I imagine everyone is pretty raw emotionally about this. We care a lot about the team, but that includes the players on that team, and Dame was kind of the team's everything for a decade. He's probably going to keep the point total record as a Blazer for 30 years, maybe forever if the team is sold and moved and turned into some other team with carpetbagger intentions. And Dame leaving might cause some folks to worry that this is it for basketball in Portland. I don't think it is, but I definitely understand the fear. We're older now than when we drafted Dame. Some of us aren't here anymore. When there's this many emotions associated with Dame's era, seeing it end (whether you wanted it to or not) is going to be incredibly emotional. We are going to take it out on each other. Not saying it's right, but it's the furthest thing from surprising. It's a breakup, and even if a breakup is amicable (and this one is not), there's still going to be some sore feelings and probably some crying if we're being honest with ourselves. And given that this feels like a pretty messy breakup, all that will be heightened.
He's never been alone in this way. It's literally him and his agent. He has no institutional backing from the team anymore. They won't run interference if he runs his mouth a little. He's under 100x more scrutiny than he ever was as a Blazer, and the media isn't looking to fluff him up or woo him. They're looking for the drama and they don't care if they hurt him to get it. He's savvy but I don't think he's been in this situation social media-wise before. I don't have much sympathy for him, but it is interesting to watch.
Dear God WTF is going on in this thread? we are all Super fans. That’s it. We all love the Blazers. That’s it. RIP CITY
I wanted to move on from Dame, I wanted to move on from Aldridge.....now it's just a lot easier because we have Scoot.
Herro and 3 picks is better then Ben Simmons and a bonus extra pick. Tyler can shoot. Tyler is a far better player then Simmons. Tyler can be traded. Ben is a a top 5 worst NBA contract. He'd be doing his bad basketball stuff for the remaining years, or until an affordable buyout occurs.
I jumped into a nest egg of Cujo's when I joined this forum. It's like everyone got rabies, slobber fight Rah-Rah-Rah SPORTS! jock out, cuss people out. Folks, it's basketball, a finess sport. It's not an NFL forum. Nobody on the court is trying to kill their opponents like football, so why are Blazer fans trying to cannibalize each other? Portland should get a NHL hockey team so the angry fans can migrate over there. Mullets & Mayhem.
I have Zero sympathy for him. Who's the only player in the world who doesn't want to play with Scoot Henderson? DAME f'ing Lillard.
Dame probably would have been traded at the deadline, but his no trade till summer contract made Dame stick around for more "we're building around Lillard" b.s. The Blazers undoubtedly scared Lillard off the team. There's so many good basketball players that Cronin could have signed. Joe didn't have to go all out for superstars. Joe just needed a handful of better players. Relying on rookies and sophomores, in key rotation spots was a huge mistake last year. A willing lack of depth action that sent Lillard packing. Injuries caused the Blazers to lose. Players already injured or had injury histories? Are those the Blazer injuries people refer too. Marang's podcast tried to sneak in Ant's ankle sprain as a big factor on why Portland lost. C'mon now, Portland already stunk up the league when Simons got hurt. He only missed a few games, then the team benched Ant to start tanking. The Blazers GM made a small wimpy team, and Lillard was so fantastic he almost made them playoff relevant. When Joe traded the toughest Blazer Josh Hart for washed up Knicks and a draft pick, it probably put Dame into "I'm outta here" mode. (yes, I know, trading Hart for the pick was a great idea, but Kris Murray is not as good as his brother, it's not a win now move. Trading that pick to unlock future 1sts is what was sold by the Blazers to Lillard and fans. Cronin kept the #23 pick and Lillard asked out the following day.)
It really depends on the number of picks that we’re talking about. If Herro gets us one FRP from a third team while Simmons gets us two from the Nets along with the opportunity to see if we can turn Simmons’ career around as a post instead of a PG then fuck Herro and one pick, give me Simmons and two.
