We should AT LEAST start the season with Dame

[julius]

I'm highly unlikely to complain about Dame staying in Portland. Especially if I know the offers for him have been crap.

I wasn't saying that about you personally, if you thought I was.

 

[blazerkor]

This is dumb. I've been one of Dame's biggest supporters but in hindsight, what has he done to help better the roster? He hasn't restructured to create more money. What Free agent has he brought in that wants to play with him? We've been good to Dame. He knows we tried to make trades. We did the best we could in this draft and got an A+ IMO.

Sit out? Nah. Restructure that contract, Make room for a bigtime FA. Come out and vocally support the movement. That's what Dame needs to do.

This is some absolute bullshit. When has Steph restructured his contract, when has LeBron, when has Giannis, when has Jokic? All of them are taking the max money and have taken the max they could get. Please tell me one free agent that you can credibly accredit to any of these guys... none of them got one even KD came to the Warriors mostly because he wanted to, there are no articles you find of Steph recruiting him... and again Steph was making the most he could at the time and so was KD. Maybe you credit LeBron with Bosh in Miami but most people just insult LeBron for that move anyway.

What has Dame done, he's put it on the line every chance he's had and he's won games and series for us. Have we been good to Dame, season after season pairing him up with another score first ball dominant guard in the back court and never since LaMarcus giving him an all star teammate or balanced roster? It was a great preview to your post when you typed, "This is dumb."

 

[RonBrewer]

This is some absolute bullshit. When has Steph restructured his contract, when has LeBron, when has Giannis, when has Jokic? All of them are taking the max money and have taken the max they could get. Please tell me one free agent that you can credibly accredit to any of these guys... none of them got one even KD came to the Warriors mostly because he wanted to, there are no articles you find of Steph recruiting him... and again Steph was making the most he could at the time and so was KD. Maybe you credit LeBron with Bosh in Miami but most people just insult LeBron for that move anyway.

What has Dame done, he's put it on the line every chance he's had and he's won games and series for us. Have we been good to Dame, season after season pairing him up with another score first ball dominant guard in the back court and never since LaMarcus giving him an all star teammate or balanced roster? It was a great preview to your post when you typed, "This is dumb."

All i read was this

"Or maybe I don't know what the fuck I'm talking about.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Im sure that people will complain no matter what. Not saying Tobias is a bad player, but oof...if we're concerned about paying Damian the money he's owed, at least he's averaging over 25 ppg...

I think one thing that gives me peace (for lack of a better word) is that every single time we hear that Damian wants to be traded/is mad, etc...it's never directly from his mouth. And he's repeatedly said that he won't beat around the bush. Even the "I don't want to play with kids" stuff is ambiguous and often misquoted/miss-attributed/incorrectly interpreted by people.

You can’t read this place and think it’s fact. In ways it’s worse than twitter.
Yes some here have some legit takes and information at times but seriously the hot takes and emotional responses are off the hook.

 

[blazerkor]

All i read was this

"Or maybe I don't know what the fuck I'm talking about.

Cool there's a reason why that's my signature. Seriously though, the "what has Dame done for us" shit is complete nonsense. The guy has done everything that any of the best players on championship teams has done over the last decade plus, except he's stuck with this team through all of the thin times.

 

[RonBrewer]

Cool there's a reason why that's my signature. Seriously though, the "what has Dame done for us" shit is complete nonsense. The guy has done everything that any of the best players on championship teams has done over the last decade plus, except he's stuck with this team through all of the thin times.

You can look through here and see that i love Dame.

Cool? Your post is borderline stupid. This shit is tired and old. Dame has been the biggest part of the equation. Win or lose, he's the key cog. This shit coming out through other channels is what's complete nonsense. Ask for a fucking trade or come out and shut it the fuck down. Listening to Miami by Will Smith is just a coincidence? Hell Nah.

There is no legitimate outcome where we trade Dame to Miami other than just to appease him.

 

[glazeduck]

All i read was this

"Or maybe I don't know what the fuck I'm talking about.

There's some solid irony in dropping this line, immediately after asking why Dame "hasn't restructured to create more money", which is something that can't be done with the current CBA...

 

[blazerkor]

You can look through here and see that i love Dame.

Cool? Your post is borderline stupid. This shit is tired and old. Dame has been the biggest part of the equation. Win or lose, he's the key cog. This shit coming out through other channels is what's complete nonsense. Ask for a fucking trade or come out and shut it the fuck down. Listening to Miami by Will Smith is just a coincidence? Hell Nah.

