The best and quickest way may not be the same way. The Blazers have a couple avenues they can go down. Cronin is almost certainly going to try and "go all in" this summer to put another star player around Dame. He is going to attempt to pull off a blockbuster deal. Part of that might mean giving the New York pick to Chicago to open up future picks to deal with. The can of deals that bring big stars to your team are rare and difficult to pull off. Chances are he will get outbid by another team with better assets (i.e Oklahoma or Utah). Another question is who will be available? It's not like there is going to be a lot of star players being traded this summer. There is not going to be a lot of opportunity. Toronto is the go to with Siakam and OG, but they are overvalued and the asking price will be steep. The Sixers could burn out in the playoffs again and Embiid, who seems to want to play with Lillard could possibly be had (Does he fit in Chauncey's system though). The Twolves might abandon the twin towers and trade KAT if all doesn't go well. The Blazers would have to send a hefty package to get any of these guys. It would leave a shell of a roster, with Dame, the acquired star, and maybe Grant along with some lesser players left. The three of Dame, newly acquired star, and Grant would take the whole salary. The Blazers would have to hope free agents would suddenly want to come here for cheap. That's a big risk to take. That's leveraging the future for a shot in the dark at contending. Maybe Dame deserves that, a chance sooner than later. But, maybe it's not best. I don't take stock in the trading Dame for young players and picks and rebuilding at this point. Dame still wants to be here and until he asks to leave you don't trade him. Dame is the best chance this team will have to win anything in many many years. The best, but maybe not quickest way would be to keep drafting players and hope to hit the jackpot and keep building around the Dame. Then, if he asks to be traded eventually the Blazers still have something left when he is gone. There are issues with this. You hear Dame's prime being thrown out there, but the real matter is Dame takes up a lot of salary room. The Blazers continuously run into having to let players go once they become good and are ready for their payday because the Blazers can no longer afford to keep them. They overpay other lesser players to keep them and don't have salary space. They are getting ready to overpay Grant. Cronin is supposed to be a numbers guy, so hopefully he can figure all that out. The Blazers have to play by desolate small market rules. Drafting is a small markets best asset. That's how GS got Curry, Thompson, Green and a hoard of Championships. It takes a good trade or too though as well. Look at Milwaukee. Though it helps when your star is a seven foot freak.
I have been wondering if we had a gentlemen's agreement that we'd get Dame his super max and then try to find him a home after proving that he's still elite.
Joe was director of player personnel for 8 years and lead scout before that, also cap dude. Seems he has the background to orchestrate a block buster, but does he have the nards? I think he’ been working on nards exercises on his free time. Remember he is methodical but he knows Dames expectations and I believe JA’s
"How many good young players and picks could Dame fetch?" That is a good question. I am not sure we will get fair value back by trading Dame. It is worth exploring but I am not counting on it. He makes a shit load of money and what we need back is a young star. And that young star will need to put up with losing for a few years and not want to move on after his contract expires. Having said that I think we keep Dame. I am not convinced that anyone who wants to trade for Dame, (Someone who thinks he will make them a contender) will have any top draft picks now...... or in the near future. So they would more than likely need to gut their team to make it worth it to us. We have young players now and we have two 1st round picks. We can go young if we chose and keep Dame. Personally, I like a lot of our pieces...... Guards: Dame, Ant, SS, and Thybulle is solid SF: Cam and Nas are decent, but we either need an upgrade here or at PF. PF: Grant, Watford are decent but we either need an upgrade here or at SF C: Nurk can't stay healthy. We need an upgrade but I am not sure we need a star. (Nor will a star center be available) So how do we get that upgrade at forward? We could draft one and continue to go young, (Jarace Walker? ) or we could trade three firsts for one. (2 from this draft and a future) plus Ant and Nurk to match salaries. For me, it will depend on who is available and where we land in the lottery. I think we have to wait until May to find out.
The thing that makes the most sense if you don't consider like, feelings and shit, is probably trading Dame. But man it's tough to trade Dame.
For those that advocate trading Dame, give me names of players and or picks you think you COULD acquire that would put us in contention. Stating we need to trade Dame doesn't answer the, For What/What specific. Lay out a trade as if you were trying to convince Jody & Bert to pull the trigger. Otherwise your suggestion is like saying that car has a feature but you don't clarify the "so what" is the benefit.
Guards: I agree, it's solid - but Portland DESPERATELY needs a legitimate backup PG. Last one we've had is Evan Turner... Steve Blake before that (almost 10-years ago!)... Forwards: Biggest thing needed at this position right now is REBOUNDING and muscle. Out of Cam, Nas, Grant, & Watford -> Watford is the one that will bang and play 'big'. Nas can on occasion. But Cam & Grant are finesse players. Center: Nurk is good when he plays a limited role and ~20-minutes/game. His game deteriorates quickly when he tries to do too much & fatigued. Ideally, he'd tag-team the C position.
I agree with this, especially the more muscle part at forward. As for PG.......I think Ant is capable for the 14 minutes that Dame is out. However, we do need a 3rd PG in case of injuries. (and of course, a 2nd string PG if Ant is traded)
I have mixed feelings on this. Olshey tried to immolate the warriors and failed. The flaw i see in this is, as a champion goes, so do the leagues adjustments. If trying to immolate something that worked a few years back, odds are it will be much tougher to repeat because of the adjustments other teams make.
Fortunately, Draymond has initiated the Warriors' self-immolation, so we don't really have to worry about them much anymore.
I watched Nurk get blocked what..2...3 times in a row under the basket last night? Did he get more than a foot off the ground? Missed 3 pointers? Missed FG's? We win 2 games ago if he makes even 50% off his free throws in the second half. I rarely try to point at a single anything....but until we have consistent paint & restricted area prowess...no trade is gonna get it done. Also, I like Billups....not sure if he can manage a game in the last 5 minutes well enough to drive a contender.
Why would anyone need to jump through the hoops you've created? Nobody that supports trading Dame thinks you can trade him and quickly become a contender from those pieces. That was never the argument.
Olshey tried to set the Warriors on fire???????? I knew he was a flaming asshole but this is new information......
Not my point. The question was for those that advocate trading him, submit a realistic trade package? I would believe the goal going forward regardless would be to build a competitive/contending team within a couple years.
You said people need to list what we could trade Dame for that would put us in contention. Nobody thinks that is realistic. They want picks and they hope to hit on them. It isn't complicated.
