Lillard, in an interview with Rachel Nichols of ESPN: "It was just me showing urgency, spark that urgency, figure out, “OK, what do we have to do?” We’re a five, six seed. What do we got to do to make the jump? If you don’t have a line of communication with people who can make the changes or the people who can make impact for things happening for the better, then you’re just going out there playing." I like that he is working with the owner to make improvements.
As a contrast, here's how AD answered a similar question:https://basketball.realgm.com/wiret...s-On-Same-Path-As-Other-Stars-Who-Were-Traded How about we get these two together in Portland
I’m hoping that PA said something to the effect of the following: “Dame, I’m 65 years old and I’ve owned this team for 30 years. We’ve been close in that time period, but we’ve never won a title. It’s not an easy thing to do and anyone who thinks it is us a damned fool. That said, the NBA is my first love. I’m not getting any younger and everyone knows I’ve had serious health issues. We’re going to be smart. We’re going to get under the tax threshold this year so we avoid the repeater penalties for one more year. But starting next summer there won’t be any financial holding back. I’m all in on winning. We’re going to spend whatever it takes to retain our own free agents. We’re going to use every exception we have to try to bring in more talent. I’ve told Neil that he has my full support to get things done and he knows I’m holding him accountable to come through. You’re the leader of this team. You do what you can to help the team grow. Talk us up around the league and let other players know we’re building something special here. Together, we can make things happen.”
Not really sure how these two can compare. Lillard came into the league ROY on a decent team that has gone through (IMO) complete rebuild. Davis has been the key player they have tried to build around from the beginning and has been often injured. Now that they finally got a good piece to put with him Cousins gets injured. The situation seems quite different to me.
Now that would be a super team. Dame, Cj, Davis and Cousins. ....... Meyers Leonard for a practice dummy that Boogie can beat on.
This is why he is number one on the Portland guard and perhaps the Portland player recogniti0n conversations.
im sure trading Noah for a bag of chips and signing brandon rush is exactly what Dame had in mind. at least he had a solid all star game.
I'm just wondering.... right now we're set to have most of our contracts come off the books in 2020, which is exactly when Davis becomes a free agent. The only four players under contract that summer are Dame/CJ/Collins/Swanigan. Nurk will probably change that, but I'm just wondering if maybe that's what Neil has been angling for.
Yeah and your statement is rather ignorant to the process. Rome didn't get built in a day and there are necessary steps to get in a better situation to make the right deals. Trading Noah to get under the luxury step was just a first step.
Doubt it. It's more of a result of the shorter duration of contracts. Most contracts can only be signed for 4 years, so of course when we're looking to 2020 - we're only going to have a few contracts on the books.
Yeah but Dame has a max and CJ also has a max, nurkic probably around 15 million per year or Maybe more, we won't have that much Cap in 2020
Im starting to think that there was probably more said pertaining to Dames Goals, which are personal.
Dame Salary in 20/21 is 31 million and CJ's Salary is 29 Million, that's 60 million for only 2 Players, and Nurkic Maybe 15 million makes 75 for only 3 Players, Collins and swanigan together 5 million makes 80 million for only 5 Players, stop thinking that we have Cap in Summer 2020, we have just a little Bit
This statement is rather ignorant as well. The "Process" has been going on for 5-6 years. The Noah trade is not a first step... it's well down the line. Half a step forward, two steps back, one step forward... and so on. You are right, Rome did not get built in a day. Portland was in a good position to make the right deals, but made some really poor decisions to get them in the current situation. I'm not convinced that NO has a long term plan that extends beyond 6-months.
