We got the #3 pick. Discuss the possibilities.

[RR7]

If you're looking for examples, there are plenty. Including:

"Evidently, Shaq had a player option of $30.6 million but eventually decided to opt-out of it. He settled on $20 million per season, while also giving financial flexibility to the franchise.

“This contract allows me to address all of my family’s long-term financial goals while allowing the Heat the ability to acquire those players that we need to win a championship,” said Shaq.

He opted out of 1 year at 30 million to sign for 5 years at 100 million. Knowing he likely wasn't getting 100 million more at 32 as a heavy C. But great comparison!

 

[wizenheimer]

If you're looking for examples, there are plenty. Including:

"Evidently, Shaq had a player option of $30.6 million but eventually decided to opt-out of it. He settled on $20 million per season, while also giving financial flexibility to the franchise.

“This contract allows me to address all of my family’s long-term financial goals while allowing the Heat the ability to acquire those players that we need to win a championship,” said Shaq.

oh for fuck sakes...this stupid narrative again.

It wouldn't matter one damn bit if Dame took a 10% pay-cut off his max extension. That's only 5-6M and that wouldn't allow Portland to do a fucking thing different then they could with the full extension. Is 10% enough?

Just how much money was Dame supposed to leave on the table to satisfy you? 20M?...30M? 50M? GTFO with that nonsense.

Dame already took less than his max when he signed his rookie extension. He was entitled to 30% of the cap, but settled for 27.5% so Olshey had some supposed leverage. And what did Olshey do? he pissed away 340M in contracts giving CJ a giant bloated deal, as well as ridiculously overpaying Evan Turner, Allan Crabbe, Meyers Leonard and Festus Ezeli. Why the hell would Dame give Portland a chance to waste his gesture a 2nd time

by the way, LOL at the Shaq example. He "settled" for more than 40% of the salary cap with his 20M salary. A real sacrifice on his part...he really 'took one for the team':

 

[Strenuus]

But he's not gonna give up any of his $60m/year to sign FA's that would help their chances.

Nor would most anyone else. And I don't blame them. Also, wouldn't it be a sign of DIStrust in the organization that he won't? Maybe if he trusted them he might?

#otherpersepctives

 

[blazerkor]

But he's not gonna give up any of his $60m/year to sign FA's that would help their chances.

This is one of the worst takes anyone could have regarding Dame. Congratulations!

 

[RonBrewer]

There's really no question Dame Dolla will be a Blazer for the rest of his career.

Anyone wanting it can wish in one hand and shit in the either and see which one fills up faster.

Dame is a Blazer. Dame IS THE BLAZERS.

RIP CITY

 

[Tince]

There's really no question Dame Dolla will be a Blazer for the rest of his career.

Anyone wanting it can wish in one hand and shit in the either and see which one fills up faster.

Dame is a Blazer. Dame IS THE BLAZERS.

RIP CITY

Unless he gets traded tomorrow, my money is on the handful of shit.

 

[BBert]

Most of the interesting stuff starts after the 30 minute mark. I think Dame is very clear that he would like to win in Portland and he knows that a trade might not be his way to contend since whatever team trades for him will have to pay a lot to get him.

Bingo

 

[wizenheimer]

Unless he gets traded tomorrow, my money is on the handful of shit.

well...you can keep your money in that case

 

[bemac]

There's really no question Dame Dolla will be a Blazer for the rest of his career.

Anyone wanting it can wish in one hand and shit in the either and see which one fills up faster.

Dame is a Blazer. Dame IS THE BLAZERS.

RIP CITY

and all he has to do is recognize this team is moving in the right direction with youth and jump on board. I'm all for it, though his trade return diminishes every year from here on out and his ridiculous salary will soon become a major issue. But yes, if there is a way to keep him, I would love to see it.

 

[illmatic99]

And NO other superstar is giving any money away either.

there's not really a mechanism to renegotiate contracts in the CBA either, but who cares about that, right?