There is no legitimate outcome where we trade Dame to Miami other than just to appease him.

Maybe the song was just on, it wasn't edited and it was legitimately live. My post is borderline stupid? You just identified Dame as the biggest part of the equation and newsflash we've only lost, there hasn't been a season that we've won it all with Dame. You're putting that on him.

Congratulations, your take is absolutely fucking terrible. This is what Blazers fans do though, when a good stretch with a good guy is coming to an end they make him out to be the problem, I saw it with Roy and now people like you and others are doing it with Dame. It's bullshit, you should be fucking ashamed of yourself for this nonsensical attempt to shift blame from poor management to the guy who did everything he possibly could for this franchise.

 

[Mr. Robot]

speaking strictly from a sporting perspective, the best possible thing for this franchise is to hit the reset button and embrace the full rebuild while scoot & sharpe are 19 & 20 yo respectively, then you tank for a few years, get few high picks to add more talent to scoot & sharpe and make our future extremely bright (we would need to draft well of course) and then build a contender organically with some trades & free agents (which is exactly what denver nuggets did, they drafted jokic, murray and mpj, traded for gordon, kcp and signed brown in free agency) and you could see that they were the team on the uprise and their moment came and they won the chip

if we keep dame lillard, then full rebuild or retool is not gonna be an option anymore (and we wont be a contender either) and in 3 or 4 years when scoot & sharpe become much better than they are right now, they wouldnt want to be in the rebuild either, so one can see that we either must commit to the full rebuild now or keep dame until he retires (of course, to me sporting perspective is all that matters, but ownership cares about the revenue)... id like to see dame lillard play his entire career in rip city, but we have golden opportunity to build for the future with scoot & sharpe + other high picks and i simply believe thats an opportunitxy we cannot pass on... sometimes you have to make gut wrenching decisions and trading dame lillard is one of them

 

[RonBrewer]

There's some solid irony in dropping this line, immediately after asking why Dame "hasn't restructured to create more money", which is something that can't be done with the current CBA...

Yawn. I'm talking historically. We've always paid him, we've always given him what he's worth. Carry on.

 

[RonBrewer]

Maybe the song was just on, it wasn't edited and it was legitimately live. My post is borderline stupid? You just identified Dame as the biggest part of the equation and newsflash we've only lost, there hasn't been a season that we've won it all with Dame. You're putting that on him.

Congratulations, your take is absolutely fucking terrible. This is what Blazers fans do though, when a good stretch with a good guy is coming to an end they make him out to be the problem, I saw it with Roy and now people like you and others are doing it with Dame. It's bullshit, you should be fucking ashamed of yourself for this nonsensical attempt to shift blame from poor management to the guy who did everything he possibly could for this franchise.

Most of your takes have been pretty decent. But you've become a fucking idiot today.

I love Dame. Don't want to trade him but i'm certainly more open to it.

Maybe he was just listening to this song and accidently recorded it to his Media? LMAO

 

[glazeduck]

Yawn. I'm talking historically. We've always paid him, we've always given him what he's worth. Carry on.

Just flipping you crap. I generally (and have said so across the last few years) mostly agree with your take. Some of this is on Dame...

 

[glazeduck]

Most of your takes have been pretty decent. But you've become a fucking idiot today.

I love Dame. Don't want to trade him but i'm certainly more open to it.

Maybe he was just listening to this song and accidently recorded it to his Media? LMAO

Yeah in no way was that a coincidence. Maybe it wasn't Dame's idea specifically, but that was absolutely a purpose pitch.

All that said, I still feel fairly optimistic about the chances of Dame staying, and I also think every time Miami is raised as an option in the national press, the more obvious it is that it would be an absolutely awful package.

 

[blazerkor]

Most of your takes have been pretty decent. But you've become a fucking idiot today.

I love Dame. Don't want to trade him but i'm certainly more open to it.

Maybe he was just listening to this song and accidently recorded it to his Media? LMAO

He didn't record it, it was a live stream. It's not an impossibility that he did it on purpose but it also wasn't him in his room hitting play on some track that he had set up. Someone else was obviously the DJ. It also wasn't him recording anything, I do hope you understand what live streaming is.

I'm also more open to trading him because using your most valuable assets to draft guys that at least three years away from contributing at their highest level isn't fair for a guy that most likely won't be at his highest level four seasons from now.

 

[B-Roy]

I agree. There is also a (small) chance Giannis becomes available.

Trades all are time and circumstance. Nothing transpired between end of season to now where a star was made available. If we wait, there is a chance it could happen, especially depending on what happens to Brook and Middleton.

