I think the reality is Aaron Goodwin fucked us. And he messed it up for his client. Public temper tantrums via Haynes and then calling teams to dissuade them reduced his market to one team. But the reality also is that we have no obligation to trade Lillard for less than his worth. He either would be an excellent mentor for Scoot or be sent home to collect paycheck while the stink of his agent's work diffuses through the season. Give this time. Once Miami starts out playing <.500, or BK realizes they desperately need a PG, or TOR feels they are one Dame away from contending, or Philly feels some pressure from Embiid, etc the market will open up. This will get ugly. You'll hear reports from all his media cronies about how inept Cronin is or how cheap our owner is. It's nothing new. Just gotta be patient. As Woj said, there are generally only a few periods of time in the yr when movement happens. The next checkpoint is training camp, then the Feb trade deadline. It will inevitably happen then.
Hard to get a gauge on it when only one team has made an offer. But irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. What's the worst that can happen? We have to keep him past this year? Haha ok, gladly. That was the original plan anyway.
3 to 4 first rounders, pick swaps, 2nd rounders, including young players is getting pretty close. Make it 4 first rounders as well as pick swaps every year until the year before the last first rounder in the trade and we're getting serious...
I dont think there is a path forward without a definitive prospect or young player coming back to us. Even a Tyler Herro type but at either C or wing is a minimum requirement with Dame trades.
Why do we have to actively trade Dame? We absolutely do not. Look Dame, if a team comes knocking and loves you more than we love you and show us an offer we can't refuse, we'd be willing to trade you there. Until then, you're a Blazer
This is exactly why I've been saying wait until the deadline. There will be more teams willing to trade for Dame then. Competition drives up value.
Remember when we heard Cronin was trying to thread a needle to build a great team with Lillard? {buzzer sound} wrong... that thread the needle moment is how much Cronin can piss off Miami off until they improve their trade package. It's a risky move, because the fallout is nobody else would trade for Lillard's supermax contract, and Portland will be stuck with huge chip on his shoulder Damian. Imagine Lillard missing 12 threes in a row on purpose, we're talking board cracking over the shot clock heaves from half court. Billups would bench Dame, the Moda Center would boo. Who the heck wants that to happen? don't answer that, because several Blazer fans have already turned this Lillard trade request into a LaMarcus walking Raymond Felton sweaty fat guy, slippery ball, dribbling it off his foot moment.
Key phrase here: “I can't identify another team that is seriously making an offer for Damian Lillard at this point. My belief is that the Heat can't either.” Hence, Portland needs to wait until the timing changes things.
I'm so fn sick of Heat fans and Heat Media. Fuck the muh-fkn fkn Miami Heat and Their fans and fkn Pat fkn Riley. Fk 'em all. Don't trade him. Let him start the season with the Blazers. Make a trade later. Of course nobody is offering shit, it's been like three days since the memo. I sure as hell hope at this point we don't cave to Miami's mac and cheese offer.
Delusional conspiracy take: Adam Silver will force us to trade Dame to Miami if he starts training camp on our team.
Other delusional conspiracy take: Adam Silver will force Dame to go to Charlotte as punishment for his actions.