 

[Quatro44]

But he's not gonna give up any of his $60m/year to sign FA's that would help their chances.

WTF??? Sign free agents, Portland doesn’t sign free agents, this isn’t LA/Miami, so giving up $$$ would not make a difference. A good GM would sign role players to decent contacts that can be easily traded along with having some draft picks to sweeten the deal.

 

[KingSpeed]

I agree, but this year Dame went public with what he wants and does not want. Pretty much threw out an ultimatum, do as I want or trade me. I understand trade speculation regarding him now, but previously, no.

Dame has never said that. He wants the team to get better but has never threatened a trade request. Furthermore, he has no leverage. He all locked up in a contract and if we trade him, we can trade him wherever we like.

 

[KingSpeed]

Some lineup ideas:

Dame/ Bridges/ OG/ Grant/ Claxton

Dame/ Sharpe/ Bridges/ Collins/ Claxton

Which Collins?

 

[Natebishop3]

there's not really a mechanism to renegotiate contracts in the CBA either, but who cares about that, right?

How does this compare to buyouts?

It’s funny because it used to be possible to renegotiate deals. I remember a story about how Bob renegotiated Kemps deal.

 

[Tince]

Dame has never said that. He wants the team to get better but has never threatened a trade request. Furthermore, he has no leverage. He all locked up in a contract and if we trade him, we can trade him wherever we like.

Stars always have leverage. I think you're grossly under-estimating the politics between players/agents/front offices by saying he has no leverage.

 

[illmatic99]

Which Collins?

john

 

[illmatic99]

How does this compare to buyouts?

It’s funny because it used to be possible to renegotiate deals. I remember a story about how Bob renegotiated Kemps deal.

buyouts still show up as caphits. only way to lower amounts is to waive and stretch.

 

[Natebishop3]

buyouts still show up as caphits. only way to lower amounts is to waive and stretch.

Can you not stretch without waiving?

 

[illmatic99]

Can you not stretch without waiving?

no

 

[Natebishop3]

no

Oh well lol

 

[wizenheimer]

Can you not stretch without waiving?

as illmatic said, no...can't do that. Although I remember that there might be some additional stretch options in the new CBA. Not sure if that's true and if true, what they are

 

[Pinwheel1]

This is just my opinion, but this team will never go anywhere with a Dame/Simons backcourt. I think no matter what the move is, Simons needs to go. Sharpe has made him completely irrelevant, mostly because I don't think anyone believes that Simons will come off the bench, which is the move that SHOULD happen if he were to stay.

The three players that should be starters, no question, is Dame/Shae/Grant.

.

I don't understand why you don't think he won't come off the bench. Is it a salary thing? We all know he should now that Sharpe has a year under his belt, so why doesn't anyone think he won't? Even if he did start, all three will still get enough minutes. By playoff time who is best suited for coming off the bench will figure itself out.

Now we can still trade Ant, but if we trade #3 for a forward, a Dame-SS backcourt can still be intact with Ant coming off the bench.

 

[Tince]

I don't understand why you don't think he won't come off the bench. Is it a salary thing? We all know he should now that Sharpe has a year under his belt, so why doesn't anyone think he won't? Even if he did start, all three will still get enough minutes. By playoff time who is best suited for coming off the bench will figure itself out.

Now we can still trade Ant, but if we trade #3 for a forward, a Dame-SS backcourt can still be intact with Ant coming off the bench.

What has Sharpe done in meaningful minutes to warrant starting over Ant?

 

[BIG Q]

Dame has never said that. He wants the team to get better but has never threatened a trade request. Furthermore, he has no leverage. He all locked up in a contract and if we trade him, we can trade him wherever we like.

