I don't know. The spectrum is from Beal on one end (who had a no-trade and a Dame-sized contract) through a Westbrook, a Kyrie, two Hardens, a Mitchell and a Durant, to Gobert. I think Dame's definitely on the latter end of that curve.
Riley is a master of complicated trades, the one he pulled off to acquire Butler involved 4 teams. We actually helped him in that case. When you have an experienced successful gm, they can drum up deals through agent relationships.
I totally agree Riley could, if he felt motivated to. The difference between this situation and the Jimmy Butler one is that Jimmy hadn't publically demanded a trade to Miami and had his agent tell other teams he wouldn't report to camp if traded anywhere else.
Count me as someone who would play hardball, to the point of letting Dame sit. If I were the owner, that would be my directive. It's possible though that current ownership will demand the opposite from Joe. In which case, Joe would take the heat for following boss's orders and caving.
If this is what happens I am certain that is because the vulcans signed or pushed for it. Let's not pretend any dame trade can be done without approval from ownership
If the Blazers don't play hardball and stick to their guns now, every other franchise will shit on us forever more. The Blazers need to make a statement if they ever want to be taken seriously and not have every team in the league think they can take advantage of us in every negotiation, forever.
Yeah, but the good gm's can see through that positioning. And some look at it as an opportunity to jump in, confident they can convert Dame.
Agreed, no atom in Dame's body is capable of sitting out If be best return for us means Dame ends in Philly, don't tell me he will complain playing with the MVP. Dame himself mentioned he wants to play with Mikal and PG13 and OG. . Send him to Miami or Philly or Boston or Brooklyn or Totonto or LAC. . Whichever lands us best return
Durant on another level, Mitchell much younger and much cheaper, GOBERT massive mistake and overpay that has many GM's getting a big time wake up call, and with all that this new CBA and uncertainties
I don't think Dame would sit out. I also don't think teams want to be dealing with any degree of drama moving forward that may include questions from day one about Dame's commitment or them being in the same position as Portland in a season or two. Because of that, I do not believe the Blazers are likely to receive market value for Dame.
Dame is such a bad guy but according to a report from Haynes someone that is respected and this is part of what Haynes said "This is something that Damian Lillard wants ( Heat trade ), but he also understands the situation the Blazers are up against. They want to make sure they get accurate value and assets in return. " See he understands the Blazers need to get value back but no Dame is a prima donna according to one ( maybe others ) silly fan and selfish and other BS that fans have said about Dame. I realize we all want this done so the team can move on but this is what happens when Cronin fails to do his job so he made this bed now he has to get this team out of it.
Im sure Dame will be reasonable but Joe shouldn't tell him one thing then do another. I see Blazers getting a list of 3/4 teams that he will be good with. And I still think Balmer is going to try and acquire Dame some way....just a gut feeling
Feel like you can't say both Durant and Mitchell. Either Mitchell is way younger and cheaper (in which case, Dame's younger and way healthier than Durant, who makes just as much the next two years) or that Durant is way better and higher-ceiling (in which case Mitchell is decidedly inferior and can't hold Dame's jock in performance). Can't really have both for this exercise.
If he understood, and was cool with Portland doing what they needed to do to "get accurate value and assets in return" he wouldn't give them 1 team only to trade to (who has no assets) and wouldn't be threatening to not report to teams other than Miami. So see, he doesn't understand that the Blazers need to get value back (or just doesn't care)
I think Dame understands....I think he was so pissed off that he didn't care now, if it was Haynes and Haynes actually said that it would seem to indicate that Dame's camp is seeing the negative fall-out from their 'scorched-earth-tak-no-prisoners' PR campaign and may be willing to compromise a little, or more than a little as I said, it sure seems like Dame was really angry about the situation and I'd guess that Dame's agent and Pat Riley convinced him he could get away with this hard line stance without damage to his brand because Cronin would fold quickly and Riley was a master of the PR campaign
