I understood it more as him trying to reassure the people that are big fans of his that he always had a big part of him that wanted to stay here and he wanted to stay with the city.
Yeah. That felt like gaslighting to me. If he never wanted out, and enjoyed teaching younger players, scoot was that guy. I think his leaving had more to do with his marriage falling apart
He said there were misunderstandings and miscommunications and he did not say something like, "only by the front office of the Blazers". I'm sure Dame doesn't find the majority of the blame lies with him. Personally I think the media campaign before the 2023 draft was fine. He just said that he didn't want the team using the picks they had and wanted experienced support added to what was already on the roster. I realize other people think that kneecapped Joe but I don't think it did because I don't think Joe ever planned on trading the third pick. I think Joe wanted to rebuild and wanted Dame to ask out. I don't think Dame wanted Joe to rebuild and did not want to ask out but the dude has a lot of pride and he wasn't going to be caught bluffing. So Joe got what he wanted and in hindsight it was the best thing for our franchise. In not saying that the miscommunications and misunderstanding were all on the side of Joe, Dame did take on some culpability but I'm sure if you asked him today his response would be let's move on but if he was forced he would say that him ever putting on another team's uniform was Joe's fault. None of it matters though because the rebuild was better for the organization than half assing a run built around Dame, Dame is luckily back with our team and I'm excited to see what our team can do this upcoming season and going forward. I hope Dame takes whatever role makes the most sense the season after next and retires a Blazer. Maybe we can get to a point where we're contenders and this story can have a happy ending.
I head the other day on Marang radio segment that Dame moved into Jrue house in Milwaukee after the trade. Apparently it's very common with NBA players to rent our your house to another established player. I think I remember hearing about a few Blazers doing that over the years. Not sure it means a lot but probably at the least a good sign right? I don't think you'd have players rent a house between each other if they didn't have a friendly relationship together at the least.
Some articles and media have been critical of the Blazers paying Dame the 42mil. Especially as they only are guaranteed to have him playing for one year. Hollinger at the Athletic had this take yesterday but there's been numerous others. I'm wondering if perhaps there might be some goodwill extended by the Blazers and eventually this could have Dame possibly willing to accept less money in a future summer. Blazers just full on gave Dame the max MLE offer they could with player option and no trade. No injury criteria. No waiting to see how he recovers. No team options, etc. Dirk and Duncan at the end of their career would often wait on signing their contract until the team finished other moves. If there was a lot of $ available they'd take a bigger deal. If the team was against a limit they'd take a lesser amount. Yes Dame could contractually leave after his next year of play. But Dame doesn't sound like someone in the mindset of ever leaving the team. You'd think he has a 6 year deal locked in by his comments. This dynamic might be a benefit 2-4 years from now, that is very unique to this one player situation. Does anyone think this is a potential benefit being totally overlooked?
WILL PEOPLE STOP TRYING TO TRADE JRUE? Can we have him play a few games first? 1. Dame is NOT GOING TO PLAY FOR A YEAR 2. Dame has never played even adequate defense, let alone the stellar defense that Jrue plays. They are not comparable players.
But…it is breakfast time and right now we can trade him for a combo meal, or at least like three to four items on the dollar menu. Right?
Talk about a sweetheart deal. There's basically no downside to that trade for the Blazers. Reaves is a fit for almost any team and really would fit here. Hachimuira's both useful and flippable. If the Blazers make the playoffs next year, then all the young talent is coming together and led you there, which means trading Holiday was a success. If the Blazers miss the playoffs, you at least cleared the way for more of those young players to play and to develop into bigger roles than they would have with Jrue here, which at the very least shows you what you have and what you need. And then you get a Laker pick in 2027 that will probably be no worse than the high teens or 20 that gives you another shot at drafting a key asset or that can be included in a trade.
Dude is back and obviously is looking ahead to the future and seems relieved to be able to put his and the Blazers past mistake (the whole trade debacle) where it belongs….. in the past. It’s over and done with, can’t we all just be happy with where we are as fans of this team and their players?I know that I sure am with regard to the Point Gard position at least!
What I don't get is why people care that he's getting paid this year. Chances are good if they had signed anyone, it wouldn't have been a player of value anyways (knowing their history and availability). Also, the only guaranteed amount of money is 28 million, since he can opt out of his contract in 2027. And if by that point he's 50% of what he was before, him at 14 million for 1 year isn't a bad deal. What I wish would happen (tho I think the chances of this are 0.01%), Scoot and Shaedon distance themselves from Jrue, and Jrue agrees to come off the bench. And then next season, Damian and Jrue are the backup 1 and 2. Like I said, it's highly unlikely and not realistic. So spare me the "ThAt WoN't HaPpEn LoSeR!!"
Honestly, that's a decent trade for Grant being that there doesn't appear to be a market. I'd be inclined to hold onto Vincent this year as an emergency backup PG. Sending out Grant opens the door for Sharpe, Deni and Toumani all to start, but Vanderbilt is a lot easier to justify coming off the bench than any of them, like you said he doesn't have expectations for PT, or, at least, to start.
Because chances aside it is a chance. It's flexibility. It's because it's always better to have an avenue to do something than to be backed against the wall. And Dame isn't playing this year and he might have been available for slightly less which gives us slightly more to put toward a piece that could fill a role. I guess the best way to say this is if you could have another Matisse (that level of role player, not a Matisse close) and almost certainly still would have gotten Dame, too, why would you deny your team that opportunity just to give Dame a little more money? The former is just a sound business decision. You aren't obligated to do the latter, because Dame probably was coming here regardless (or so we've been led to believe by how much Dame wanted to be back).
About a months worth of miscommunication and misunderstanding that involved asking the team for a trade to one specific destination and then having all your entourage and proxies taking the Blazers to task nationally for being disloyal? That requires a suspension of disbelief that every good pro wrestling fan possesses.
Hard to say. I have always believed that Joe was honest about wanting to help Dame (and the team) by trading the Scoot pick, but did not want to include Sharpe in the deal. So when no deal occurred that Joe liked, he held off on trading the pick. Dame got pissed, felt lied to, and those whom he relied on for advice stoked the fire. It got out of hand quickly, and communications shut down after he demanded to be traded to Miami. I can totally understand why Dame lost patience, but in hindsight, maybe he should have waited a little longer. Either way, I don't blame one side more than the other. It is over and done with.
