Exactly.
I disagree...his trade value is lower right now than it has been for years....his injury has been exposed....and he's lost his 3 pt accuracy....he's worth more to the Blazers than what we could get back for him trading him this season and for all his loyalty, you'd be sending the wrong signal about great players wanting to play here.....no team in it's right mind would trade Dame at 31 with a new coach and roster changes around the corner....trade everybody else but don't trade for unproven rookies...get vets and spend the next 3 years of Dame's prime trying to climb the mountain with like minded guys on his career arc. The oldest team in the league put up 139 on Nas and the young 10 day guys last night....that's not going to make Dame happy. Nas only had 2 pts in big minutes last I checked and that's the type guy you're going to get if you blow it up...unproven talent
Yes, it is—but still higher than it ever will be again.
I think it may be time to quit viewing Dame as one of the 75 Greatest Players, (btw, Klay thompson is on line one.)..
The guy's been an ironman for his whole career....he has an injury to overcome in his prime, I'm going to be patient with it....he's certainly been patient with our front office...you won't find another Dame in my lifetime and as I said....trading Garnett didn't make the Timberwolves relevant for decades..they are still bottom feeders...I see the same if Portland loses Dame.....we'll be the Wolves or the Kings flailing for players, coaches and a playoff spot that'll never come.
Cool, so we will be where we are now with plenty more assets and potential cap space?
As I said several times...trade everybody but Dame on the roster....of course they need a better constructed roster but trading Dame doesn't make you better...which was my point....you can trade Roco, Nance, Norm, CJ, Nurk, Zeller, Ant, Naz and everybody else...get under the cap and get a roster that clicks....that's the GMs job...Dame isn't the weakness in Portlands current situation...he's the franchise. Curry is Golden States franchise...they won't trade him for the same reason...it won't make them better. They'll even shut him down to rehab until he's better.
He also gives us the most back in a package to jump start the rebuild. He is only going to get worse. Father time is undefeated. I love Dame, but I love the Blazers and want them to win a title more. Paying Dame 55 million when he is 35 is not going to get us a title. Start over and suck for a couple years and turn into the Cavs through the draft. Hire the right GM to lead us through the rebuild.
I don't trust this magical rebuild....it's failed in many franchises and we're not a free agent destiny....I think you build around Dame for the next 4 years and give him a shot. Trading him would probably kill off any interest I have left in the Blazers after being a fan for 45 years.....I ain't gettin' younger and I want Dame here for the long haul....don't give a shit about rebuilding...get him some help now. Now CJ and Nurk....they can move tomorrow
2003-4 they were the top seed in the west playing the Lakers after beating SA and the Kings........Cassell, Sprewell, Garnett, Wally and Olawankandi were a hell of a team...they were a contender with Garnett....they played in the Western Conf finals that season ..the Lakers won but Garnett avg'd 28/19 over those three games before elimination....twice almost getting triple doubles.....people forget how good that team was...they beat a damned good Kings team too.
You got to see a championship. I have not. I'd like it if we didn't piss away the next 5+years just to keep Lillard. Small market teams get stars through the draft and flexibility. We had a good run and Olshey failed miserably at getting a star next to Dame after Aldridge left for nothing.
Post magical trades that would get us a second star next to Lillard. I'll wait.
I was about to say Sly has discovered edibles but forgot and ate one too many gummies
Yeah...'cos surrounding HIM with talent has/is worked so very well.
Nobody has to piss away the next 5 years to get behind Dame's run for a ring in his prime.....my advice is you don't kick him under the rug when he has his first career slump ....we get players now that want to play with Dame....not with Dennis Smith Jr.....Dame is the draw. If you do blow it all up and dump the best thing to ever happen to the franchise for a gamble....it could easily turn out much worse and put you much further away from seeing a parade in Portland....and you can watch the 77 game on youtube today....then we've both seen a championship in your lifetime!
That team was a contender....after trading Garnett...hasn't come close to the playoffs...which was my whole point.
Nope.
I don't think trading Lillard helps the team ever....
