What does the team do if Dame isn't traded before the season starts?

[Natebishop3]

TBpup and I were talking about this. If Dame isn't traded this summer, and Joe continues to pause on free agents and trades, what does the team look like in game 1?

We lost Eubanks, Knox, Watford, and Reddish. We haven't added anyone except our rookies. Scoot, Murray, and Rupert.

Do we play Dame? That seems risky. What if he gets injured?

Do we play Nurk? Who is the backup center right now? Reath?

I think there's a very good chance that Dame isn't traded before training camp and I'm really wondering what our rotation looks like we're still in this holding pattern.

Here's who is currently on the roster:

 

[blazerfan11]

The same as if Dame hadn't asked for a trade.

The one thing that Billups can't do is start Simons and Dame together. It's the worst pairing possible out of all the combinations.

 

[Natebishop3]

The same as if Dame hadn't asked for a trade.

The one thing that Billups can't do is start Simons and Dame together. It's the worst pairing possible out of all the combinations.

I just don't think we can play Dame. It hurts Scoot's development. Dame could get injured and hurt his trade value. I would rather Dame hold out.

 

[blazerfan11]

If Lillard does not make it easier to trade him, then there really isn't any reason for the Blazers to continue the process.
And he should understand that. That means he plays for the trailblazers for the rest of his contract.

 

[maxiep]

Dame plays and show why he's a bargain at the price we're asking for him.

 

[blazerfan11]

I just don't think we can play Dame. It hurts Scoot's development. Dame could get injured and hurt his trade value. I would rather Dame hold out.

From the point of view of people who wanted to him to stay, I think they would want him to play and give it a shot.

My main point here is that if Dame does not end up saying he will be happy playing anywhere, to me that means he's OK staying with Trail Blazers.

I do not think it will be acceptable, nor should it be acceptable to the owners, that a player will sit and do nothing. either he should agree to be traded to where the trailblazers want him to go or he should play.

 

[blazerfan11]

I just don't think we can play Dame. It hurts Scoot's development. Dame could get injured and hurt his trade value. I would rather Dame hold out.

I know you want him gone (traded) and I understand that point of view.

But I don't think that has been the intention of Joe Cronin. Cronin, I believe, would be just as happy or probably even happier if Dame stays.

I think this is something that people haven't considered. And that means Dame has even less leverage than he thinks.

 

[1 Eye Jack]

I think there’s zero chance he won’t be traded by training camp. Miami or Cronin will cave before then. My guess is it happens between now and next Friday, Miami has to figure out their roster and fill in the gaps before all free agents are gone. I wouldn’t be surprised if they sign Watford.

If I was a betting man and I am I would bet deal gets done this weekend

 

[Chris Craig]

The easy answer is, if they are still here, we start Dame and Nurkic. They are under contract. But, you have to wonder if Dame and the Blazers would agree for him to sit until he is traded.

That said, I think the Heat will cave before then. They are desperate for him. I think they will find a third/fourth team to make the deal work, get Portland what they want, and get Dame.

We can afford to go into next season with Dame. They can't afford to go into next season without him, having lost Strus and Vincent and having alienated Herro and Duncan.

 

[Natebishop3]

Alternate question - what if it takes 2 months to trade him and now there's no free agents left? If Nurk goes too... who is our center?

 

[Chris Craig]

Alternate question - what if it takes 2 months to trade him and now there's no free agents left? If Nurk goes too... who is our center?

Then we will have a very young and shitty team. There will be guys to sign, just not guys who are good. Might have to go with Reath and upgrade Badji to a real contract. Probably not, there are centers out there. Again, not good ones, but probably better than them at this point.

 

[andalusian]

Alternate question - what if it takes 2 months to trade him and now there's no free agents left? If Nurk goes too... who is our center?

If no bigs come back in the trade, I assume Badji until the trade deadline.

 

[Natebishop3]

If no bigs come back in the trade, I assume Badji until the trade deadline.

I would actually rather have Reath if we can keep him. I think he's more ready to play big minutes. Badji needs a LOT of work.

 

[andalusian]

I would actually rather have Reath if we can keep him. I think he's more ready to play big minutes. Badji needs a LOT of work.

Whatever, honestly. Slightly less undersirable?

(Nothing personal about these guys, they are just not NBA caliber centers based on the little I have seen of them).

 

[Natebishop3]

Whatever, honestly. Slightly less undersirable?

(Nothing personal about these guys, they are just not NBA caliber centers based on the little I have seen of them).

Who else is even out there at this point?

 

[andalusian]

Who else is even out there at this point?

Well, I am still hoping for a Ben Simmons trade option and running him at Center. I am shocked no-one ever tried to do that in the NBA - it just seems like the perfect spot for him in the modern-nba with his aversion to shooting but his ability to switch on defense.