 

[RonBrewer]

Yeah in no way was that a coincidence. Maybe it wasn't Dame's idea specifically, but that was absolutely a purpose pitch.

All that said, I still feel fairly optimistic about the chances of Dame staying, and I also think every time Miami is raised as an option in the national press, the more obvious it is that it would be an absolutely awful package.

I WANT Dame to stay. I think he can play with and Mentor Scoot. I think it's the best case scenario. Also sick of all of the folks saying they can't win. Add two key pieces and it gives us a chance to compete.

In Dames defense, he has been quiet. Hopefully they are communicating and working other angles. I think he's at least mid-season away from making any decisions other conversations. He's got a few years ahead of him. Can we compete this year? Next year?

Just suck of all of the subliminal shit.

 

[RonBrewer]

He didn't record it, it was a live stream. It's not an impossibility that he did it on purpose but it also wasn't him in his room hitting play on some track that he had set up. Someone else was obviously the DJ. It also wasn't him recording anything, I do hope you understand what live streaming is.

I'm also more open to trading him because using your most valuable assets to draft guys that at least three years away from contributing at their highest level isn't fair for a guy that most likely won't be at his highest level four seasons from now.

k

 

[glazeduck]

I WANT Dame to stay. I think he can play with and Mentor Scoot. I think it's the best case scenario. Also sick of all of the folks saying they can't win. Add two key pieces and it gives us a chance to compete.

In Dames defense, he has been quiet. Hopefully they are communicating and working other angles. I think he's at least mid-season away from making any decisions other conversations. He's got a few years ahead of him. Can we compete this year? Next year?

Just suck of all of the subliminal shit.

This is where we start to diverge.

I want Dame to stay too. I think he would be a great mentor for Scoot, but I don't think he wants to be.

Can they win? Sure? Will they? Probably not enough to make him happy. I do think that 2 good adds gets us to a place to conceivably compete.

There's a catch-22 here: if Dame stays, the VERY likely odds are that we won't be able to do enough to get him a genuine shot at a title. That could cause him to resent the org once he's done. That would suck. The flipside is also just as likely -- Dame pushes his way out, affects his perception with a lot of the fanbase and still doesn't win a title. That would kinda suck too. The odds of ANY team winning the title in the previous offseason (or the one before that) are simply SO small that anything Dame does is only going to marginally improve his odds. We have to hope that deep down inside he knows that, and if he decides to stay, it will ALSO be done with that in mind, fully embracing and owning the outcomes.

On the Dame being quiet part? Respectfully, that's as silly as KOR trying to talk himself into the Miami song being a coincidence. Dame has been the opposite of silent and that's making Cronin's job immensely more difficult. He's been everything from passive aggressive to outright reckless lately. Sure, over the past few years he was relatively more subdued about it, but Dame's frustrations haven't been a secret for a few years now -- that comes from him not being quiet. And it needs to be said -- just like the Miami song thing -- "he" absolutely needs to extend to his family, agents, friends in the league and media, etc. Certainly that group is doing some of the talking for him, but that's all Dame.

 

[RonBrewer]

This is where we start to diverge.

I want Dame to stay too. I think he would be a great mentor for Scoot, but I don't think he wants to be.

Can they win? Sure? Will they? Probably not enough to make him happy. I do think that 2 good adds gets us to a place to conceivably compete.

There's a catch-22 here: if Dame stays, the VERY likely odds are that we won't be able to do enough to get him a genuine shot at a title. That could cause him to resent the org once he's done. That would suck. The flipside is also just as likely -- Dame pushes his way out, affects his perception with a lot of the fanbase and still doesn't win a title. That would kinda suck too. The odds of ANY team winning the title in the previous offseason (or the one before that) are simply SO small that anything Dame does is only going to marginally improve his odds. We have to hope that deep down inside he knows that, and if he decides to stay, it will ALSO be done with that in mind, fully embracing and owning the outcomes.

On the Dame being quiet part? Respectfully, that's as silly as KOR trying to talk himself into the Miami song being a coincidence. Dame has been the opposite of silent and that's making Cronin's job immensely more difficult. He's been everything from passive aggressive to outright reckless lately. Sure, over the past few years he was relatively more subdued about it, but Dame's frustrations haven't been a secret for a few years now -- that comes from him not being quiet. And it needs to be said -- just like the Miami song thing -- "he" absolutely needs to extend to his family, agents, friends in the league and media, etc. Certainly that group is doing some of the talking for him, but that's all Dame.

