I don't remember any report about Portland rebuffing anybody (*Edit* like not taking calls or considering trades */Edit*). I remember them saying they were looking for star value. We had those assets yes. But what was available (or traded to another team) that would have been worth giving those assets up for and would have helped Portland be more competitive than Sharpe or Scoot?
Just as long as he didn't lie privately to Dame. Maybe everything I've heard is completely wrong and he didn't. But even Sly heard he did. Too much smoke. But I'm tired of arguing about that and want them to just move on from Dame already.
And those rumors about N.O. being interested in #3 said it was a future picks based package, not any sort of win now player that might keep Dame around. Being rebuffed means it was rejected, which is a lot different than him not taking calls. If #3 in what was originally billed as a 2 player draft, with the #2 guy falling to 3, isn't enough to land a Brown or Siakim, or Bridges, why would further out unknown picks have been enough?
I would really question Dame's intelligence if he thought Portland was going to go out and sign star free agents to put us over the top. I think Dame is smarter than that.
There were a ton of rumors going around that N.O. was interested in #2 or #3, which is when this board ran wild with Zion or Ingram potential. It then came out that it was based on future picks, not win now players. Easy to see why it was turned down.
If New Orleans had been rejected based on a certain package already and called right around the time of the selection, I would assume they were ready to offer something better because it makes no sense to offer something that's already been rejected. If one's serious about building a winner around Dame, they should at least answer. They might've finally offered Zion or offered Zion + an asset or two. Regardless on how you feel about Zion (I'm not high on him), it doesn't make sense to not find out.
How do you know Dame didn't believe that way because he had made serious headway with free agents or guys with one year left on his deal? I think Dame knows the business of free agents and Portland better than any of us considering he's been here over the past decade. I wouldn't question his intelligence no matter how he felt about trying to recruit guys here because he's lived that.
So you're saying they refused to even answer the phone on draft night? I find that very difficult to believe, but ok.
I find it very hard to believe there were star free agents available (who wanted to come to Portland) that we just refused to sign.
I'm just going off a Shams report. And piecing together what Eric heard regarding his utter reluctance to do anything with #3 two weeks before the draft plus talking to Dame about keeping the pick two days before the draft, which I don't think they do unless they fully plan on keeping it. Plus their inactivity in every other area, Jody being cheap, the rumors that they got tired of Dame's pressure, as well as Dame's recent comments about them not wanting the same thing anymore.
You're framing it as if they offered anything that was of consequence. The only offer I heard discussed was Scoot/Sharpe/Ant for Zion and that was obviously turned down.
Per Woj (which is supposed to be in the loop with Portland's FO) - Portland was willing to trade the pick for an elite player. So, I do not believe they were not willing to take calls. That sounds like bullshit to me. I suspect they told people what they wanted and if people were not in that range, they told them not to waste their time - and rightfully so.
I don't believe there were. I believe there was a guy with one year left on his deal that Dame convinced to play with him and Jerami and would've re-signed here next off-season.
Definitely. So if they're calling around the time of the selection, why wouldn't Portland answer to see if they lowered the package?
Woj is linked to Cronin. He will report what Cronin feeds him and wants reported. Shams does this too, it's why he and Woj have gotten where they are. I'm going off a Shams report, who's not linked to Cronin. Maybe Shams is wrong. But I take everything said regarding this situation with a grain of salt, even Woj.
I don't think Shams is vengeful. He was definitely reporting it from New Orleans side of things though.
So you skated around it in your last reply, but are again saying that Portland refused to answer any calls during the draft. I again find that really hard to believe.
