The off-season begins. Discuss.

[illmatic99]

Wasn't there some pictures of Dame and Jerami talking from the year before...maybe we can find something like that this season, with who they're targeting.

mikal bridges went to cabo to celebrate dame's bday last year. dame has repeatedly called bridges an idea SF. bridges was also a counselor at dame's camp.

unless BK wants to entertain the idea of a Ant + stuff for Bridges swap, we have no way of landing him.

 

[wizenheimer]

One thing outside of Dame and Cronin that stood out for me and maybe I am reading WAY more into it then there is but I think Ant wants to stay but open to leaving. I think he very much open to being traded to a team where he might be the 1st option or at least 1B

I'm not sure there is single team in the NBA where Ant could be traded and be the best player & #1 option. Maybe the Spurs but Johnson is as good as Ant...and Ant's defense would give Popovich and aneurysm.

 

[damianlillard]

One thing outside of Dame and Cronin that stood out for me and maybe I am reading WAY more into it then there is but I think Ant wants to stay but open to leaving. I think he very much open to being traded to a team where he might be the 1st option or at least 1B and right now he might have that next year but even that in not certain with Sharpe and maybe lotto luck. I like Ant but I am not sure even with him being young if he will get much better cause I think he needs to be 1 or 1B to really grow and IF he cannot his ceiling is around where CJ was when he was traded away maybe a tad higher but not much more. I am not saying he SHOULD be traded but it should be explored and done IF the return is right and can help the Blazers get to the next level.

This offseason is a make or break for everything in Ripcity cause the aftershocks of the results will determine if Dame asks out and to me that is what we need to avoid at least for two more years cause that is what I think the window is for this team. They need to put together a Top 3 in the west team in 2 years or you might as well just get what you can for Dame and rebuild and as much as I hate that idea it is what needs to prolly happen.

I don’t think he necessarily want to be the number one option, I think he want to play point guard full time

 

[wizenheimer]

mikal bridges went to cabo to celebrate dame's bday last year. dame has repeatedly called bridges an idea SF. bridges was also a counselor at dame's camp.

unless BK wants to entertain the idea of a Ant + stuff for Bridges swap, we have no way of landing him.

I would bet that Portland offers Ant + the pick (not #1) + any other draft capital they can cobble together. And I don't think there's any way at all the Nets accept

I'm pretty sure that Cronin won't trade Sharpe. I don't think Dame would go for that either

 

[wizenheimer]

5 weeks until the lottery. I hope the weather gets better

 

[boredinsalem]

I would bet that Portland offers Ant + the pick (not #1) + any other draft capital they can cobble together. And I don't think there's any way at all the Nets accept

I'm pretty sure that Cronin won't trade Sharpe. I don't think Dame would go for that either

I think Cronin would trade Sharpe for Bridges. It might look back in hindsight, but it would be putting the chips in so to speak.

 

[LayneStaley]

If we somehow win the lottery I wonder if Dame understands the timeline is gonna be reset around Wemby and Sharpe? I don’t want him traded but at that point if he wanted to be dealt to an immediate contender I think the return plus Wemby/Sharpe would make us a very exciting team for the next decade.

 

[LayneStaley]

Sharpe should start next year, ideally we win the lottery and Dame, Sharpe, and Wemby are 3/5 of the starting rotation. At that point I’d try to send Ant/Nurk/3 1s/Pick swaps for Brown/Filler. One can dream I guess.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I think Dame is a pretty smart guy. Just like most of us, he knows that there is a big difference between Victor and the rest of the draft class. You keep #1, but every other pick is for sale.

 

[Strenuus]

I think Dame is a pretty smart guy. Just like most of us, he knows that there is a big difference between Victor and the rest of the draft class. You keep #1, but every other pick is for sale.

Agreed. You gotta go all in unless you get #1. I was skeptical on Sharpe but I think you gotta keep him. Him and dame stay, rest can be shopped. The thing I fear, is that as a collective there just isn't much return for our guys. At least not a needle mover. It sucks.

 

[Strenuus]

I honestly think that if Joe doesn't knock it out of the park around draft day that Dame will go to Jody and ask for Joe to be replaced before free agency starts. By doing this Dame will either get a new GM or they will trade Dame and Dame will be able to say that he wanted to stay loyal but they didn't want him anymore.

All of the stuff he's been saying lately and his most recent songs are saying the he is planning on being here for the rest of his career and Joe needs to do what it takes to make the team competitive immediately.