I've deflected all of the conspiracies up until now. Jimmy Butler is tweeting cryptic shitt now too.

All i'm saying is shut down the Haynes shit, all of the speculation. Quit having "Coincidences" pop up like "Bam is my best best dude, we are Homies" Oh and Jimmy Butler, we are tight too"

I think Dame wants to be here. I feel like at the very least, just lay low. Don't play the game on social media. If you want a trade, ask for it. I guess i'm letting dudes like Stephen A. Smith, Cowherd and others get under my skin. I like our draft. I want to build around Dame. I think he has a good four years of prime hoops. Can we win in that time frame?

 

[glazeduck]

I've deflected all of the conspiracies up until now. Jimmy Butler is tweeting cryptic shitt now too.

All i'm saying is shut down the Haynes shit, all of the speculation. Quit having "Coincidences" pop up like "Bam is my best best dude, we are Homies" Oh and Jimmy Butler, we are tight too"

I think Dame wants to be here. I feel like at the very least, just lay low. Don't play the game on social media. If you want a trade, ask for it. I guess i'm letting dudes like Stephen A. Smith, Cowherd and others get under my skin. I like our draft. I want to build around Dame. I think he has a good four years of prime hoops. Can we win in that time frame?

We're back to mostly agreeing again. I'd love for this shit to stop too, but for whatever reason, Dame thinks it's the right way to play things. It comes off pretty childish, frankly. But again, just because it's coming from SAS or Haynes doesn't mean it's not coming from Dame...

The one thing I keep coming back to -- last summer there was a rumor from the Oregonian I think?, it didn't even last a week, but the rumor was that both Dame and the Blazers were effectively wanting the other to break things off. I think about that a lot. In hindsight, it really like an extremely accurate description of the situation.

Very clearly Cronin and ownership aren't ready (or willing) to put a super team together, and very clearly Dame doesn't want to be the bad guy breaking up the marriage.

 

[Sloth]

I WANT Dame to stay. I think he can play with and Mentor Scoot. I think it's the best case scenario. Also sick of all of the folks saying they can't win. Add two key pieces and it gives us a chance to compete.

In Dames defense, he has been quiet. Hopefully they are communicating and working other angles. I think he's at least mid-season away from making any decisions other conversations. He's got a few years ahead of him. Can we compete this year? Next year?

Just suck of all of the subliminal shit.

I want Dame to stay as I would hope most Blazer fans would. He would be an enormous influence on Scoot, but I just don't get the vibes that he really wants to do that. No he hasn't really came out and said, 'Get me out of here' but I really don't feel he is in the mindset of helping young guys along either; he wants that ring and let's be blunt this team right now is not even close to a contender.

He is getting into the twilight of his career and wants to go out on top and I don't blame him. Will it be here in Portland? I sincerely hope so, but I am very much in the thinking that we will be trading him soon unfortunately.

We shall see.

 

[RonBrewer]

I just don't get the vibes that he really wants to do that. No he hasn't really came out and said, 'Get me out of here' but I really don't feel he is in the mindset of helping young guys along either; he wants that ring and let's be blunt this team right now is not even close to a contender.

Completely agree. That's the thing. Dame can play it however he wants. Free Agency starts on the 30th. Let's see how this all plays out. If we could add a good big, someone like Draymond and another Vet somewhere, who knows.

 

[glazeduck]

We're back to mostly agreeing again. I'd love for this shit to stop too, but for whatever reason, Dame thinks it's the right way to play things. It comes off pretty childish, frankly. But again, just because it's coming from SAS or Haynes doesn't mean it's not coming from Dame...

The one thing I keep coming back to -- last summer there was a rumor from the Oregonian I think?, it didn't even last a week, but the rumor was that both Dame and the Blazers were effectively wanting the other to break things off. I think about that a lot. In hindsight, it really like an extremely accurate description of the situation.

Very clearly Cronin and ownership aren't ready (or willing) to put a super team together, and very clearly Dame doesn't want to be the bad guy breaking up the marriage.

One other element to the Dame thing -- and I think it really IS the window that we're looking at for threading this thing -- is to what extent he really is looking for improvement?

Local media who know him well seem to continually suggest that he's not asking to be handed the championship trophy, rather, just wants to feel like he's being given a chance. If you look at the conference, it really isn't a stretch to say we can get there with a solid move or two. National media, on the other hand, seem to consistently push a much more extreme narrative, something to the effect of "give me a good shot at THE championship or else". Those two are not remotely the same thing.

