Lillard wants major trade this summer

[SlyPokerDog]

You have to actually HAVE talent to make a major trade though right?

No wonder your wife can't trade you.

 

[BigGameDamian]

If the Timberwolves are going to trade Towns this summer, should we be interested? I think it would be a good risk. Dame might be exactly what Towns needs.

 

[MickZagger]

or draft picks and friendly or expiring contracts, youth,,,,,Ant will fetch you talent coming back.

Yeah the youth and ball handling/creating opportunities of Simons could really entice a team that feels he could grow into being a primary scoring guard. Like CJ his value will be at its highest before he’s really a proven commodity.

 

[Haakzilla]

If the Timberwolves are going to trade Towns this summer, should we be interested? I think it would be a good risk. Dame might be exactly what Towns needs.

...idk, KAT seems to have weak mentals and plays softer than Lamarshmallow ever did

 

[Mediocre Man]

https://clutchpoints.com/blazers-news-damian-lillard-sends-aggressive-message-to-front-office

“That means we go into the offseason and we don’t come out the way we have in the past,” Lillard said. “Where it’s like, ‘Oh, we’re going to try to do something,’ and then we watch other people capitalize on things that are out there, and we pass, pass, pass, pass and can’t get anything done and then it’s done.”

Sounds like he’s not thrilled with Cronin.

Cronin has had 1 fucking off-season, and while he’s been a tad underwhelming, brought us one of the higher rated players we’ve gotten.

He’s not talking about Cronin

 

[riverman]

This off season the Blazer bashing side of sports media is going to rumor Dame deals all day long trying to pry him loose from here. Hopefully he will just shut out the noise because in the end thar's all it is. I still think talent will want to play with Dame in Portland once their super teams fail to get rings in big markets which is going to happen to at least 4 teams this season. This can only happen if the front office is willing to go into the tax to build a deep talented team.

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

This off season the Blazer bashing side of sports media is going to rumor Dame deals all day long trying to pry him loose from here. Hopefully he will just shut out the noise because in the end thar's all it is. I still think talent will want to play with Dame in Portland once their super teams fail to get rings in big markets which is going to happen to at least 4 teams this season. This can only happen if the front office is willing to go into the tax to build a deep talented team.

Well, that's the issue isn't it? Will Jody and The Vulcans be able to stick a crowbar in their wallet......if we keep hearing whimpering about staying out of the tax we may as well get comfortable as the new Kings.

 

[riverman]

Well, that's the issue isn't it? Will Jody and The Vulcans be able to stick a crowbar in their wallet......if we keep hearing whimpering about staying out of the tax we may as well get comfortable as the new Kings.

All we need in that case is a G league team called the Eugene Edibles and I'll be a season ticket holder!

 

[Bingo Bango]

dame lillard doesnt care about the future of this franchise . . . im not giving up on our future for an unrealistic goal of one man

What future? Portland hasn’t had a future in a long time. It’s been years of mediocrity, with an ever-revolving door of ho-hum players. I would give up any amount of draft picks to get a legitimate shot at a title with Lillard. I don’t care if Portland sucks for a long time after they win their title: they’ve been sucking for a long time anyway.

 

[Cugel]

If the Timberwolves are going to trade Towns this summer, should we be interested? I think it would be a good risk. Dame might be exactly what Towns needs.

You have to take that risk.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

dame lillard doesnt care about the future of this franchise

Players like Isiah Rider, Bonzi, Ruben Patterson, those are the types of players who didn't care about the franchise.

Lillard obviously cares about the franchise, the community, the city, and the state.

When was the last time a Blazer star moved his entire family here including his parents? Didn't catch the first flight out of Portland the moment the season was over? Invested and was hands-on in running businesses locally? Donated thousands of hours to local schools and organizations like Special Olympics?

He's put his money, his time, and his effort where his heart is and that's Portland.

 

[THE HCP]

or draft picks and friendly or expiring contracts, youth,,,,,Ant will fetch you talent coming back.

Oh I thought Dame wanted a “MAJOR TRADE”. You’re talking about “fetching talent”?

