Rookie Press Conference

[Natebishop3]

The second we drafted Oden. I wanted us to pick him the whole time leading up to the draft. As soon as we made the pick, I had a sinking feeling in my stomach. Not my money or job on the line, but my hopes were.

I had the sinking feeling as soon as I started comparing Oden and Durant. I think a lot of us saw the parallels between Bowie and Jordan as soon as we won the lottery.

 

[Chris Craig]

Sorry man, sick of hearing this guy complain when we hit jackpot last couple seasons with Sharpe and Scoot… the future is bright. This is a team, not one player.

Complaining? I'm just saying Joe should be transparent like he said he would be, and not dick us around. He's instead trying to straddle two different paths.

I'm sure Scoot and Shaedon will be exciting to watch. They won't net many wins without Lillard and the rebuild will be long. That's not complaining either. That's reality.

I'm not happy about our cornerstone and one if not our best players being pushed out. I'm sure down the road once all is said and done, I will get excited again. I am a Blazers fan. One of the most die hard there is. Loyal to this team. I'll also stand by our arguably best player ever, and cornerstone. His name is Damian Lillard, not the 33 year old by the way.

 

[BIG Q]

I don't think we'll be paying Jerami but we will likely get some value for him in a sign and trade. Jerami isn't going to want to be on another rebuilding team, that's not what he came here for. It would make no sense for Jerami to stay and it would make less sense for us to keep a guy at the cost Jerami will demand who doesn't have a ton of winning experience to impart on our young guys.

I agree if after Dame/Joe "have the conversation," and if they decide to explore Dame trades, Grant is done in Portland. My question is how do sign and trades work with the new CBA? Anyone? Can Portland really get any value for Grant or is it better to just let him walk? Thanks in advance to anyone that has the answer.

 

[JDC]

Picking in the top 3 changed a lot for the FO.

New CBA rules are making rookie scale contracts even more important as well.

And at least in Scoot and Kris, I think we have guys that have a chance to be rotation level or better right away.

 

[blazerkor]

I agree if after Dame/Joe "have the conversation," and if they decide to explore Dame trades, Grant is done in Portland. My question is how do sign and trades work with the new CBA? Anyone? Can Portland really get any value for Grant or is it better to just let him walk? Thanks in advance to anyone that has the answer.

If teams that want Grant have expirings, young prospects and or picks then it would be very worth it to us. It will hard cap whatever team Grant goes to but if they think Grant is an important piece he seems more worth hard capping a team than GP2weeks.

 

[Chris Craig]

I don't mean to be argumentative, but us fans and media do not know if Cronin has been dishonest. And honestly, if he has been, that is Dame's issue to deal with. Believe me, the truth eventually always comes to light. With that said, Cronin is probably waiting for Dame to get back in country to "have the discussion." Cronin is not going to publicly announce a shift in direction publicly until he and Dame have "the conversation" face to face. I'm not trying to carry water for Cronin, it just seems as common sense to me in this situation. But I have no idea which way the Blazers will be going. I too am waiting.

You aren't being argumentive at all. You make a good point. Cronin may have still screwed the pooch with Lillard staying so to speak

 

[tykendo]

Sorry man, sick of hearing this guy complain when we hit jackpot last couple seasons with Sharpe and Scoot… the future is bright. This is a team, not one player.

Those players have to payoff before we can say "we hit the jackpot". A little premature Gronk. If they do, with Dame still on the team, then we likely will have a trophy in a few years. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Joe keeps his word.

 

[Hoopguru]

I'm sure the conversation will be had. Not sure what the outcome of that conversation will be.

To be clear, I think the conversation that Dame was referring to was the possibility of leaving Portland. I don't think that conversation has been up to this point. I think Dame was saying that he would finally start to explore that topic. That doesn't mean that he will ultimately go through with it though.

wasn't that comment first made before we ended up with #3?

 

[Strenuus]

You actually think if Dame was cool right now that his life would get in the way of him letting Joe know what he thinks? You think Dame doesn't have ten fucking minutes to address his future? Do you think that Aaron Goodwin is in constant contact with Joe but not with Dame?

