Looked over the trades and threw up in my mouth a little cause they were all CRAP and I am being nice by saying they were crap. ESPN writers please get a clue until then each and everyone of them just GO AWAY -- thanks
It's about not winning a title in a city (because they weren't traded away). Not comparing their success. Jeesh.
I would not give him a max extension based on loyalty or any such nonsense. He's already declining, if you love him so much we can build him a statue, no need to mortgage our entire future to show him respect
You know whats funny about people harping about the extension? He can't ask for one now, and didn't ask for one. And even if he did, when it would happen, the salary cap is most likely going to be 50-75 million more than it is now.
Listening to ESPN will rot your brain 90% of the time. I don't even know how worthwhile it is trying to weed out the quality reporting from the trash and clickbait.
. SI joining the trash heap. Though slightly more elegant… https://www.si.com/.amp/nba/2021/12/09/blazers-damian-lillard-future-ben-simmons-trade-rumors
My creative take (all is imho): Dame points out that he always was the underdog, high school, college, etc. Like Rodney Dangerfield, no respect. In a way Portland is sort of the same thing. Nobody fucking talks about the blazers, they are an afterthought even when better than the Lakers. The way Dame will really make history is staying in Portland and doing it his way, not KD's way, not Lebron's way. To be blunt KD's GSW ring and Lebron's bubble ring don't mean as much as others. What is impressive about texting friends and making a superteam? Fucking nothing and Lillard knows this perfectly well. If, and a big IF, Dame could pull it off in Portland his way, it would be a really really big deal. A victory for all the "little guys", from a small market, no name college etc. It would, hopefully, turn the Blazers into an organization that will attract the next Dame, a player who refuses to get a ring the easy way. i.e. Portland will fucking pay you and support you, fans included. The last thing I would want is a bunch of douchebag celebrities, who know shit about the game, courtside at MODA like they do at a Lakers/Nicks game. Going to be seen and not to watch. I think GSW moving to SF impacted Dame a lot because GSW was all guys like him from Oakland had. Now it moved across the bay so non-fanatics can pay millions to be seen at games. He knows full well the Blazers are all we have in Portland and he is not going to take that away. I believe he really thinks he can do it here, especially now that NO is out. (I am getting misty...) Hopefully, the example he is setting will impact young guys in the league, and even younger. Sure, most may well want the KD superteam path, but if you are a player that wants to do it for real then come to Portland. Boutique basketball. On the other hand, he may ask out next week. Ha!
All these National Media Assclowns give zero fucks if Portland ends up in Basketball Purgatory for decades. It's all about the major markets. It seems like only Blazer Fans can see through their agenda driven drivel. The compensation suggested in return, is laughable at best. A player the caliber of Dame, who is all about loyalty, come around once in a generation if your lucky. Even if the Blazers lucked out, and one future draft pick hit, that player is more than likely to say see ya, when his contract was up for extension. Dame is a rare breed. One that Portland, will likely, never see again. And if the team does get sold, it will likely be worth, half to three quarters of a billion dollars less, if Dame is traded. Sounds like an extra 100 mil. is a pretty good investment.
"With Olshey gone and the Blazers struggling, focus is on Damian Lillard. Lillard is at the heart of the Blazers' future. His frustration eased after offseason conversation with Billups but a sub-.500 record, individual struggles and an injury have re-kindled the concern." Damian Lillard, the Portland Trail Blazers and what lies ahead for a franchise in turmoil (yahoo.com)
