I still have one episode to go and season one. I’ve read that the fans aren’t very happy with season two because it’s not as good? The author is pleading for a season three because he’s got much more of the story to tell so he says.
Dame is a 2nd rate star about to make big bucks at age 35/36. Blazers should get assets for him while they can and be done with it. Start the new generation.
They do though, they have picks, and getting young former first rounders is like getting a pick. And getting out of Dame's contract with an expiring contract is something too. If the Blazer wait too long, maybe nobody will want him.
"You have to do right by Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson." I commented this back to one of Fentress's tweets last week. The pundits carrying water for Dame's agency talk about how players will see how they handled Dame's trade request and not want to stay in or come to Portland. Like the 18 guys who'll be Blazers this season are more worried about how the organization treated the guy playing in Miami than what the team brought in to help them. I still think most of these guys are going to go where they can get the most money, but, in a tiebreaker, the Blazers are going to score more points with Shaedon Sharpe if they hypothetically worked hard to bring in a Claxton-level player than a Jaquez-level prospect. Dame's not going to be playing here. The Blazers don't owe him anything and he's lucky if they do try to facilitate his wishes. They owe the guys that will be playing here the best effort they can make to create a playoff team for them, and they owe the fans that. For people like Fentress to claim otherwise he either has to be myopic or on the take from Team Dame or maybe both.
Saw this on Blazer Edge via Bleacher Report Toronto Raptors receive: Damian Lillard Portland Trail Blazers receive: 2028 first-round pick Thaddeus Young Chris Boucher Dennis Schröder Gradey Dick Scottie Barnes I think this is ok
Lol just OK? We would be so so lucky to land Barnes to pair with our young guards. I think this would be incredible (but yeah, I know, unlikely to get a Barnes package)
The most logical ending to the lengthy Lillard saga would put him in his preferred destination of Miami. Of course, that also means it wouldn't be the least bit shocking. But the Raptors elbowing their way into the Lillard sweepstakes and winning them by letting go of Barnes? That would be an internet-breaker, folks. This isn't on here simply for the shock value, though. While Toronto has split from head coach Nick Nurse and floor general Fred VanVleet this offseason, the organization still doesn't seem super keen on rebuilding. If the Raptors are going to push forward with the likes of Pascal Siakam and O.G. Anunoby, though, they have to find a difference-maker who could give this core a chance to compete at a high level. Lillard would simultaneously scratch itches for spacing, scoring, shot-creation and star power, all while giving the organization clarity. Add him to the fold, and now re-signing both Siakam and Anunoby becomes a no-brainer. Lillard would lift this offense in all facets, and Toronto's supporting cast would provide the defensive protection he has all too often been without in Portland. The Raptors would need to develop some depth, but a starting five of Lillard, Anunoby, Siakam, Gary Trent Jr. and Jakob Poeltl looks plenty formidable on paper. The trio of Anunoby, Siakam and Poeltl alone might deliver a top-five defense, and a Raptors offense that finished 13th in efficiency last season might jump an entire tier with a talent like Lillard, who just spent his age-32 season posting personal bests in points (32.2), threes (4.2) and true shooting percentage (64.5). The Blazers, meanwhile, would significantly brighten their future with Barnes, a jumbo playmaker, all-purpose defender and athletic finisher who would be an effortless fit alongside Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe. Dick might hold building-block status in Portland, too, since his fiery outside shot would open things up for the young Blazers to attack. Schröder, Boucher and Young would be around mostly to make the money work, although Schröder's presence might help Portland ease Henderson into the mix if the franchise is at all cautious of throwing too much at him too quickly. That future first could be a real gem, too, since Lillard, who turned 33 in July, might create more questions than answers for Toronto's long-term outlook.
Barnes is my #1 player target. Probably would only make sense from Toronto end if they can extend both Siakam and OG first.
I think we all know a deal returning Barnes would be a best-case scenario. It's just exceedingly unlikely.