I do agree with this. I just feel he's at the end of his rope. I still think it's an ultimatum, and Joe either puts up or shuts up. It's a really weird time right now.

 

[Chris Craig]

Dame wants a trade for a second star. He doesn't want Wemby or more rookies. He wants veteran role players over young players. I'm not sure if it's realistic.

For one, there aren't a lot of teams out there willing to trade their stars. The Blazers might be able to get KAT or Joel Embiid if they get a high pick/ and or give enough future picks. The Blazers aren't getting Giannis, Joker, or anyone stars from Boston very likely.

Secondly, do the Blazers really have a package to interest a team enough to trade their star player? Anfernee and Nurkic aren't that hot of a commodity let alone palpable in a deal for a star. Where the Blazers land in the lottery/whether they give Chicago the NYK pick to open future picks will dictate who they can get and for what package.

Teams are going to want Shaedon Sharpe. Joe would be a fool to trade him. But, Dame wants established stars. He says there are players he wants to play with who wants to come here. I'd like to know who. I don't see players coming here. I see them interested in other teams.

Cronin doesn't have a great hand to work with. He has a two pair and Dame wants a royal flush. Cronin's relationship with other GM's has been giving players for virtually free and taking scraps. But, he's supposed to be a home run.

If he doesn't, does Dame ask out? Is this the last chance to make Dame happy? I don't want to trade Dame and miss the playoffs for the next decade and a half like the Kings did. At the same time, is it worth leveraging the future by going all in for a second star?

 

[Natebishop3]

Dame wants a trade for a second star. He doesn't want Wemby or more rookies. He wants veteran role players over young players. I'm not sure if it's realistic.

For one, there aren't a lot of teams out there willing to trade their stars. The Blazers might be able to get KAT or Joel Embiid if they get a high pick/ and or give enough future picks. The Blazers aren't getting Giannis, Joker, or anyone stars from Boston very likely.

Secondly, do the Blazers really have a package to interest a team enough to trade their star player? Anfernee and Nurkic aren't that hot of a commodity let alone palpable in a deal for a star. Where the Blazers land in the lottery/whether they give Chicago the NYK pick to open future picks will dictate who they can get and for what package.

Teams are going to want Shaedon Sharpe. Joe would be a fool to trade him. But, Dame wants established stars. He says there are players he wants to play with who wants to come here. I'd like to know who. I don't see players coming here. I see them interested in other teams.

Cronin doesn't have a great hand to work with. He has a two pair and Dame wants a royal flush. Cronin's relationship with other GM's has been giving players for virtually free and taking scraps. But, he's supposed to be a home run.

If he doesn't, does Dame ask out? Is this the last chance to make Dame happy? I don't want to trade Dame and miss the playoffs for the next decade and a half like the Kings did. At the same time, is it worth leveraging the future by going all in for a second star?

Trading Sharpe and signing Grant to a huge contract would be the biggest mistakes this team has made in a long time.

 

[Labinot41]

I hope we do not trade future picks for a dumb win now move, without a clear chance to win the title

 

[swish3]

The Blazers should trade Simons for Lauri Markkanen, who is a major PF talent who shoots and plays defense for a much lower salary cost than Siakim or other alternatives. Ask the Jazz. They may do it with Lauri off to Finland to fulfill his military obligation.

If Joe can't get a deal with the Jazz, explore what it would take to get Giannis on this team with Dame. With either Lauri or Giannis on the team, the Blazers are set to be contenders for the NBA Championship next year!

 

[Ed O]

One thing outside of Dame and Cronin that stood out for me and maybe I am reading WAY more into it then there is but I think Ant wants to stay but open to leaving. I think he very much open to being traded to a team where he might be the 1st option or at least 1B and right now he might have that next year but even that in not certain with Sharpe and maybe lotto luck.

I like Simons, too, and don't want to see him traded, necessarily, but why does it matter if he's "open to leaving"?

NBA players under contract can't dictate where they're gonna go except in exceptional circumstances. It's not up to him if he's traded or not. It's not up to him if he starts. He's under contract with the team and has to do what they want or retire.

 

[Labinot41]

even if we don't get the first pick, i'm really hesitant to trade a high lottery pick, sorry Dame.

 

[Samuel]

Teams are going to want Shaedon Sharpe.

Cronin got leveraged when he was trying to get under the tax line. He’s going to love having sharpe used against him.

 

[Samuel]

You keep #1, but every other pick is for sale.

