Well of course if we got offered Anthony Davis or Paul George, we would have to consider that trade. We won't though and I'm not even sure I'd like that because of how much I like CJ/Lillard backcourt. Sometimes I prefer the player I like to the better player, honestly.
I want Dame and CJ to be on the Blazers for their entire career. I don't care as much about championships anymore (forgive me, Hoop Gods); I want to see players who love playing together having fun and playing well -- these two, despite their weaknesses, play great together, on and off the court. The rest will come.
Hear me out on this one but... Part of me wonders if this "bond" between Dame and CJ is scaring away potential big name free agents. As fans we can fantasize about how cool it would be to pair Hassan Whiteside or whoever with Dame and CJ but that player would be coming in knowing he's 3rd place behind Dame and CJ who have already established their place on the team. We're talking about 20-ish year old athletes who all have egos the size of their wallets. It's nice that CJ and Dame can set aside those egos for each other, and they may even be able to set it aside for a 3rd player. But from someone outside looking in, the situation may not be all that attractive. Just something to think about, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if the relationship was off-putting to free agents.
If anything, I think it does the opposite. Look at Durant. He went to GS because of how close those four players were together.
Honestly, I think you're right, but not necessarily for the reasons you think. Dame and CJ are nerds. Like serious basketball nerds. Dame may come off as cool, and even CJ has charm. But they are obviously intense as hell in their love for and understanding of basketball. Why do you think everyone we've signed in the last three years has been "this super smart basketball guy who isn't the most talented, but has MAJOR BBIQ"? That's their culture. Dame and CJ have established Portland as the Chess Club/Mathletes team of the NBA. And yeah, I bet that is off putting to a lot of free agents. Fuck those guys. I'm happy with my nerd team.
Dude, if I didn't think I only had a one in ten chance of being right, I'd take the b off of that bromance, and just call it like it is.
Half joking: what if maybe that (you know... THAT) is what's turning free agents off. Some folks are cool with that, some are not... Like, they have the meeting with Dame and Dame says "look, here's the deal with me" and they either say yes or they say no. Half-joking.
Ahem: Aminu? T-Rob?* Dorrel? Hawes?* Monroe?* Kanter?* LMA?* *Okay, these guys weren't signed, but they were either attempted signings or traded for.
