You keep trying to argue a point that's not arguable, Tince, unless you are Cronin or someone on the staff or someone on the staff that knows these things. If you say you aren't emotional about it, fine, OK, you don't have to prove it to me, but you are awfully invested in arguing a point that neither of us can prove right or wrong about tonight. The only thing that can be proven is that we gave up resources that we didn't have to for a guy who won't play this season. That's inarguable. Saying that history says we wouldn't have done anything else with the money is unknowable and, therefore, not relevant. I'm going to let you just go on with this if you feel you need to keep making the argument. It's really going nowhere.
I don't think so. The only remote chance the Blazers had was in 2026-27. And with the Jrue/Grant salary + Deni-Scoot-Clingan-Hansen-Murray plus Sharpe's new deal. it was probably going to be, at best, only 20M in space. That wasn't going to be enough. With Dame, that's mostly gone. And I wouldn't be surprised if Portland tried to re0sign Thybulle. my guess is that Portland knew full well when they traded for Deni they were going to be dealing with him being UFA in 2028
The options are the facts. Dame's availability is a fact. The competitive situation of this team might not be a fact but it certainly falls highly to a specific probability. The salary cap is a fact. I don't even understand the purpose of your response to me. You actually are saying what my statement reads as though, which, clearly, shows this is your interpretation and might not even be correct. You have an idea in your head and you're just letting it run away with you. I'm going to say the same thing I told Tince: Feel how you feel and that's fine with me. I don't feel I can have an honest, constructive discussion with you right now. Ad hominem attacks kind of make me feel that way. If you want to see it that way, more power to you, have a good night, because I'm not going to go in circles discussing things with someone that's admitting they're replying to their own misconception of what I think.
How often does a player at 27-28 turn down the extra year(that only we can offer)? Deni is nice but it’s not like he’s KD or LBJ and gonna dictate super team alliances.
I guess I don't get your point. We've had a 1:1 exchange, so yes, we're equally invested. Your concern with the usage of the MLE to sign Dame is what?
don't get me wrong, Portland will be holding great cards when Deni is UFA. They can give him a 5 year deal when other teams can only give 4. They can give Deni 8% step raises when other teams can only offer 5% Deni would have to hate it in Portland if he left
That is a LOT to rehab. That is why I question, if they were going to spend the money, sign Dame to the Vet Min, bring him home, he will still get tons of money, and then sign a player that can additionally help. He has an opt-out as soon as he isn't making $70,000,000 per season. I don't think anyone is against Dame coming back, but there is reasonable, responsible, logical things to deal with when it comes to the finances.
I think I agree. The Blazers have a young guy at every single position. Scoot Shae Tou Deni Clingan/Yang They have a veteran at every position except for maybe small forward. Jrue Tisse Grant RWIII There's just not a glaring hole to use that MLE trade exception on. So realistically the best player we could get for the money is Dame, and most likely by a wide margin.
Spottac has him at 53m Curry is listed #1 at 59 mil. Beal has 53+5 so about 58 total So Dame becomes the first NBA player to earn 60million in a season - and 70 million.
Was Dame open to signing for the minimum? If he was, I'd assume Portland would've taken him up on it in a second. To me, the logical assumption is that he wasn't ok taking the minimum, but said he would return for the terms agreed upon. At that point, Portland had to decide if signing Dame to this deal was a net-positive use of their MLE. If Dame returns at 75% of what he was last year, I think the answer is an easy yes.
I think a lot of folks don’t understand that “being lucky” is a symptom of being good. When you’re good you put yourself in situations where, if an event happens, you can make it work for you. You come out of it looking lucky because you had the flexibility to take advantage. Yes, Cronin got lucky with Dame. He seems to get lucky a lot. That’s because he’s good at his job. We carry a lot of negotiable currency in various kinds just in case, and it pays off.
It might be a bad decision to pay Dame the MLE. I'm fine with it, but it might ultimately be a mistake. I don't understand why people are bringing up Dame Milwaukee salary though. That has nothing to do with it. Sunk cost and history. Do the Lakers talk about what LeBron made in Miami? Both are as relevant.
