You think Gobert has more trade value than Dame because he's taller? Guy makes over $200 million, his team is better without him, and yet you think his trade value is higher than Dame's? That is laughable. If you are right about Dame's trade value being that low, then I'm 100% in the never trade Dame camp. The guy single handedly willed a team of 3 bad starters to the WCF one year.
and in reality, they couldn't come close to matching Dame's incoming salary with the contracts they'd have left....also, they don't have an unencumbered 1st round pick till 2028. They are not a trade partner for Dame
Minnesota gave up way too many picks for Gobert. That doesn't mean every team is willing to trade 6 first round picks for a star player. The Timberwolves GM is a goober, and set an example of what not to do.
That is the problem. There are very few teams who have the assets to trade for Dame and still be anything close to a contender. Boston - Jaylen Brown, but what else do they have to include? Bucks - nothing outside of Giannis Philly - nothing outside of Embiid Nuggets - Murry/Porter/picks? Memphis - doubt they are moving JJJ and I don' want Ja The team with perhaps the best package, isn't a contender now and doubt they would be by adding Dame - Orlando. Possibly multiple Lottery picks this year (#7/#12) with young players like Franz Wagner, Carter Jr, and player like Isaac whose salary would help make the deal work who is a defensive terror if he can get back on the court. They would still have Paolo, Dame, Mo Wagner, Fultz, Suggs, etc, but that isn't enough to win.....just like in Portland. Would Orlando make a lesser trade for hometown boy Ant?
In reality, FVV/Barnes/Boucher matches Dame's salary acceptably, and their first this year is unencumbered once they make the selection. They absolutely could be a trade partner for Dame.
The team that received that pile of garbage from Miami would have to get a player the quality of Dame AS WELL to make up for the garbage. I personally think it would be funny if OKC decided that they had enough youth and were ready to cash in some of their 15 picks over the next 5 first rounds to add a(nother) star to their roster. They could instantly offer a much better package for Dame, in part because they could absorb a big chunk of his salary in their cap space.
I would've agreed with you in all previous seasons, and I still don't like him much, but you've got to admit he had a pretty damn good season this year. And Thibs basically benched everyone he thought wasn't contributing to winning (e.g., Fournier) no matter how big their contract, and Randle got mega-minutes for a surprisingly good Knicks team (with very good defense). But I don't think you need to worry: why would the Knicks want Dame when they have Brunson? And why would they trade big for small?
I DO NOT WANT DAME TRADED that being said I think Brooklyn could put together a pretty compelling package that would leave almost all of their talent intact and send us a boatload of picks along with expiring contracts that we might even be able to flip for a couple more picks. Dame, Bridges, Royce O'Neal, Finney-Smith and Claxton with Patty, Cam Thomas, Cam Payne (a RFA) and Simmons (who Dame might be able to mentor to a better place) off of the bench, along with whatever they could get out of free agency with the TPMLE seems pretty fucking competitive. They could send up Dinwiddie and Hariss' expiring contracts, 3 picks in this draft and a future first or two. There are homes for Dame that would be fair to him and have assets that would be a fair return for us... I just don't want to fucking do it because youth rebuilds are random as fuck and I want the team to do what Dame has asked which is put a more competitive and cohesive roster around him than we've been putting around him.
uhh...both FVV and Trent would have to opt-in to their deals next summer and, IIRC, FVV has already said he's opting out, and it's nearly certain Trent wouldn't opt-in if he was getting traded back to Portland and again, if the Blazers trade Dame and don't get several draft picks they are fucking up big time. And Toronto can't trade an unencumbered first till 2028
Yeah either Dame will not be happy where he lands, or Portland will not be happy with what they get in return.
I'm gonna enjoy watching Dame as long as possible. For those who want to move on, there's always cornhole on ESPN.
