OFFICIAL AROUND THE NBA: APRIL 2023

Good job trying to get the thread back on track.

 

Dame has said he wants better talent around him. He has also said he wants to stay in Portland. He’s not going anywhere unless we don’t want him anymore. He has made this clear. He has never threatened to leave.

 

I’d take Murray, Bey, Okungwu, Capela. All of them would help us.

 

Actually he said Veteran Talent and yeah he said if they can't do that then he will have to consider his options.
“I’m just not interested in that. That’s not a secret,’’ Lillard responded when asked about bringing in more young talent. “I want a chance to go for it. And if the route is to (draft youth), then that’s not my route.”

Direct Quote

 

He also made it clear that if we go young this off season instead of getting established talent to help him win now, we are pretty much saying we don't want him anymore. I think Joe has been presented with two options: get Dame all star help or move Dame.

I do think Dame will be here and that we will acquire an all star or maybe even two this off season but when Dame said he isn't here for a rebuild and he's not here to play with 19 year olds, he pretty much set the terms (that I'm sure he had already set with Joe with even more specificity behind closed doors) for how the team could show that they don't want him anymore.

 

He’s just playing hardball. He’s not serious about leaving or he would’ve done it already. We’ve had two empty seasons and he hasn’t asked out. If we go the youth route, he’ll be upset but he’ll stay and play Chris Paul route. He’ll never ask out. Ever.

 

If playing with All Stars was his number one priority, he would’ve demanded trade to Lakers two years ago.

 

If Dame feels like the team has disrespected him he will ask out. He doesn't seem like the type of person who just says something only to go back on it. The last time Dame was talking like this, the team brought in Chauncey and that bought the team some time but I think the time is up.

If the team doesn't give Dame help that Dame knows can help him then I don't think he'll have to ask out. I think it's really obvious from the statements Dame has mad that he has already told Joe what the deal is. So Joe now either gets moves done that put established talent around Dame or Joe moves Dame.

 

Before anyone suggests it - NO WE FUCKING DO NOT WANT JALEN GREEN

 

This is borderline delusion my friend.

 

If a vet min center changed the trajectory of this team from “play-in” team to championship contender (or even “second round contender”, slap my ass and call me Sally.

 

Why? Because she’s a female? I hope she get’s the job because she’s the best fit for the job….not because “It’s Time”.

 

Well that's not really what has been said so yeah.
What has been said is get a serviceable backup center. Keep Hart, and bring in a third defensive player with length. Jarred Vanderbilt comes to mind being Thybule would not have been available without trading Hart.
Please stop making this a trade thread.
On second thought you guys go ahead. May around the NBA will be going soon enough.

 

Pretty much all of those conversations start with “Shaedon Sharpe”.

Don’t even know how we could get Capela.

And considering the price would be Shaedon Sharpe, nope, don’t want any of them, but I can see your point in a vacuum.

 

The guy said “sign a vet min center”, but okie.

 

A legit backup vet minimum center would've helped a ton this last season when Nurk had predictable injuries and Eubanks was forced out of his 2nd/3rd string role. The Blazers had tiny lineups with Grant or others way undersized at center.

No it wouldn't have saved the season on its own and of course it certainly wouldn't have made the Blazers a contender. But you have a few better decisions made there for the 9th/10th man in the rotation, you don't trade away Hart, you get some other widely available players like Hachimura who's been scoring over 20 in playoff games, you try to win the whole season, and the Blazers likely make the playoffs and possibly even have a chance getting into the second round.

My point was the Blazers didn't do many of these very easy moves that a team does if they really are trying to go for it and win this last season. So they either weren't committed to winning the entire season, or they're really freaking incompetent.

 

So then we could finish outside of the lottery without being a real playoff threat and not gain any significant assets this offseason, wasting Dame's prime. Maybe we could target draft our medicare first rounder for a middling over the hill talent that doesn't work out.

Are you Olshey or Cronin?

 

Oh yeah, selling simple moves and overhyping the potential of the roster. Are you Olshey?