The "Build Around Dame Vs Not" Myth?

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by wizenheimer, May 17, 2022.

  1. Phatguysrule

    Phatguysrule Well-Known Member

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    Yep, I already acknowledged that we have choices. Obviously, you're free to choose the pissed off and miserable option if you like.
     
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  2. Phatguysrule

    Phatguysrule Well-Known Member

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    Those moves weren't available, obviously. When you have overpaid players you have to sacrifice talent or financial flexibility. We tried sacrificing financial flexibility for the last 5 or 6 years and we didn't have any more to do.

    Choices were to keep that group together or sacrifice alot of talent in hopes of trying something different. Dame very publicly demanded that we try something different.
     
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  3. PtldPlatypus

    PtldPlatypus Let's go Baby Blazers! Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

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    Jerami Grant is 28
    Christian Wood is 26
    Collins and OG are 24

    The "win-now" players people are advocating for acquiring (and the one Dame apparently wants) are young, and can support both a present win-now plan, as well as a future "post-Dame". If somehow Sell-Low Joe is able to acquire a couple of the players above (I'm not particularly optimistic, but who knows?), and then add another young win-now piece with the MLE (Smith [22], Bamba [24], Warren [28], Anderson [28]), it'd be tough to say with a straight face that that roster wouldn't have at least a chance of developing into a contender, or having a decent future if Dame were to ask out.
     
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  4. PtldPlatypus

    PtldPlatypus Let's go Baby Blazers! Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

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    I mean, add Grant, Collins and Bamba (for example) to our existing roster, and you're looking at:

    Dame/Ant
    Ant/Hart
    Grant/Nas
    Collins/Winslow
    Nurk/Bamba

    I'm sorry, but if they're able to play together cohesively, and healthy Dame is what we perceive healthy Dame might be, that's a dangerous roster.

    We just have to see what happens. Cronin's basically got 50 days to try to pull this off and prove his GM chops. I don't truly believe he can do it, but it's premature to claim that there's no way it can be done.
     
  5. Mediocre Man

    Mediocre Man Mr. SportsTwo

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    I’m not sure that’s achievable, but that’s a better constructed roster than we’ve had in years
     
  6. KSF-ERIC

    KSF-ERIC Well-Known Member

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    No cap space? I’ve read articles that we have flexibility to sign Zach Lavine.
     
  7. SharpesTriumph

    SharpesTriumph Well-Known Member

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    No cap space if we have a TPE (listed in post I replied to), resign Simons, Nurk, or keep Hart.
     
  8. KSF-ERIC

    KSF-ERIC Well-Known Member

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    I read if we renounce Hart and one other player I can't remember, we can sign LaVine.
     
  9. Mediocre Man

    Mediocre Man Mr. SportsTwo

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    Eric, he’s a really horrible defender
     
  10. MickZagger

    MickZagger Well-Known Member

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    I think we are going to miss out on getting maximum value for Lillard in a trade. Because it’s clear to me we aren’t putting a championship caliber team around him anytime soon.
     
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  11. Phatguysrule

    Phatguysrule Well-Known Member

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    I don't think we could get max value out of Dame right now anyway... If he shows that he's back and better than ever we should get max value after this coming season or by the deadline the following season.
     
  12. STOMP

    STOMP mere fan

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    Why not this next season's trade deadline? If the team is meh again as expected but Dame is back to his full superpowers, I would hope that options are explored.

    STOMP
     
  13. HailBlazers

    HailBlazers RipCity

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    If Dame is back to his full superpowers this team will NOT be meh.
     
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  14. Phatguysrule

    Phatguysrule Well-Known Member

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    Could be... I would just expect them to take a swing at improving the team around Dame at the deadline.

    But maybe of they aren't getting the offers to build around Dame they'll pivot. So yeah, it could happen at this coming deadline.

    But really, I just think the value of the team with Dame is going to be higher than it will without Dame. So I don't expect ownership to do anything to upset him. They'll do whatever they can to keep him around until the team sells.
     
  15. Phatguysrule

    Phatguysrule Well-Known Member

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    This is my feeling as well.
     
  16. Mediocre Man

    Mediocre Man Mr. SportsTwo

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    If Dame is back to his superpowers (ISO ball) this team will always be meh
     
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  17. calvin natt

    calvin natt Confeve

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    The difference is one can be 20 and the other is likely 28+. Every team at every level wants long athletic wings. That’s like wanting good starting pitching. But are you going with the minor league call-up and letting him flourish or going out and buying Clayton Kershaw.
     
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  18. STOMP

    STOMP mere fan

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    It's a team game and there are many variables to the PTB besides just Dame. They have no defensive stoppers... teams lick their chops deciding who they're going after. As of right now, their forwards are maybe the worst collection of talent in the league. Even if everything goes right for them, short of fleecing team(s) in trades, I don't see them as contenders next year which is what I meant with the meh comment. Certainly if Dame is 100 there will be some exciting moments, but I'm talking about being legitimate contenders.

    STOMP
     
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  19. STOMP

    STOMP mere fan

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    ISO ball is okay in small doses (short clock situations) but as a staple of the attack it sucks.

    STOMP
     
  20. STOMP

    STOMP mere fan

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    The big swing they could take (of course) is moving Ant for talent that is a better fit beside Dame. Other then future draft assets (please god no), thats about the only real desirable commodity they've got. With how far this team seems from competing for a championship, he seems to be the much better choice to build around but very possibly there are factors I'm not considering. Hopefully this offseason brings magical upgrades that change the analysts.

    STOMP
     
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