Every year Portland misses out on the big trades. Every year some big star (and often more than one) is moving somewhere else, but never to Portland. We exist in the twilight zone, sort of in the NBA, but not really. We are the team you have to play during the regular season, the team that’s up there somewhere in the Pacific Northwest where it rains a lot, but not the team you’ll ever see in the Finals. We’re just the practice team for real NBA teams.
I think Dame is resigned to it. He's prized loyalty over chasing a ring. I think it's a legitimate choice and one that is both reputationally and financially more beneficial to him. Of course, he wants to win, but I think he's also realistic enough to know that the competitive landscape just isn't in our favor of competing for a championship. We can have lightning strike and go deep, but a ring is highly unlikely.
Lillard is sort of like a Blazer fan himself. He hopes and hopes that something will change, that the team will somehow get over the hump and his dreams will all come true, but he’s also come to terms with the idea that it will never happen. Still, he’s the guy out there busting his butt for 82 games every year. That’s a little different from the average fan who can shrug his shoulders after a loss and go back to his favorite video game.
I think he knows this season is yet another throwaway year. No reason for Joe to blow his load at this deadline. Nothing would get this team past the second round. WCF is Denver and Phoenix.
If you read the Quick article and Quotes, Dame seemed pretty fine with it. Side note: Everyone praising the Suns seems to have forgotten that Durant demanded a trade there recently, and most likely demanded a trade after the Irving trade as well.
Honestly Dame will not say anything during the season and I want to be wrong on this next part and hope I am wrong on this next part so so much BUT my prediction if the following does not happen by let's say Mid July ish Also assuming nothing much else happens at this deadline too -- Blazers somehow IF they miss the playoffs score a Top 3 pick in draft -- Blazers use Nurk , Knicks pick ( assuming they make Playoffs ) and others ( Little etc ) to get another impact player -- Jody Allen sells the team to someone who seems to care about winning and NOT just will they go into the TAX hell and honestly cannot think of any other good things that could happen that could change the direction of the Blazers into a contender ALSO maybe a couple things that could drive Dame to the decision we all know I am about to bring up 1) Grants leaves the Blazers and get ZERO in return 2) Billups is fired ( maybe ) If the direction of this team looks no different then it did last summer then and it hurts my soul to say this and I would not blame Dame but he asks for a trade I want to be wrong on this and hope I am but after seeing what just happened IF Dame really wants a ring by the time he retires then this could happen but depends IF the chase for a ring is greater then his loyalty to the Blazers.
All it would take is for Dames wife to want to move elsewhere and puts the pressure on him to do so. Honey I want to move to South Beach and enjoy the fantastic weather, you're moms all in too.
I think Lillard has resigned himself to the hope of that one magical Dirk type of run for one championship. He knows its not this year. Sucks but I'm sure after 10+ years he understands it better
I could put up with a lot this year for 42.5 Million... so sorry if I don't view him as some sort of downtrodden victim. STOMP
I do find it a bit weird that some posters who have been big advocates of trading Dame are now trashing Cronin & the Blazers for not treating Dame right by trading role players and picks they don't have for all-stars
depends on PHX health, they are counting on a couple guys (Durant especially and Chris Paul) who are older and injury prone.
A really good return? The trade, however nice it was, is just tinkering around the edges. It’s not a difference maker. Portland fans can congratulate themselves for getting a good return for Josh Hart, but meanwhile Phoenix fans are celebrating getting Kevin Durant.
