Brown got hosed. A team with huge potential in young guys and the blow it on tobais harris and grandpa al horford-munster. Should have thrown the kitchen sink at Butler. but NOOOOO

Brett Brown tanked that team for 4 seasons...he should have been fired...he also lost his lockerroom and his two best players don't like each other....that's hardly something a team wants to hang onto....Nate though had been with Pritchard for 11 seasons...that I didn't see coming

 

[Cugel]

But he didn't tank them, the front office did. And look what they got out of it, two perennial all stars.

 

[riverman]

But he didn't tank them, the front office did. And look what they got out of it, two perennial all stars.

He was part of it...he also lost his locker room....I'd fire him too and I'm not really impressed with his allstars either....they are not consistent from what I've seen

 

[Labinot41]

Unpopular oppinion:

Dame should have gone to the Lakers or Brooklyn. He deserves to play for a Championship and he deserves to play with elite Superstars, i can't watch it in the Playoffs when he gets doubled teamed every freaking possession and dumb motherfucker Stotts has no idea what to do!! Can you imagine Lillard with Lebron or Durant? Holy Shit, the opponent couldn't even think about to trap him. If he had gone to the Lakers, they could have gotten Davis this year as a free agent this year. Can you imagine LeBron, Davis and Lillard??? We're talking about Dinasty right here. Now don't get me wrong, i'm happy that he's so loyal and sticks with us, but i have zero confidence in the ownership, zero confidence in Neil Olshey to build a Championship team and i have zero confidence in Stotts to coach a team into a Championship. If we all want the best for Dame he should have taken the offer

 

[Orion Bailey]

Unpopular oppinion:

Dame should have gone to the Lakers or Brooklyn. He deserves to play for a Championship and he deserves to play with elite Superstars, i can't watch it in the Playoffs when he gets doubled teamed every freaking possession and dumb motherfucker Stotts has no idea what to do!! Can you imagine Lillard with Lebron or Durant? Holy Shit, the opponent couldn't even think about to trap him. If he had gone to the Lakers, they could have gotten Davis this year as a free agent this year. Can you imagine LeBron, Davis and Lillard??? We're talking about Dinasty right here. Now don't get me wrong, i'm happy that he's so loyal and sticks with us, but i have zero confidence in the ownership, zero confidence in Neil Olshey to build a Championship team and i have zero confidence in Stotts to coach a team into a Championship. If we all want the best for Dame he should have taken the offer

Maybe Dame is a little more realistic than most of the fans saying what you are saying?

Maybe he doesnt forget how Paul George teamed up with Westbrick and that didnt work. Or how Dwight Howard teamed up with James Harden and how that didnt work. Or how CP3 teamed up with Harden and that didnt work. Or how Payton teamed up with Malone and that didnt work.

Just because you pair a couple superstars together doesn't always equate to a ring. Maybe Dame sees that and says IF im going to be paired up, ill let them pair me up here in Portland.

 

[riverman]

Unpopular oppinion:

Dame should have gone to the Lakers or Brooklyn. He deserves to play for a Championship and he deserves to play with elite Superstars, i can't watch it in the Playoffs when he gets doubled teamed every freaking possession and dumb motherfucker Stotts has no idea what to do!! Can you imagine Lillard with Lebron or Durant? Holy Shit, the opponent couldn't even think about to trap him. If he had gone to the Lakers, they could have gotten Davis this year as a free agent this year. Can you imagine LeBron, Davis and Lillard??? We're talking about Dinasty right here. Now don't get me wrong, i'm happy that he's so loyal and sticks with us, but i have zero confidence in the ownership, zero confidence in Neil Olshey to build a Championship team and i have zero confidence in Stotts to coach a team into a Championship. If we all want the best for Dame he should have taken the offer

Nobody wants to give the Lakers a superteam...especially Blazer fans...fuck that

 

[Natebishop3]

Maybe Dame is a little more realistic than most of the fans saying what you are saying?

Maybe he doesnt forget how Paul George teamed up with Westbrick and that didnt work. Or how Dwight Howard teamed up with James Harden and how that didnt work. Or how CP3 teamed up with Harden and that didnt work. Or how Payton teamed up with Malone and that didnt work.

Just because you pair a couple superstars together doesn't always equate to a ring. Maybe Dame sees that and says IF im going to be paired up, ill let them pair me up here in Portland.

What's your bar for "didn't work?"

The Lakers got to the finals with Patyon/Kobe/Malone/Shaq.

The Rockets had the best record in the league with Paul and Harden and barely lost to the Warriors in the WCF.

 

[Orion Bailey]

What's your bar for "didn't work?"

The Lakers got to the finals with Patyon/Kobe/Malone/Shaq.

The Rockets had the best record in the league with Paul and Harden and barely lost to the Warriors in the WCF.

