I’m not giving up on this team just yet. It’s shaping up to be a weird year. Nobody looks that great to me.
I may be wrong, because the CBA has gotten super confusing but I believe that Dame isn't currently eligible for a Super Max. He potentially could be this summer but since he wasn't on an All-NBA team in 2016-17, he has to make one of the 3 teams this year or he won't qualify. Dame's next contract extension can't be offered until after his 7th season (this one). To get a Super Max you have to be on an All-NBA team that year or if you aren't you must have been named to them the previous 2 seasons. This is one of the reasons why Indy traded PG13 when he didn't qualify for the Super Max they knew they couldn't keep him.
A GM and coach who had a viable plan to build an effective team around him would help. Of course, that implies changing the rest of the roster.
Right Id just be letting him know that if he’s eligible he’ll get it. We want him to be the best Blazer ever and he’s welcome here as long as he wants to stay, that was kind of what I was getting at.
I've read that thread and posted in there. It doesn't mean I can't respond to someone commenting about it in this thread. I've seen like 20 different threads started in the last 24 hours about roughly the same thing and this one should be in the trade idea thread. Get your forum under control old man.
I love Dame, but Neil fucked this team so bad in 2016 that there is no way out... why delay the inevitable... bring Big Baller Brand to Portland baby!
As much as I like Dame, all he has done here is stack up personal accolades... he has not won anything for the team... Lonzo is a 6’6” PG with elite passing skills made for the new uptempo NBA... Lonzo will make players like Zach Collins and so much better
Ok... If we put Lonzo on this team the only thing that would accomplish is making sure we are perpetually in the lottery. He isn't good. The only really he's even sort of "passable" this year is he's playing with arguably the best player of all time. The Lakers sure would do that Dame for Lonzo trade in a heart beat.
I would NEVER want to trade Dame to the Lakers.....but of course they would have to include much more than Lonzo. At some point, if with Dame as the focus/leader of this team, for whatever reasons, they continue to be stuck in 1st round exits, (even if they win a game or two) something has to change. I'd much rather the change started somewhere else, but Dame is coming off an all NBA 1st team season. His value can't get much higher unless somehow this team gets to at least the 2nd round and more likely at least the WCF. Sadly, otherwise his career is just passing by as a very good player that we all love who isn't getting very good results. If having him here for his career as a perennial 1st round and occasional 2nd round exit and a community guy who we are lucky to have is enough, I can't find too much fault with that because of who he is. But I also don't take issue with those who are open to trying something different to get out of the rut this franchise has been in. Of course there is no guarantee that makes it better.....but right now with this group of players and this coach, 'stuck' seems worse than taking a chance.
Trading your superstar for a bunch of "mediocre" players has basically never worked. It just hasn't. There best bet is to try a new coach and see how that works out, trade CJ who isn't a superstar and try to get better. They will not get equal value for Dame in a trade. I find it odd that were even discussing trading the first real superstar the Blazers have had since like Clyde (maybe sheed?), the face of the franchise. For other teams mediocre players or draft picks all in the hopes that ANY of them turn out to be even close to the player Dame is. Basically every trade that's been brought up in here the other team would instantly accept before Neil Sobered up, because they'd be ripping the Blazers off. Now if you want to just throw in the towel for the next decade or so then sure trade Dame I guess...
In response to the OP: I don't trade Dame. I give him the year off to enjoy life with his son, and to work on a new album...or whatever other projects he might be interested in. Let him recharge his batteries while I get things sorted out. He comes back next season fully recharged and we dominate with a new coach and a better balanced roster.