 

[Strenuus]

What future? Portland hasn’t had a future in a long time. It’s been years of mediocrity, with an ever-revolving door of ho-hum players. I would give up any amount of draft picks to get a legitimate shot at a title with Lillard. I don’t care if Portland sucks for a long time after they win their title: they’ve been sucking for a long time anyway.

Yeah, you definitely wouldn't care if they sucked for years after saying youre done with them sucking for years.

 

[Strenuus]

Players like Isiah Rider, Bonzi, Ruben Patterson, those are the types of players who didn't care about the franchise.

Lillard obviously cares about the franchise, the community, the city, and the state.

When was the last time a Blazer star moved his entire family here including his parents? Didn't catch the first flight out of Portland the moment the season was over? Invested and was hands-on in running businesses locally? Donated thousands of hours to local schools and organizations like Special Olympics?

He's put his money, his time, and his effort where his heart is and that's Portland.

It's why I laugh at everyone who's never satisfied.

 

[riverman]

Oh I thought Dame wanted a “MAJOR TRADE”. You’re talking about “fetching talent”?

?? I think it was pretty clear that talent can be acquired with $$ and Dame's leadership alone but you have to move a good player to get a good player..an impact player. Don't think the Suns ever thought KD, Kyrie and Harden would all bail on the Nets in the biggest market in the league but...hey...shit happens. Money talks and you know the rest. If the Bucks fail, Giannis loves Dame...just sayin'

 

[Blazinaway]

?? I think it was pretty clear that talent can be acquired with $$ and Dame's leadership alone but you have to move a good player to get a good player..an impact player. Don't think the Suns ever thought KD, Kyrie and Harden would all bail on the Nets in the biggest market in the league but...hey...shit happens. Money talks and you know the rest. If the Bucks fail, Giannis loves Dame...just sayin'

Maybe and maybe not, have not seen any sign that ownership will go significantly into the tax to make a big move, seems they are happy with middle of the road mediocrity and counting their profits

 

[riverman]

Maybe and maybe not, have not seen any sign that ownership will go significantly into the tax to make a big move, seems they are happy with middle of the road mediocrity and counting their profits

I think that's an old narrative at this point. Joe has spoken about it and said for the right talent, money isn't going to be an issue. This isn't the Neil Olshey front office anymore.

 

[Ed O]

Players like Isiah Rider, Bonzi, Ruben Patterson, those are the types of players who didn't care about the franchise.

Lillard obviously cares about the franchise, the community, the city, and the state.

When was the last time a Blazer star moved his entire family here including his parents? Didn't catch the first flight out of Portland the moment the season was over? Invested and was hands-on in running businesses locally? Donated thousands of hours to local schools and organizations like Special Olympics?

He's put his money, his time, and his effort where his heart is and that's Portland.

All of this is true, and very admirable.

But it's not inconsistent with not caring about the future of the franchise (which is what you quoted). He presumably would be fine with the Blazers having no young players and no future draft picks when he retired (or otherwise left the Blazers). I don't blame him, mind you, but the franchise should consider what will happen after he's gone in a way that he doesn't have to.

 

[KingSpeed]

Players like Isiah Rider, Bonzi, Ruben Patterson, those are the types of players who didn't care about the franchise.
.

I would trade Ant/Sharpe for those 3 guys in their prime. They’re exactly what we need.

Dame/Arci/Keon
Rider/Ruben/Cam
Bonzi/Cam
Grant/Walker/TWat
Nurk/Drew

 

[SlyPokerDog]

All of this is true, and very admirable.

But it's not inconsistent with not caring about the future of the franchise (which is what you quoted). He presumably would be fine with the Blazers having no young players and no future draft picks when he retired (or otherwise left the Blazers). I don't blame him, mind you, but the franchise should consider what will happen after he's gone in a way that he doesn't have to.

Caring about young players and draft picks when his tenure in Portland has ended is not a player's job.

His job is to show up, play hard, be a leader on and off the court, and do what he can on the court to win games.

When hasn't he done that?

While I'm not sure exactly what your stance is, I've seen a few say he's hurting the future of the team by not demanding a trade. That's such a weird position.