The post I responded to was talking about championships. So none of them worked because none of them got a ring.

Payton and Malone had already been to the finals, so they did not get any further than they did with their own team once they paired up. Shaq and Kobe had already won on their own so this was a downgrade for them.

 

[Natebishop3]

The post I responded to was talking about championships. So none of them worked because none of them got a ring.

Payton and Malone had already been to the finals, so they did not get any further than they did with their own team once they paired up. Shaq and Kobe had already won on their own so this was a downgrade for them.

Ah, ok.

Well, LeBron and Wade and Bosh joined forces and got a couple rings.

LeBron joined up with Kyrie and Love and got a ring.

Technically Paul was dealt to the Rockets before signing there, so I guess we could say that Kawhi joined up with Lowry and got a ring. Garnett and Allen joined up with Pierce and got a ring. Or are you specifically thinking of free agents joining together?

 

[Orion Bailey]

Ah, ok.

Well, LeBron and Wade and Bosh joined forces and got a couple rings.

LeBron joined up with Kyrie and Love and got a ring.

Technically Paul was dealt to the Rockets before signing there, so I guess we could say that Kawhi joined up with Lowry and got a ring. Garnett and Allen joined up with Pierce and got a ring. Or are you specifically thinking of free agents joining together?

Either or. And by no means am I saying it doesnt or wont work. KD did it with the warriors. But to just say he will get a ring if he were to team up, I think is not accurate. It doesn't guarantee a ring.

 

[illmatic99]

Not to mention the cap moves that it would require Neil to make. Ain't happening.

Cap doesn't mean shit. If these guys want to pair up and play on a team, it gets done. Agents can control a lot of the movement. We've seen that over the past decade.

The key is finding the right guy who wants to play with Dame and respects him. Some names I think might be applicable just based on comments on social and whatnot that stick out to me recently:
-Devin Booker (such much love between the two over the past year or so)
-Draymond Green (weirdly)
-Bogdan Bogdanovic (lol)
-Derozan (same agency as Dame too)
-Aldridge

 

[Chris Craig]

People in hell want ice water

 

[BlazerWookee]

Ummm... duh?

 

[julius]

And of course none of those fuckers will come here to play with him.

exactly!!

Granted, Portland never has the cap space at the right time..but let's be honest, none of those fuckers would ever play in Portland even if they had 2 max slots open.

 

[Tince]

Unpopular oppinion:

Dame should have gone to the Lakers or Brooklyn. He deserves to play for a Championship and he deserves to play with elite Superstars, i can't watch it in the Playoffs when he gets doubled teamed every freaking possession and dumb motherfucker Stotts has no idea what to do!! Can you imagine Lillard with Lebron or Durant? Holy Shit, the opponent couldn't even think about to trap him. If he had gone to the Lakers, they could have gotten Davis this year as a free agent this year. Can you imagine LeBron, Davis and Lillard??? We're talking about Dinasty right here. Now don't get me wrong, i'm happy that he's so loyal and sticks with us, but i have zero confidence in the ownership, zero confidence in Neil Olshey to build a Championship team and i have zero confidence in Stotts to coach a team into a Championship. If we all want the best for Dame he should have taken the offer

If we take Dame at his word, he values acheiving as much as he can with the core he started with. He could've left Weber St to win an NCAA championship, but didn't. I think Dame should walk on his own two feet and if he doesn't feel like jumping teams to chase rings, who are we to tell him what he should do?

 

[hoopsjock]

If we take Dame at his word, he values acheiving as much as he can with the core he started with. He could've left Weber St to win an NCAA championship, but didn't. I think Dame should walk on his own two feet and if he doesn't feel like jumping teams to chase rings, who are we to tell him what he should do?

If Dame was to win a ring in Portland it would surpass both the Dallas title in 2011 and the Cleveland title in 2016 as the most improbable title in recent history.

I have way more respect for a star who doesn't take the easy way out. Dame knows it's going to be incredibly difficult but he accepts the challenge to be great. Having to join LeBron to win is a weak loser mentality.

I'm proud to root for Dame.

 

[e_blazer]

If Dame was to win a ring in Portland it would surpass both the Dallas title in 2011 and the Cleveland title in 2016 as the most improbable title in recent history.

I have way more respect for a star who doesn't take the easy way out. Dame knows it's going to be incredibly difficult but he accepts the challenge to be great. Having to join LeBron to win is a weak loser mentality.

I'm proud to root for Dame.

Me too, but I hope the Blazers are realistic about it. He's got 3-5 more years as a top-tier point guard. Build a team capable of truly challenging for a title inside that window, or trade Dame for both his and the team's benefit. I'm really hoping for the title-contender, but I want Dame to have that chance elsewhere if it can't be done here. I also don't want the Blazers to fritter away the return in assets that could be obtained by trading a top-level superstar.