Dame is letting his agent be the go between right now with the team that used to be Dame's team... that's not paranoia and I think it's barely speculative. Dame having not touched base and his agent being in constant contact is about all the writing on the wall that any of us should need but hey maybe I'm way off and Dame actually is too busy on vacation to take a minute and let Joe know that things are still cool.

I don't know about you but when I'm on vacation the last thing I'm thinking about is work.

 

[BIG Q]

That he is in Europe and enjoying a vacation. Joe said they talked Tuesday. These guys do have lives also outside of Basketball.

Exactly. If I am on vacation in another country the last thing I want is the repetition of the life I am escaping for a few days. I am sure when Joe last saw Dame, he told him to enjoy the time away and that he looked forward to updating him on how things at the ranch went while he was gone. I see it as respect. When my employee's are out, they are out. If they call me though, then we might discuss a little work.

 

[Natebishop3]

wasn't that comment first made before we ended up with #3?

Initially, and then reiterated in the interview on Showtime.

 

[Blazinaway]

If teams that want Grant have expirings, young prospects and or picks then it would be very worth it to us. It will hard cap whatever team Grant goes to but if they think Grant is an important piece he seems more worth hard capping a team than GP2weeks.

I think sign and trades are easier BEFORE the new CBA kicks in on July 1, so it would likely be easier to move Grant NOW vs later so a decision may need to be made soon

 

[Hoopguru]

Initially, and then reiterated in the interview on Showtime.

Heard that interview and the commentator had Dame regurgitate what he said initially.

 

[Natebishop3]

Complaining? I'm just saying Joe should be transparent like he said he would be, and not dick us around. He's instead trying to straddle two different paths.

I don't think we know if he has been dishonest.

All reports indicate that we tried to trade the pick. There was a report that we still offered #3 and Simons to Brooklyn on the day of the draft. So I don't think he was dishonest at all. I think Joe is TRYING to improve the team to meet Dame's requests. But I also think Joe caught a lot of heat for his shitty trades at the deadline a couple years ago, and he's being much more conservative about taking a loss on a deal. He wasn't going to sell the farm to bring in a guy like Siakam or Bridges.

The Zion trade wasn't real. NO offered some crappy deal centered on the 14th pick and Murphy.

So I don't think it's fair to call him dishonest when all indications are that he is trying to do what he said he would. It might just be impossible to do what he wants to do. Woj even said it. It would be malpractice to short sell the third pick. Joe is making the smart decisions right now.... but those decisions are not in line with that Dame wants, what a lot of the fans want, and maybe even what Joe wants. Sometimes you have to do the smart thing, even though you wish it was something else.

Our team does not get a lot of chances to bring in superstar talent. Hell, we are stage 5 clinging to Dame because we don't want to lose our superstar. So when you have a chance to draft a potential superstar, you have to take it. You have to.

 

[blazerkor]

I don't know about you but when I'm on vacation the last thing I'm thinking about is work.

I don't know about you but I don't have to train for my job when I'm on vacation. I'm not obsessed with my job the way Dame is. My job isn't as high stakes.

I guess it's possible that Dame vowed to himself not to talk to anyone about work during this small stretch but it wasn't the whole time he was in France because Dame was in France when he reportedly talked with Joe on Tuesday. So I don't think him not talking to Joe and having Goodwin do the talking is just a matter of Dame taking time off. If Joe is talking to Goodwin constantly I can't imagine Goodwin is making that constant communication without having something from Dame.

 

[Natebishop3]

Heard that interview and the commentator had Dame regurgitate what he said initially.

Dame has said it twice publicly. We have heard similar comments recently from reports as well. But I'm not sure why it would be earth shattering. The team drafted his eventual replacement. Why wouldn't he at least talk to the team and say, "is it time for me to leave?"

 

[blazerkor]

I think sign and trades are easier BEFORE the new CBA kicks in on July 1, so it would likely be easier to move Grant NOW vs later so a decision may need to be made soon

I don't think we can S&T Jerami before the new CBA begins regardless because contracts can't be signed before then.

 

[wizenheimer]

I agree if after Dame/Joe "have the conversation," and if they decide to explore Dame trades, Grant is done in Portland. My question is how do sign and trades work with the new CBA? Anyone? Can Portland really get any value for Grant or is it better to just let him walk? Thanks in advance to anyone that has the answer.

my hunch is that if Grant has any hint Dame may ask out he won't re-sign with Portland unless they grossly overpay. And Grant will likely know what Dame's intentions are by the time free agency starts

 

[tykendo]

These are wonderful young men. I hope they all succeed for us. Good Vibes all around from these guys.

