Zombie Damian Lillard to request trade in coming days (nope, he's not.)

Actually if you believe Dame, he’s reiterated this behind closed doors for years. Clearly he’s lost confidence that his voice is being heard by Neil and/or ownership.

Also the Jaynes quote is clearly from Neil trying to fan the flames.

 

This doesn't pass the BS test for me. Yes, there is added pressure and other GMs are going to try and maximize value, but either a trade makes sense or it doesn't. Any trade of merit isn't going to be the Blazers bidding against themselves, but against what other teams can offer.

 

sure, i can see that. It's similar to when his response to Dwight a few weeks ago about "expecting to be a Blazer to start the season" used the exact same wording as the question.

But you can tell he's dancing around a bit. He doesn't want to explicitly say he isn't demanding a trade.

Am I reading too much into this?

 

I think Norms contract is done and agreed to already. Look for him to be one of the first announced on Monday.

 

No, Not really. People are gonna read into something what they will. The Media is all about sensationalism. Dame was frustrated, rightfully so. people in here were frustrated, rightfully so. Expectation is a good thing. It's about soaring higher. Now reading many posters in here, the expectation is low for Blazer success this year. Not me, i tend to be more on the positive side. The negativity , especially the hatred, is hard on the soul. I already have enough of that for REAL world problems.

 

Why would he do that? He’s said what he’s said to the public and he’s said it to the team. The team needs to do something. It’s pretty obvious.

 

yes, i just hope that behind closed doors, he's not truly thinking about leaving.

 

The situation is as transparent as can be. Dame wants to go all in. Olshey doesn’t want to overpay. He absolutely will have to, but that was true even without Dames public pressure.

If you look at the Bucks last year, they absolutely overpaid for Holiday. That’s the price. If you aren’t willing to do that then set Dame free.

 

are you aware that 3 years ago, Dame went over Neil's head directly to Paul Allen to ask about the direction of the team? So, as early as 3 seasons ago Dame demonstrated he lacked confidence in Olshey and probably didn't believe things Olshey said to him

between then and now, Paul Allen died, Jody & the Vulcans took over, and the Blazers remained trapped on the treadmill Olshey built. It's entirely possible that Dame felt Seattle would not be responsive to his concerns (he may very well have had conversations with them) and his relationship with Olshey had not improved past that point 3 years ago

in that situation, what else could dame do? He's likely had many conversations with olshey and dealt with olshey's double-speak. Ownership seems absent or detached from caring about season results unrelated to finance. There was nothing else to do in a situation like that but go public with his dissatisfaction. And after all, who was satisfied with this season anyway?

 

You really think he wants to leave? I can guarantee you that’s not his preference. He’s boxed into a corner because of our GMs awful moves.

 

Yes I think you are reading to much into it. I am sure he doesn't want to say to much and make Neil's job harder then it is. He has come out time and time again and said he wants to be a Blazers, so saying it again and again wont' matter because these media types are not going to pay attention, because they want the clicks. This is the biggest story they can find. I think after this week it goes away, once the start to focus on the draft results.

 

Making moves harder is B.S. It takes two to tango. If a team wants to move a guy, they will. Neil needed a little fire under his britches. And I am a Neil supporter . A GM that thinks his job is in peril, is a good GM. Do better. You can't rest on your laurels.

 

So, some one here seem so sure about what Dame has done behind closed doors. They think that he hasn't been putting pressure on management to make a big deal until just recently. They think they know that he's made CJ off limits. They think they know that he was keeping Stotts here every year. They think that he made an about face and then went to the media with it in the same couple months. You don't know shit.

Knowing Dame, the media thing was the only card he hadn't played with Neil. I bet he's been hammering Neil to make trades and get him better support or even a real 1B option. Then Neil tells everyone it wasn't the roster. Neil might have told Dame that Chauncey would be the difference and they would just run it back (I don't know that, that's just speculation). The bottom line is that Dame handled that presser really well, with finesse. He said he couldn't commit to what he was going to do for the first time but he wants to be here and he sees himself here. That just means that changes have to happen.

Giannis did the same thing with the Bucks except he had leverage because of his impending free agency and yet the Bucks were still able to go out and get Jrue Holiday and win a championship. As soon as they got Jrue and not before, Giannis committed. If the prospect to get a GM's star player crippled the GM's ability to get value back with what they have how the fuck can you explain the Giannis situation. The Bucks had to give up a lot and we might have to overpay a bit. Oh fucking well... bite the bullet and overpay then Neil, or don't do anything again and watch Dame really cripple you when he asks Seattle to trade him.

 

Alright, you have convinced me. Neil is a piece of shit

 

"i've spoken directly to my team, and my team knows the truth."

 

This last season was thoroughly unenjoyable for so many reasons. I’d rather blow it up then run it back.

 

I see where you're coming from but why would Dame do that?

Norm was part of the team that lost in the first round. Norm returning doesn't change the team. Dame has said he needs to see a lot more than that to commit to staying and not demand a trade. I think it's obvious Dame feels the only power he has in this situation to compel Olshey to upgrade the roster is to threaten a trade demand. If he commits to "at least a season or two" is Norm re-signs it gives Olshey total cover to sit on his hands again and risk little

 

I think Dame has been doing the "behind closed doors" thing for 3 years and it hasn't mattered.

 

they were both awful. I knew from the first game last year a first round exit was an inevitability. Then continuing to play Melo and Kanter was such a slap in the face. When we drew the Nuggets I thought at least we would win one series and get to see some more games. Then we lost. I really don’t know why anyone would feel like running it back is justified.