Again, I completely understand the Blazers perspective here. If they were ever offered this, they should sign immediately. It fits the template (though I am not sure Dame has the market of the previous stars). I am of the belief that Masai wouldn't include Barnes in any Dame deal, but I'd love to be wrong. What if it were Barnes, Trent, and filler for Dame straight across, no picks? Do you like that better than the Miami package?
Maybe, but we have no use for Trent. Need to move him for more liquid assets. But this is far less than the packages other stars got back their respective teams. Still better than the pupu platter from MIA, imo.
Perhaps ORL needs to send back less. But really their inclusion here is only a destination to move Trent to. Can try to find others better suited. The main point of the post is a Dame for Barnes framework.
Every single team in the Eastern conference is a "win now" team. By that I mean, they seriously want to make the playoffs. Remember what a huge deal that was for Sacramento.
Amick: Cronin was known to be spending summer league getting a fuller understanding of the market for Lillard, including among teams that might make a play for him despite his well-known Miami wishes. But the pressure will grow in the coming months, when the spotlight surrounding Lillard and Harden brightens yet again and their impatience inevitably grows along the way.
Give Dame what he wants within reason --- I would love to get 100% value but that is not happening and I know it will be tough but try and get Dame to a place he wants AS LONG as you can get about 85% value in return. This front office owes it to Dame to try and get him to a place he wants as long as it does not hurt the Blazers too much in the future.
How about no? If Miami really wants Dame they can give up max value - Martin Herro 2 prospects 3 1st 3 2nds and 3 swaps. If not ship Dame where the Blazers get the best return. Dame lost that card when he went public with the demand and had his agent spewing the list of only playing for one shitty team or he'll hold out. If Dame had played nice instead of scorched earth maybe the franchise tries to accommodate him. Since he didn't; they shouldn't.
Pressure for whom? The GM who is presiding over a losing team anyway and whose best chance to keep his job is to maximize the value for an asset? Or a 33-year-old player who wants a chance at a ring and sees his time in the League ending? I would argue the latter has more pressure put upon them to get a deal done quickly.
Fuck that. We owe him NOTHING. If we get multiple offers of similar value, then sure, say hey Dame, we have these offers and would be happy with any. Which team do you want to go to? Playing hard ball and giving us one team means any nice guy games are not on the table.
What gets lost in all of the current hullabaloo is that Dame has hamstrung both Neil and Cronin for years with his public requests to upgrade the roster. Make the request privately, go out and actively recruit guys to come to Portland and publicly shut the door on leaving. Our GMs have been negotiating with one hand tied behind their backs. And that is thanks to Dame.
On the contrary I think Griffin was empathetic of Cronins situation and advocating for small market teams like his.
