He's leaving, because there is no way this team can get out of the first round unless CJ is traded, or voted an all-star along with Dame. Getting into the first round may be a challenge itself.
Cancun "Cutters" if they want to change the name? When they lose in the playoffs they don't have to travel IF they even try to make the playoffs?
combined, they missed 60 last year in a 72 game season, and we were tied for the 5th seed on a 48 win pace. Dame is the ultimate floor raiser in the NBA. His baseline is an 8th seed on his own.
One unmentioned reason for this: the Blazers will be huge into the luxury tax the longer they keep his rapidly-inflating contract. How committed is Jody? It's not like trading him is breaking up a contender...
I really wonder if he looks at CJ and sees the reincarnation of Roy? Is his vision a team that will use CJ the way Nate used Roy?
Next year Olshey will say it was on Dame. We could have done it but he was taking shots away from CJ.