that’s the direct quote after he said “After talking to people close to Dame he wants to come back to Portland”
1. When Dame said he wanted to return to Portland, that could reasonably be after the 27-28 season when he will be 38. 2. After he got hurt, I saw his one year recuperation as a way to trade at least two of Ayton, Grant and Simons to the Bucks and to get their 2031 pick. That was not the best idea, but it would have included Portis and/or PatConn. 3. The Bucks made a good move with Turner and the Dame-stretch to keep Giannis. 4. Scoot is no sure thing, but I like him. Shaedon, too. Holiday can likely play BESIDE any of Scoot, Shaedon, and Dame — not that all 4 will be Blazers if/when Dame is brought back. The guard position seems good but is in flux with the young fellas not having grabbed their positions. 5. The Blazers from Dame Time are Grant, Thybulle, and Sharpe (IIRC) I didn’t like it but saw why Dame had to be traded — because they did not build around him and go for it; he asked out; and the times had to change to youth. This odd set of circumstances makes his return — even immediately — make sense to me. This is an interesting summer.
Reports have been stating that Dame is "Excited" about being a FA. Also that he was considering opting out after next season. This just reeks of hypocrisy.
Good points. I don't think Scoot or Sharpe should go because of either old guys Jrue/Dame. Not to say Scoot or Sharpe are untouchable, but if one of them gets moved we need a young guard to take their place. While I kind of agree that Jrue can play with any other guard I don't think it makes sense to have both him and Dame. You don't need two guys over 35 at one position trying to provide leadership. Plus another former all-star PG in Billups is our coach? Kind of relates to my post this morning as if Dame to the Blazers is something that legit could happen in the next year it might be better to try and not go forward with Jrue on the roster.
The look of a man with regrets after realizing the grass isn't always greener somewhere else. Happens all the time in corporate America too. Employees get all riled up about how their employer is being mean to them, then they go somewhere else and wish they were at their old jobs. Of course, the reverse can be true too.
True, having all 4 guards — when Dame is ready to go — wouldn’t makes sense, and even having only 1 of Scoot or Shaedon would mean needing a young guard prospect with 2 guys in their mid-30’s when Dame is ready to go in 26-27. Jrue is a good short-term option to stabilize the guard positions while Shaedon and Scoot get better — or get traded. Currently, guard spot #4 is up for the taking.
To the OP - NO THANK YOU. Dame has his time here and that was good and enough. We are building a different team with a different identify, time to move forward.
As a fan of Blakey, I will disagree. By the time Dame is ready to play, we had better know if Scoot is actually the starting, long-time PG for this team. Regardless of whether Jrue is a flip by February or on the team for 2-3 years, he is (at his age) a short-term solution at the guard positions. Even Shaedon has not grabbed the SG position as his. Prior to the injury, having Dame back for a year or so in 2028 as elder statesman/retiring Blazer was a nice idea. More than just a symbolic 1 game then retire. More like one last hurrah on a (hopefully) playoff team. But it wasn’t something I thought was awesome or had to happen. Players move on. Now? There would be a year to get the guard situation worked out AND then add-in Dame in a significant way or even a rotation but less significant way. So, as a fan of the dude named Steve Blake, I’m not closing doors unless Dame closes it first.
