I highly doubt BJ does either. He might have "sauces", but that isn't definitive proof, unless he has emails, texts, or recordings proving otherwise, all he has is "insider hearsay" at best.
I also think there was nothing worth giving up Sharpe for. Sharpe's ceiling is virtually unlimited and I think he will end up being the better player between the two, and I have Scoot as an All-Star level talent, who ironically, will make Sharpe a much better player.
I agree. Portland got a lot of luck to get those two, who could legitimately end up being the best players out of these drafts. Both have MVP type potential... You don't just trade that for a borderline all star...
I'm not the one with the source. How am I being cryptic when this has been explained numerous times? People can believe what they want to believe, but I think it's silly to go as far as acting like we know what someone else knows based on the assumption of what they have or haven't heard. This stuff is exactly why I'm being vague.
I hear a thing or two but I'm really not the one with sources on this. Yet I've heard enough to make me fully confident in certain things. As far as Cronins public statements, a lot of it is left to how people want to interpret it, so it's not universal proof, but proof enough for me.
Cronin signed 8 rookies into the current active roster in less then 2 years. (maybe 1 more if Miami coughs up Jaquez Jr.). It doesn't get more farfetched saying "we want to build a championship around Lillard", when the truth is the Blazers were rapidly pressing the "let's be Charlotte!!" try and rebuild with young guys button.
Dame did not handle this situation ideally before the draft. After the draft he and more so Goodwin have handled this like idiots. If they would have told Cronin behind the scenes that he only wanted to go to Miami but gave Cronin four other teams that he could leak to the public and if necessary move Dame to, Dame would probably already be traded to Miami. Dame has hurt Cronin's leverage but by disengaging Cronin is gaining it back, the league helped with that memo as well. Edit: All of that said, even though I don't agree with Dame's tactics I can empathize with the guy. Cronin was here the entire time that Olshey was fucking up. Then Cronin says he's going to build a winner in his first off season and doesn't, then says he'll make an all in move and balance the roster at his second trade deadline and doesn't. So Dame thought he needed to put public pressure on him to follow through with the plan to use the pick to get him veteran help. When that didn't happen Dame was obviously not cool with this front office at all and Dame somewhat is cutting off his nose to spite his face now.
I understand the narrative. I'm not pushing back at you or anyone who say Cronin stated a specific objective and failed at doing it. I believe Cronin even said he failed. What I'm asking you, or anyone else for, is for some proof he was lying when he made those statement. Not that his execution fell short. To this date, nobody has brought this to the table.
I don't think Joe was lying but I understand if Dame feels a different way. Joe definitely kept saying he was committed to building an immediate winner around Dame and he continuously did the opposite. Joe was probably trying to do what he said he was but would not do it to the detriment of the team in the long run. I can see how that would not sit well at all with Dame.
I get crickets when I ask Blazer fans if they think Cronin would have traded a Thompson twin for an expensive vet to help Lillard win. That #3 pick could have been 4'5'6' etc. Cronin was not trading that young rising star. The Blazers already had Dame's replacement lined up with Anfernee Simons. Hyping up Ant was on full display last season, not to trade Ant, but give him the keys knowing Lillard will probably ask out. Drafting Scoot makes Simons a little more tradable, sure, but I'm not biting on drafting Scoot at #3 is the only unequivocal reason why Cronin chose to keep the pick.
I agree with you. I understand why Dame asked out; I'm disappointed Olshey and Cronin failed to give Dame a legit #2 teammate and a solid supporting cast. I think Dame wanting to be provided a competitive roster was totally fair and more than realstic over a decade. Was it realistic given the state of the roster two years ago? Probably not.
Yes, I think Cronin would've traded the #5 pick if given an appropriate valued vet. Now that I've answered your question, what does it prove?
I doubt Joe lied to him and I doubt Dame is pissed at him. Dame simply saw that the Blazers were better off keeping the picks and thought it was best for both parties to go their separate ways.
good players getting bumped all over the league. None of us were in the front office with Cronin while he was busy playing World of Warcraft, with the occasional call to teams that might offer draft picks for current Blazers.
I believe your response is in agreement with my original stance, that none of us know if Cronin lied.
Probably not the best of ideas. He has shit on his reputation. Can't put the toothpaste back in the tube. Gotta make the best of it.
