I'm not sure that's accurate....or at least it seems to be ignoring some important context from what I've read from non-miami-goodwin sources is that Dame's agent went to Dame about 10 days ago (2 weeks now?) and told him that Miami had no traction at all with the Blazers. So he asked Dame what other teams Dame might be interested in and Dame said Bucks and Nets. Then Dame's agent supposedly approached those teams and further games began now, it sure seems that about 95% of everything we've heard about this saga since July was bullshit, so maybe this is mostly bullshit too but it does seem to fit the timeline of when we started to hear about other teams being in the mix
and I hear the bucks and blazers kept their negotiation in-house and silent for the last couple months. And Giannis wasn't asked to sign off as the bucks gm didn't want to put him in the position of selecting over Holiday as they are close. Very smart.
Dame had a list of two when last asked about it, before the draft. I think Dame felt spiteful when the team (from his POV) chose youth over him after he'd given the team that ultimatum. I think Goodwin got that Dame was in a spiteful place and although Dame would have been happy with Miami, Brooklyn or Milwaukee (who I think was omitted from the original list because they put up the best record in the East last season and only got bounced early because Giannis was dealing with that neck shit, so I doubt Dame thought they were looking to make a big change) I'm betting fucking Goodwin told Dame he'd get him exactly where he wanted to go and Dame said South Beach. Idiocy ensued but almost three months later common sense won out.
Pfftt: Dame’s cousin is just pissed that instead of hanging out on South Beach he has to shovel the snow off of Dame’s driveway at his new Milwaukee digs.
Saw a lot of unprofessional behavior out of Miami and Dames camp. Also saw a lot of delusional justifications from Dame fans or supporters. Never saw anything unprofessional from Cronin or the Blazers. Of course we'll probably never know all the details. But I'd bet the full reality is more likely to match those observations than not.
The trade to the Bucks certainly seemed like an move to accomodate Dame. Many forget that Ayton was acquired for Nurk, not Dame. We got a 1st and Holiday for Dame. There's also this article, which I don't believe, but Chris Haynes says Dame wanted to come back to Portland and Cronin refused. https://www.blazersedge.com/2023/9/...OPQHpN_XYPxo4ziccNwM6A__g-FgJaR7soERd7VCHRVFs
Of course Cronin refused, you can't undo that damage and pretend it never happened. When Dame asked out in the scorched earth manner he did it was a one way road out of town.
I don't buy that. Either this is a PR fib put out by the Lillard camp, or Joe actually wanted to trade Lillard all along and was hoping he would demand a trade to take the pressure off himself (something that is actually not that unlikly either0
here's a link to the Bay Area sports talk interview I heard yesterday with Spears. Unfortunately his phone crackles out a few key times, but it's easy enough to fill in the gaps https://omny.fm/shows/tolbert-copes-podcast/9-27-marc-spears-joins-tolbert-copes-to-get-detail STOMP
Milwaukee got bounced because Miami/Jimmy was awesome. Gianni’s’ injury had nothing to do with it. Bucks lost games with Giannis playing great and won a game when Giannis didn’t play.
All I got to say is now we can start playing the right way. Because we haven't been playing the right way for awhile. If play as a team and still loose I can accept that.
This is a great point. DEATH to Hero Ball. Long live Team basketball! "Scoot lobs to Sharpe OOOOHHHHHH MY GAWWWWWDDDDD!!!!" ***Roar of a capacity crowd at the Moda Center in the background***