 

[Natebishop3]

Well, I am still hoping for a Ben Simmons trade option and running him at Center. I am shocked no-one ever tried to do that in the NBA - it just seems like the perfect spot for him in the modern-nba with his aversion to shooting but his ability to switch on defense.

True.

 

[Chris Craig]

I would actually rather have Reath if we can keep him. I think he's more ready to play big minutes. Badji needs a LOT of work.

Beggars can't be choosers

 

[wizenheimer]

I just don't think we can play Dame. It hurts Scoot's development. Dame could get injured and hurt his trade value. I would rather Dame hold out.

I don't agree with that

the way for Portland to maximize Dame's trade value is to play him as if they were keeping him unless a great offer was made. Sitting him out doesn't generate great offers; it just tells teams to make low-ball offers

yeah, there's a risk he gets injured but the NBA is not a risk-free zone

Cronin is starting to reverse the perception and gain the upper hand on leverage because it's looking like Portland may very well expect Dame to show up for training camp and play next season. Signalling it's bluff by sitting Dame out hurts the leverage Cronin is building

 

[1 Eye Jack]

Alternate question - what if it takes 2 months to trade him and now there's no free agents left? If Nurk goes too... who is our center?

Why not make it 3-4 team trade bring Phoenix into it and trade Nurk plus one of the first rounders we get Ayton. Solves problems for everyone Phoenix dumps huge contract and get a pick back which they desperately need. Miami gets Lillard and we get a young center with some upside plus draft picks

or do 3 team deal with Brooklyn where they get Hero we get Ben Simmons as our center. We become run and gun team

 

[Natebishop3]

I don't agree with that

the way for Portland to maximize Dame's trade value is to play him as if they were keeping him unless a great offer was made. Sitting him out doesn't generate great offers; it just tells teams to make low-ball offers

yeah, there's a risk he gets injured but the NBA is not a risk-free zone

Cronin is starting to reverse the perception and gain the upper hand on leverage because it's looking like Portland may very well expect Dame to show up for training camp and play next season. Signalling it's bluff by sitting Dame out hurts the leverage Cronin is building

I don't think he has to play to maintain leverage. Everyone knows what he can do. He just came off his best season. What Joe has to do is show that he's willing to hold onto Dame until he gets a better offer. Playing Dame is irrelevant to that.

 

[wizenheimer]

Alternate question - what if it takes 2 months to trade him and now there's no free agents left? If Nurk goes too... who is our center?

alternate question to your alternate question: what does it matter?

Blazers are already bound for the lottery next season. More losses because of a lack of a marginal C isn't a bad thing. Hell, bring back Whiteside if it worries Portland

current FA C's:

Omer Yurtseven
Nerlens Noel
Boban Marjanovic
Meyers Leonard
DeAndre Jordan
Willy Hernangomez
Gorgui Dieng
Moses Brown
Tony Bradley
Bol Bol

 

[Natebishop3]

alternate question to your alternate question: what does it matter?

Alternate alternate alternate question: are we just tanking? Or are we trying to win?

 

[Chris Craig]

alternate question to your alternate question: what does it matter?

Blazers are already bound for the lottery next season. More losses because of a lack of a marginal C isn't a bad thing. Hell, bring back Whiteside if it worries Portland

current FA C's:

Omer Yurtseven
Nerlens Noel
Boban Marjanovic
Meyers Leonard
DeAndre Jordan
Willy Hernangomez
Gorgui Dieng
Moses Brown
Tony Bradley
Bol Bol

Christian Wood

 

[wizenheimer]

I don't think he has to play to maintain leverage. Everyone knows what he can do. He just came off his best season. What Joe has to do is show that he's willing to hold onto Dame until he gets a better offer. Playing Dame is irrelevant to that.

as I said...agree to disagree on that point

I know you want to move on and get going on the Scoot era. But you are also adamant about not accepting a shit offer for Dame. Those two viewpoints may be in conflict

 

[Chris Craig]

Alternate alternate alternate question: are we just tanking? Or are we trying to win?

Answer: We don't have to tank.

 

[Natebishop3]

as I said...agree to disagree on that point

I know you want to move on and get going on the Scoot era. But you are also adamant about not accepting a shit offer for Dame. Those two viewpoints may be in conflict

The real question is, can Dame not sit out after his camp made threats about sitting out if he doesn't get to Miami? If he doesn't sit out, that would signal to other teams that Dame will show up and play if they take him.

 

[Natebishop3]

I want a center that is going to help make Scoot look good. I want ROY.

 

[Chris Craig]

The real question is, can Dame not sit out after his camp made threats about sitting out if he doesn't get to Miami? If he doesn't sit out, that would signal to other teams that Dame will show up and play if they take him.

Fair point.

 

[wizenheimer]

Alternate alternate alternate question: are we just tanking? Or are we trying to win?

trying to win with the realistic expectations.

if the Blazers were really trying to win next season they wouldn't be sitting idle right now. They'd actually be addressing the defense instead of setting up to have the worst perimeter defense ever