 

[PDXFonz]

Reads to me like

“Make a move or I’m gone because I’m tired of sitting around and watching these other teams make moves and improve while we stay stagnant”

Couldn’t fault or blame him

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

Dammit Dame!!! You hate our city!!!!

 

[Mr. Robot]

Players like Isiah Rider, Bonzi, Ruben Patterson, those are the types of players who didn't care about the franchise.

Lillard obviously cares about the franchise, the community, the city, and the state.

When was the last time a Blazer star moved his entire family here including his parents? Didn't catch the first flight out of Portland the moment the season was over? Invested and was hands-on in running businesses locally? Donated thousands of hours to local schools and organizations like Special Olympics?

He's put his money, his time, and his effort where his heart is and that's Portland.

while all of that is true, you didnt understand what i said

i didnt say he doesnt care about the franchise, i said he doesnt care about the future of this franchise and by trading sharpe or ant (or both) + many 1st round picks for another all-star player would put this franchise in a dark place once dame is gone and as a fan of this franchise, i wouldnt want them to do that... if there is a chance trail blazers can become a contender (not pretender, which is exactly what we would become), id say go for it

sharpe is a project, he could become an all-star or he could become just a solid player, its impossible to know at this stage (but we can see that the kid is really talented) and im simply unwilling to trade him for a guy like siakam or og anunoby (maybe they can get better player, i dont know, but these two were often mentioned as our potential targets)

 

[glazeduck]

Here's what I want to know, because there's a ton of nuance and context that's getting completely ignored in this discussion:

• Where's the cutoff for the guys who are worth going all in for? To me, anyway, that needs to be above Siakam.
  
  
• Then there's positionality. Obviously another small, ball-dominant guard isn't going to work, so I think the initial list gets cut roughly in half.
  
  
• Then, who's realistically feasible to include on that list? Of the maybe 20-25 guys on the list, you can take off probably half as franchise cornerstones. Of course there are surprises every year, but who are the players who clear the "worth it" point above who might be realistically be available and how does that play out? I could see an argument for Kawhi and Giannis making that list, maybe Bam and/or Butler? Notice these are all Eastern Conf. players?
  
  
• Aggressively, that list is maybe 8-10 names long now. As others have mentioned, there are other teams who have more appealing assets than us, so who, among those maybe-10 names is either not good enough for the OKCs and Houstons to want to pursue, or would actually demand a trade directly to us?
  
  
• From there, the impending sale of the franchise needs to be considered. Certainly a championship contender would be appealing, so would a team with with a bunch of draft picks and young/cheap assets. Hard to see the ownership signing off on a major move that leaves us high and dry if they think it falls short of putting us squarely into the picture.

Not trying to be pessimistic here, just realistic. Unless Giannis or Embiid decide they want to play with Dame, and specifically Dame, I'm not seeing a lot of viable options for a big "all-in" move.

 

[blazerkor]

Here's what I want to know, because there's a ton of nuance and context that's getting completely ignored in this discussion:

• Where's the cutoff for the guys who are worth going all in for? To me, anyway, that needs to be above Siakam.
  
  
• Then there's positionality. Obviously another small, ball-dominant guard isn't going to work, so I think the initial list gets cut roughly in half.
  
  
• Then, who's realistically feasible to include on that list? Of the maybe 20-25 guys on the list, you can take off probably half as franchise cornerstones. Of course there are surprises every year, but who are the players who clear the "worth it" point above who might be realistically be available and how does that play out? I could see an argument for Kawhi and Giannis making that list, maybe Bam and/or Butler? Notice these are all Eastern Conf. players?
  
  
• Aggressively, that list is maybe 8-10 names long now. As others have mentioned, there are other teams who have more appealing assets than us, so who, among those maybe-10 names is either not good enough for the OKCs and Houstons to want to pursue, or would actually demand a trade directly to us?
  
  
• From there, the impending sale of the franchise needs to be considered. Certainly a championship contender would be appealing, so would a team with with a bunch of draft picks and young/cheap assets. Hard to see the ownership signing off on a major move that leaves us high and dry if they think it falls short of putting us squarely into the picture.

