Notice Joe Cronin Press Conference

Yes, it'll depend what the Blazers get for Lillard. Even that won't absolutely indicate what his plan was before Dame's trade request. But if the Blazers do get Zach Lavine or Siakam or something like that, it's pretty likely he was being honest about still trying to win now.

 

GIVEN: Cronin is an inexperienced GM who has been around the negotiations learning the bad (Olshey) and the good from others. Cronin is said to be a numbers guy. And personable.

When evaluations of draftees and current players around the league were done enough, and when the deals were discussed, Cronin went with his “numbers.” His building of the team just did not fit Dame. I’m not discounting everything else that went into Cronin’s decision making and reducing it to data or $$$, only. However, he said it was his job NOT to push all the chips in unless it was the right guy (especially when he only had so many chips in front of him).

He has to look at trading Lillard as putting all the chips in the middle, because that’s what he’s doing.

 

Things Joe said that stood out to me (not exact quote)

1. Anytime Dame wants to be part of us again in the future, we're open to welcoming him back.

I find this interesting since Dame is still here. He's talking like Dame is already gone.

2. How Dame finishes his career matters to us

I wish he didn't say this.

 

Oh you were under the misinterpretation that I was defending Fentress….please. I actually know the guy. I was comparing him to the morons on here.

 

Don't you fucking insult me like that!

I may be a moron, but that's going too far.