Meeting between Dame and Cronin today

Not knowing, I looked it up his salary and apparently got a bad link... so sorry!

STOMP

 

Gobert: 3 yrs, 132 mil
KAT: 5 yrs, 271 mil
Reid: 3 yrs, 42 mil

how the hell do you tie up this much money into one position? this is nearing half a billion dollars into a position many consider obsolete, and not one of these guys has the kinda impact of a Jokic or Embiid.

even typing out that KAT deal has me like shaking. something has to give.

 

It happens, my link was good, that’s why I posted about his horrible contract.

LAYNE

 

Assume Jerami wants to see what Dame but doesnt that kind of screw Grant. Grant isn’t going to want to wait long before he signs a deal.

again I think how quickly Grant signs is a strong indicator of what’s going on with Dame

 

Do we sign Grant if we can’t get Draymond or another big time player to come to Portland? What happens if Joe signs Grant to a big contract but Joe fails to get Draymond or another big player like Dame is asking for?

 

It wasn't a bad link this is the last year of his first supermax deal and next year his second supermax kicks in so that link you had, did have his current contract on it. Those sites can be a bit weird to navigate sometimes. Taking on KAT would be huge financial commitment on a player who is good when he's wishy washy but definitely not worth his next contract but again he better than good and pretty great when his heart is in the game. I think getting him out of Minny and on a team with Dame would be huge for him. He hasn't played the same since COVID took his mom and I'm pretty sure his grandma as well. I think he could use a new start... playing next to Gobert definitely isn't doing him any favors and back when his head and heart were in the game he was dominant on offense and a two way player.

No trade that any of us imagine is going to happen has much of a shot at actually going through, so we'll just wait and see about all of it.

 

I don't think Jerami will sign unless Dame commits to being here. I mean he might pursue sign and trades but I don't think he signs with us until this stuff with Dame is resolved and only if the resolution has Dame staying here... maybe I'm wrong though, he played in Detroit seemingly cool with just taking checks so we'll find out soon enough.

 

he might end up being right but I'm convinced he's just guessing. I'd also say there's at least a 50-50 chance Portland does next to nothing and Dame still doesn't ask to be traded

 

Unless our other deals are agreed upon before FA (whether it's FAs or trades or whatever), I find it hard to think Grant could commit early in free agency without knowing fully what Dame is going to do. And if he sits around and waits a few days, money from other teams may dry up leaving him without much options. It's a tricky situation....Cronin needs to figure out what moves can be made before the start of FA.

 

Well if Jerami is going to wait on Dame that could just be more drama for the Blazers.

 

That's true if the Blazers are really under the tight deadline all the talking heads are claiming exists. However, if Dame has a different timeline and Grant/PDX have the solid bones of a deal in place, there may not be the big pressure many imagine

 

Jerami Grant at $30 million is fine. Get him inked as he’s an asset and a player to keep. Losing that contract would suck, and that’s whether Dame stays or goes.

 

If no defensive piece budges, I would be willing to take KAT for Ant + change. I don't think it'll cost additional 1st round picks. They are as desperate as we are to move a redundant piece. That's a shitty organization over there and there's a decent shot KAT can reclaim his glory going to a new team, much like Andrew Wiggins before him. Defense would be a problem but he's a high-upside acquisition.

 

This is all such bollocks.

Dame, who has been a fantastic leader up to now, is really dropping the ball.

The Blazers have (for now at least) some really good young players to root for.

But right now, it's all about Dame.

In my opinion, Dame needs to decide whether he's going to play out his contract with the Blazers, or ask for a trade now.

The Blazers have tanked two seasons in a row, and nobody (or most people) wouldn't think less of him if he decided to ask for a trade.

Quit asking for promises and roster changes. It's not helpful.

I just want this crap to stop. The other players on the team, and the fans, don't need this constant whirlwind (sometimes tornado) constantly swirling over them and us.

 

Dame has to make decisions to suit your timeline and peace of mind, not his own?

 

He wants to win here in Portland. That's why he is pleading for an upgraded roster. Given what he's done to the team and community, he's earned that. The fact that he's never had a legit team to contend frustrates him. Isn't the goal of every team to improve talent in the off-season? When Cronin gave Dame the supermax extension last summer, it came with the "promise" to build a winner around him. Why else would Cronin give him that $$$ if the goal isn't to win while Dame is still in his prime? If the vision is to contend 5+ years from now, we could've just traded him last year or not extend him. So yeah, both Dame and Cronin agree to win now. Cronin inherited a bad situation and he needs time to to unfuck some things. Luckily, the past two tanking years yielded Sharpe and Scoot. So far, Cronin hasn't made a move because of one player. His moves have been what's best for the team (see draft). I expect him to continue to make moves with the team in mind first.

 

How are we gonna give him that contender?

 

I actually don't think it's as hard as it seems. I just have no faith that ownership is going to spend.

Otherwise adding OG for Ant and picks and Ayton for Nurk and Little makes us competitive. The easy thing to say is we're not contenders but nobody knows that. All Dame wants is a roster he can compete with.

Adding KAT for Ant/Nurk automatically makes us better. We have to start there before we can talk about being or not being a contender.

 

The only way it works with those additions is if Sharpe or Scoot blow up. None of those guys are legit second stars and that’s what we need. We aren’t anywhere near Denver or Phoenix or even LAC if they’re healthy. That’s the problem with a lot of these ideas. We still need a second star.

 

KAT is a second star. Shae and Scoot project as stars too. It won't fix itself overnight, but we need to get started at making the team better if a championship is the goal. You can always make tweaks along the way, but you have to get started.