 

[blazerkor]

my hunch is that if Grant has any hint Dame may ask out he won't re-sign with Portland unless they grossly overpay. And Grant will likely know what Dame's intentions are by the time free agency starts

Jerami probably knows right now, he's who Dame is vacationing with.

 

[Natebishop3]

 

[SharpesTriumph]

If we truly are rebuilding I'm glad we have someone on board who knows how to draft. I wouldn't be surprised if Schmitz someday replaced Cronin.

Honestly I'd be fine with that. What skill does Cronin bring over Schmitz, shrewd negotiations, public speaking, LMAO ???

 

[Natebishop3]

my hunch is that if Grant has any hint Dame may ask out he won't re-sign with Portland unless they grossly overpay. And Grant will likely know what Dame's intentions are by the time free agency starts

That's what I'm thinking. If Grant immediately signs somewhere else, we will know.

 

[blazerkor]

These are wonderful young men. I hope they all succeed for us. Good Vibes all around from these guys.

I agree. I don't like the idea of trying to fit them in with Dame but I do really like them as pickups.

 

[Driew]

Honestly I'd be fine with that. What skill does Cronin bring over Schmitz, shrewd negotiations, public speaking, LMAO ???

Cronin is a salary cap guru.

 

[Driew]

I love Sc00t's ODD slogan haha

 

[Hoopguru]

Honestly I'd be fine with that. What skill does Cronin bring over Schmitz, shrewd negotiations, public speaking, LMAO ???

Funny, Joe seems like a super nice guy and I understand his forte is numbers and scout management.
My wife watched the press conference this morning and commented "he's to nice, Mr. Rogers nice"....
I think Joe will losen up some after the Dame ? is answered. I bet he's been overwhelmed with calls and offers....
I personally think Dame will give it a couple years, he has it good here.

 

[wizenheimer]

Jerami probably knows right now, he's who Dame is vacationing with.

assuming Dame knows what he intends

I know you believe he has decided already. I doubt he has yet

 

[BIG Q]

I don't think we know if he has been dishonest.

All reports indicate that we tried to trade the pick. There was a report that we still offered #3 and Simons to Brooklyn on the day of the draft. So I don't think he was dishonest at all. I think Joe is TRYING to improve the team to meet Dame's requests. But I also think Joe caught a lot of heat for his shitty trades at the deadline a couple years ago, and he's being much more conservative about taking a loss on a deal. He wasn't going to sell the farm to bring in a guy like Siakam or Bridges.

The Zion trade wasn't real. NO offered some crappy deal centered on the 14th pick and Murphy.

So I don't think it's fair to call him dishonest when all indications are that he is trying to do what he said he would. It might just be impossible to do what he wants to do. Woj even said it. It would be malpractice to short sell the third pick. Joe is making the smart decisions right now.... but those decisions are not in line with that Dame wants, what a lot of the fans want, and maybe even what Joe wants. Sometimes you have to do the smart thing, even though you wish it was something else.

Our team does not get a lot of chances to bring in superstar talent. Hell, we are stage 5 clinging to Dame because we don't want to lose our superstar. So when you have a chance to draft a potential superstar, you have to take it. You have to.

I really like everything about this post. After the draft, leaks began to seep out. Joe tried for Bam, he tried for Bridges and the Pels made the BS trade offer with no Zion (who I was never excited about). I go back to my argument a couple weeks ago saying everyone Blazers related should have stayed out of the media and not discussed plans to trade the pick, or not trade it. Plans to trade players, or not trade them. Did the Blazers negotiating leverage become damaged? I see it as probable, but concede that it can not be proven. Maybe if you look at the shit offers for the pick and the fact no players were shipped out while Joe, Dame and everyone else got in front of cameras giving the playbook away you might see some damaged leverage. Bottom line is nothing happened outside of the expected based on the picks Portland had. Now they have to deal with Dame. If he wants out what kind of shit offers will they get for him?

 

[blazerkor]

assuming Dame knows what he intends

I know you believe he has decided already. I doubt he has yet

I think that's a fair point of view.