Not trying to be pessimistic here, just realistic. Unless Giannis or Embiid decide they want to play with Dame, and specifically Dame, I'm not seeing a lot of viable options for a big "all-in" move.

The fact is an all nba level player gets moved every off season. So you can talk about it being unrealistic but it still happens. We will have enough draft capital and matching contracts to bring in an all nba guy while keeping Dame, Jerami and most likely Shaedon along with a bench that has Cam, Matisse, a miniMLE player and the other guys we'll still have under contract.

Oh and @Mr. Robot I'm completely willing to see our team leverage our future for a few shots at a title as long as we leverage that future on the right guy or guys that actually give us that opportunity.

 

[GrandpaBlaze]

At this point in time, from my perspective, everyone except Dame is available.

Here is my keep/trade tiers:
Keep: Dame
Like to Keep Tier 1: Reddish, Thybulle - Logic - great role players that can start and likely can be retained on affordable contracts
Like to Keep Tier 2: Sharpe, Watford, Walker, Eubanks - Sharpe has high potential, others as capable, inexpensive role players (can fill in but ideally not getting major minutes)
It all depends: Grant - is he affordable or not - don't want to overpay for a role player - very good at what he does but still a role player
Would prefer to say Goodbye - Nurk, Ant, Little, Johnson
Trade bait or just say goodbye - everyone else

Yes, I excluded Winslow. Played well when he was available but don't want guys who are perpetually unavailable hanging around.

Earlier I would have had Sharpe in the definitely keep or Tier 1 slots but outside the occasional highlight, I just don't see a lot from the guy to get me excited enough to keep around. Could come back to bite me but if he is key to getting who we need, yep, trade and not hesitate.

Gramps...

 

[glazeduck]

The fact is an all nba level player gets moved every off season. So you can talk about it being unrealistic but it still happens. We will have enough draft capital and matching contracts to bring in an all nba guy while keeping Dame, Jerami and most likely Shaedon along with a bench that has Cam, Matisse, a miniMLE player and the other guys we'll still have under contract.

Oh and @Mr. Robot I'm completely willing to see our team leverage our future for a few shots at a title as long as we leverage that future on the right guy or guys that actually give us that opportunity.

It 100% happens, I'm not saying it doesn't. I'm saying the pool of potential players for it to be worth that kind of move and fit all of the subtext of our situation is exceedingly small. I'd guess probably less than 10 with any semblance of a possibility of happening...

 

[Ed O]

Caring about young players and draft picks when his tenure in Portland has ended is not a player's job.

His job is to show up, play hard, be a leader on and off the court, and do what he can on the court to win games.

When hasn't he done that?

While I'm not sure exactly what your stance is, I've seen a few say he's hurting the future of the team by not demanding a trade. That's such a weird position.

I think expecting him to demand a trade is ridiculous. Or hoping for him to do so.

Dame does everything right as a member of the Blazers and part of the community. As we agree, it's not his job to look towards the franchise's future after he's no longer on the roster. That means that management needs to do its job, and that means that management should not care one iota about his opinions on roster construction, salaries (other than his own), trades, etc.

That means that management should have to make the tough call of trading him, if and when it makes sense, whether he's demanding a trade or not. Would there be blowback if it's a bad deal? Yes. Would some Blazers fans consider ANY trade a bad deal? Yes.

But it's their job to make those calls, and sometimes the right decision is not going to be the popular one.

 

[blazerkor]

It 100% happens, I'm not saying it doesn't. I'm saying the pool of potential players for it to be worth that kind of move and fit all of the subtext of our situation is exceedingly small. I'd guess probably less than 10 with any semblance of a possibility of happening...

You're probably right, it's always impossible for us to know who could and couldn't be moved or brought in. That said, that means Joe has to make at least one of those 10 happen. I honestly think that if Joe can't get a deal done on draft night that he'll have an honest conversation with Dame and that they will pursue a trade that helps out the team's future and gets Dame on a contender. I don't think that Joe wants that to be his legacy so I am betting that he finds a second all star and probably overpays for him.

 

[Haakzilla]

...did Dame also mention how he'd be willing to restructure his contract in order to retain such major talent??