Dame all but demanding vet roster

“Knows the difference” Does that mean wanting Jerami Grant? Was he the impact player?

 

I like Billups and really don’t think he’s been given a legit squad to compete. Too many injuries terribly constructed with no size or length. Do I think he still has things to learn he’ll yeah! I also think he’d be good coach with younger team that appreciates his coaching style.

 

Me too, but that’s not what Dame wants. How many leads did we lose? How many double digit leads did we lose?

 

One thing that does scare me, at least a bit, is if we trade Dame, it also makes sense to not resign Grant and trade Nurk. We would be full-on youth movement - of which I am not opposed.

However, there is something to be said for a having a good veteran presence on a team (and we have just traded ours away). Then again, are Nurk or Grant the vets we want mentoring our youngsters?

There is nothing that says the veteran needs to be a starter or expensive player. Some vets are happy to essentially play assistant coach and work with the youngsters to help them and improve the team.

If you were looking to bring in a vet for a winning/teaching presence, who would you choose?

First name that came to my mind was Andre Iguodala.

 

yes, Grant is one of the pieces...Grant also played best with Hart and Winslow ...the 3 Js...Winslow was more important to the team than folks thought he'd be. Gramt picked up his rebounding when Hart was traded, so did Dame.

 

Thybulle, vet min guys, not that hard

 

JOSH HART

 

It's funny that Cbauncey complains about not having vets when the first time he actually looked like a decent coach was after we traded CJ last year and Dame was sitting out and suddenly the ball zipped around and the team played defense. That is, I think he's a decent coach of a rebuilding team and has shown no sign that he can coach a contender.

 

If we get the #1 pick AND Dame asks out, what do you do?

Assuming we tell him we aren’t trading Wemby.

I think I tell Dame to get comfy, because we aren’t dealing him.

 

Yeah, this is just a narrative push. Windhorst knows you can modify protections and that the Bulls would rather have a second rounder and a guaranteed pick either at 23 in this draft or unprotected in the next and that would make us one of the teams that can offer 5 picks... it's just absolute bullshit. They love the "Get Dame out of Portland NOW!!!" story. They are sitting on it at all hours, ready to pounce. Fuck em!

 

I think if you get the #1 pick you turn around, do what it takes to lock the Bulls in either at 23 this draft or unprotected next draft and then use the four picks, Ant and Nurk to get the best PF or C to play in the front court with Jerami and Wemby that you can. Then you don't have to worry about Dame asking for a trade.

 

So true. Screamin" A was trying, so hard , to push Dame into giving an ultimatum. It was ridiculous.

 

Dame was basically telling Smith that he'd communicated with the team, the team knows what they need to do and Dame hopes they will do it. That had to be a little bit of a disappointing moment for Stephen A. but it also had to be expected when interviewing the most level headed superstar in the game. These guys are all fucking jokers when it comes to Dame.

 

The Nat'l Media, sports or otherwise does not like us. Tourist magazines give us a fair break. Even now, most are pretty cool. And still love what we've got to offer. Major cities, everywhere in the US have problems. The abundance of sunshine seems be be most important in covering up nasty warts.

 

Stephan A called out DeRozan's daughter yesterday for yelling during Raptors free throws. "I understand that it was a strategy"
So a 10 year old kid in the stands was a factor in Toronto missing the playoffs ... really ?? Where's the grown men playing a professional sport blah blah blah ?

Stephen A Smith grumbles are WEAK

 

that's essentially what I've been saying...if Dame asks to be traded the Blazers need to go full cellar. Trade Nurkic, Ant, and any other vet. Make the team bad and try and land those top-7 picks for 3 or 4 more years

Ant has to go because he's got way too much MeJ in him, IMO

 

A forward that might be available in the draft.

 

The Blazers are not going to turn this roster into a contender this off-season. The Blazers don't have good enough assets to trade to move the needle (and we're not signing any big free agents). The only thing saving the Blazers is the possibility of winning the lottery (which has 10% odds iirc) and picking Victor Wembanyama. Even then IMO, that doesn't make the Blazers contenders (at least not for a couple of years). The best play for the Blazer's org and Lillard is to trade him. Get 3-4 future 1st round picks and/or young talent that better aligns with Sharpe's/Simons age.

The easiest way to see "significant improvement" for Lillard is to join a different team. Also, I think trading Lillard could be a positive for whoever purchases the Blazer's org. Allow the new ownership to start fresh with some great draft assets to help shape the team to their vision vs the old guard.

 

It doesn't have to be the #2 pick to have an ugly ending.
Dame was the 6th pick and Sharpe was a 7th pick. There are some good forwards in the 2023 draft.

 

This lacks imagination. We can easily have 5 first round picks available to trade and up to 46M in outgoing salary. That is enough to get an all star and a solid role playing starter to add to Dame, Shae and Jerami. We would still have a second rounder and the TPMLE to help the bench. Depending on the all star and the role player, that could easily contend next year. That's if we don't hit the Wemby jackpot.