In so far as saying "I want a trade," you are correct. But he has let everybody know that if things do not go the way he wants this summer that he and Blazer management would be having a discussion. We are all adults here I believe. I know you are. We know what that conversation will be if/when it occurs. Portland has to make business decisions, and Dame will as well. In the end it's just business. And you are correct, Dame is all locked up for three more seasons at a shit ton of cash. But we all know he will ask out if things do not go the way he likes. Then all of the blind allegiance Dame fans will be flooding here explaining how we owe our all time greatest player respect and deal him where ever he wants to go with no regard to how that impacts the Blazers. The contract he signs means nothing to them, and possibly him. It's just a minor impediment. Why sign the extension if you may not like the direction of the team? Wait to see if they draft Scoot. Oh right, the money. He has to lock in the money before assessing if he likes the roster makeup, then have the conversation. I'm just not a fan of duplicitousness. Just play out the contract and move on if you want, simple.

 

[Pinwheel1]

What has Sharpe done in meaningful minutes to warrant starting over Ant?

It is more about how the team will function the best. Sometimes it just makes sense to stagger your shooters so you have a potent 6th man. Many see Ant as a Vinnie Johnson or Lou Williams. Every team needs one

 

[Tince]

It is more about how the team will function the best. Sometimes it just makes sense to stagger your shooters so you have a potent 6th man. Many see Ant as a Vinnie Johnson or Lou Williams. Every team needs one

I'm not against the idea of balance, but I'm not seeing the major advantage to starting Sharpe over Ant. Sharpe isn't a signficantly better defender. Ant, on the current roster, is worthy of playing 30-34 minutes, so the amount of time he's playing w/out Dame will be minimal, and those minutes can be staggered regardless of who starts. Frankly, it's probably easier to stagger the minutes if Ant does start.

The team isn't so superior in the talent department that they have luxuary of deciding what good players will get minutes, when. Right now, Ant is better than Sharpe.

 

[BIG Q]

What has Sharpe done in meaningful minutes to warrant starting over Ant?

The upside Sharpe has demonstrated is worthy of starting in year two. But, in my opinion, it has more to do with the fact Dame/Ant is Dame/CJ 2.0. Two small guards starting got Portland nowhere with CJ and I seriously doubt it will work with Ant. The size Sharpe brings will be a welcome change. And with that, I doubt Portland needs $24 mil playing sixth man. Ant should be moved as soon as a worthy deal is found.

 

[Tince]

The upside Sharpe has demonstrated is worthy of starting in year two. But, in my opinion, it has more to do with the fact Dame/Ant is Dame/CJ 2.0. Two small guards starting got Portland nowhere with CJ and I seriously doubt it will work with Ant. The size Sharpe brings will be a welcome change. And with that, I doubt Portland needs $24 mil playing sixth man. Ant should be moved as soon as a worthy deal is found.

I hear you and I disagree with Sharpe being worthy of starting based off potential or height. Sharpe should start when he's proven he's a starting caliber player, which he has yet to do.

I agree that Portland paying Ant $24/year to come off the bench, on top of the other salaries, makes little to no sense.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I'm not against the idea of balance, but I'm not seeing the major advantage to starting Sharpe over Ant. Sharpe isn't a signficantly better defender. Ant, on the current roster, is worthy of playing 30-34 minutes, so the amount of time he's playing w/out Dame will be minimal, and those minutes can be staggered regardless of who starts. Frankly, it's probably easier to stagger the minutes if Ant does start.

The team isn't so superior in the talent department that they have luxuary of deciding what good players will get minutes, when. Right now, Ant is better than Sharpe.

All three of them can and should play over 30 minutes. Maybe it doesn't matter who starts.

 

[Tince]

All three of them can and should play over 30 minutes. Maybe it doesn't matter who starts.

What has Sharpe done, in meaningful minutes, that gives you confidence he's ready to play 30 minutes on a winning team?

I see his potential, but last year he looked real green the majority of the season. And I can't put a ton of weight in how a guy plays when everyone know the team is actively trying to lose. There is no pressure at that point.