“so listen—dame. We’ve shopped the pick but we’re not getting a ton of action that makes any future sense for the team.

we do have an interesting proposal for you though. What do we think about Tobias Harris?”

 

[Fairly-Hard]

5 lottery simulator picks this morning

7,7,7,1,7 reset every time.

 

[Predator]

Even a “home run” trade would result in us on the treadmill.

 

[AngryFan]

Even a “home run” trade would result in us on the treadmill.

This is the truth. We have zero chance at building a contender on Dame's timeline unless the incoming player is better than him. That is just not going to happen for Simons, Nurkic and a pile of future picks.

 

[Blazinaway]

The Blazers should trade Simons for Lauri Markkanen, who is a major PF talent who shoots and plays defense for a much lower salary cost than Siakim or other alternatives. Ask the Jazz. They may do it with Lauri off to Finland to fulfill his military obligation.

If Joe can't get a deal with the Jazz, explore what it would take to get Giannis on this team with Dame. With either Lauri or Giannis on the team, the Blazers are set to be contenders for the NBA Championship next year!

No chance in hell Utah considers that trade, Ainge laughs then hangs up

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Dame wants a trade for a second star. He doesn't want Wemby or more rookies. He wants veteran role players over young players. I'm not sure if it's realistic.

For one, there aren't a lot of teams out there willing to trade their stars. The Blazers might be able to get KAT or Joel Embiid if they get a high pick/ and or give enough future picks. The Blazers aren't getting Giannis, Joker, or anyone stars from Boston very likely.

Secondly, do the Blazers really have a package to interest a team enough to trade their star player? Anfernee and Nurkic aren't that hot of a commodity let alone palpable in a deal for a star. Where the Blazers land in the lottery/whether they give Chicago the NYK pick to open future picks will dictate who they can get and for what package.

Teams are going to want Shaedon Sharpe. Joe would be a fool to trade him. But, Dame wants established stars. He says there are players he wants to play with who wants to come here. I'd like to know who. I don't see players coming here. I see them interested in other teams.

Cronin doesn't have a great hand to work with. He has a two pair and Dame wants a royal flush. Cronin's relationship with other GM's has been giving players for virtually free and taking scraps. But, he's supposed to be a home run.

If he doesn't, does Dame ask out? Is this the last chance to make Dame happy? I don't want to trade Dame and miss the playoffs for the next decade and a half like the Kings did. At the same time, is it worth leveraging the future by going all in for a second star?

This is the problem. It's really difficult to envision who is a realistic target for Blazers. Would have to be a really good player who demands a trade from a struggling team that wants to rebuild with draft picks.. I can't think of who that would be. Can anyone else?

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

The Blazers should trade Simons for Lauri Markkanen, who is a major PF talent who shoots and plays defense for a much lower salary cost than Siakim or other alternatives. Ask the Jazz. They may do it with Lauri off to Finland to fulfill his military obligation.

If Joe can't get a deal with the Jazz, explore what it would take to get Giannis on this team with Dame. With either Lauri or Giannis on the team, the Blazers are set to be contenders for the NBA Championship next year!

You're dreaming....

 

[Chris Craig]

Cronin got leveraged when he was trying to get under the tax line. He’s going to love having sharpe used against him.

When you let other GM's walk all over you, that's all they are going to see. They aren't going to respect you and they sure as hell won't owe you a favor.

 

[Cugel]

I think after the lottery drawing Dame will ask out. And I don’t fault him for it. What are the odds Joe can get two stars and then Billups can coach em? Most likely scenario is the pick BPA and he needs work and will come off the bench and no deals for Nurk and Ant.

 

[illmatic99]

Cronin got leveraged when he was trying to get under the tax line. He’s going to love having sharpe used against him.

This was the excuse people made for Joe last year when people realized how badly he lost every negotiation.

When do we all stop making excuses for the guy and just admit he's not a very good GM?

Like 25 of the 30 front offices have pressure to save $. This should not be a crutch.

 

[Bingo Bango]

My favorite part is Dame inferring he doesn’t want development players . . .

I think you mean, “Dame implying.”

 

[Natebishop3]

This was the excuse people made for Joe last year when people realized how badly he lost every negotiation.

When do we all stop making excuses for the guy and just admit he's not a very good GM?

Like 25 of the 30 front offices have pressure to save $. This should not be a crutch.

I agree with you but how many owners in the NBA inherited the team and have no clue about business or running an organization? Jody is a giant anchor and I don’t think it makes Joe's job any easier.