I'm not sure I've ever seen Dame clearly state or correct anyone on his POV one way or the other. Feels like where the truth in his own head lies, will dictate the path forward.

 

[RonBrewer]

One other element to the Dame thing -- and I think it really IS the window that we're looking at for threading this thing -- is to what extent he really is looking for improvement?

Local media who know him well seem to continually suggest that he's not asking to be handed the championship trophy, rather, just wants to feel like he's being given a chance. If you look at the conference, it really isn't a stretch to say we can get there with a solid move or two. National media, on the other hand, seem to consistently push a much more extreme narrative, something to the effect of "give me a good shot at THE championship or else". Those two are not remotely the same thing.

I'm not sure I've ever seen Dame clearly state or correct anyone on his POV one way or the other. Feels like where the truth in his own head lies, will dictate the path forward.

Great post and agree with all. I believe Dame knows that Scoot was the best thing we could do. How will the rest unfold. Excited to find out.

And at the end of the day, if Dame and Brass agree to move on, I will support it. I just can't imagine him playing with a different jersey.

 

[glazeduck]

Great post and agree with all. I believe Dame knows that Scoot was the best thing we could do. How will the rest unfold. Excited to find out.

And at the end of the day, if Dame and Brass agree to move on, I will support it. I just can't imagine him playing with a different jersey.

Yeah, its gross. And I've always viewed Clyde in a weird way since he forced his way out. It's a gross feeling.

Fortunately, I think Dame is about a million percent more self-aware and thoughtful than Clyde. I'm optimistic that things will work out, but Cronin certainly needs to hold up his end as well.

 

[BIG Q]

Completely agree. That's the thing. Dame can play it however he wants. Free Agency starts on the 30th. Let's see how this all plays out. If we could add a good big, someone like Draymond and another Vet somewhere, who knows.

How is Portland getting Draymond? I see thoughts like that and am confused. Portland is over the cap. No Money. They can't send Nurk unless getting a center back. Doubt GSW wants Ant. They just got CP3. With regard to Draymond, I am concerned he is a system guy and would not be effective away from Curry. Add to that he is now 33. Not sure he is worth a young player like Ant.

 

[noknobs]

I would sit out if I were Lillard. The Blazers haven't done anything they promised to do. Adding 3 rookies to the squad is what the tank teams do, not teams building a battle hardened playoff roster.

God damn, some of you need to take a breath. You act like the draft is the end of the off-season instead of the beginning of it. It was pretty clear during Joe's press conference that they're looking at trades, not to mention free agents.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Yeah, its gross. And I've always viewed Clyde in a weird way since he forced his way out. It's a gross feeling.

Fortunately, I think Dame is about a million percent more self-aware and thoughtful than Clyde. I'm optimistic that things will work out, but Cronin certainly needs to hold up his end as well.

Dame just built a brand new home/compound. If he plays another 4-5 years somewhere else, he knows he is gone for good.

 

[BIG Q]

Aside from the Dame sentimentality, there has been a lot of discussion of Portland doing a rebuild sans Dame, and how long they would suck before contending. Many say 5-10 years. In back to back drafts Portland has picked up Sharpe, Scoot, Murray and Rupert. Most have a good feel that Sharpe and Scoot will be very good players for many years. Murray/Rupert, no idea. In;

2006-2007 Seattle was 31-51. Drafted Durant at 2
2007-2008 Seattle was 20-62 with rookie Durant
2008-2009 OKC was 23-59 with 2nd year player Durant, and adding Westbrook with the 4th pick and Ibaka with the 24th.
2009-2010 OKC was 50-32 with third year player Durant, second year players Westbrook and Ibaka and adding rookie Harden with pick 3.

That was a three draft rebuild. They key is to identify the right players. Hitting on them and getting lucky with a 24th pick too. Does Portland have their Westbrook and Harden in the form of Scoot/Sharpe. Might Portland get lucky with a Murray/Rupert? SEA/OKC changed their fortunes in three drafts. Portland is two drafts in without ever really declaring a rebuild. Yes, they do not have a Durant, but who is to say Scoot or Sharpe will not reach that level. If Portland goes full rebuild they would have another high lottery pick next year as well to add a key piece. If they do not commit to a full rebuild Portland has their Durant, he just happens to be a PG. Point being, if Schmitz is doing his job, Portland can find parallels to what SEA/OKC did. Is it pie in the sky stuff? Maybe. But it is a road map. Just draft good players.

 

[Tince]

I wasn't saying that about you personally, if you thought I was.

I didn't take it as a personal shot, but thanks for clarifying anyway.