There are 21 games left before the Trade Deadline, 10 at Home, 11 on the Road, which includes a 6 games in 10 nights East Coast road trip. Will they scrap their way back to Play-In status? (only 1.5 games out). Fight to #6 and avoid the Play-In games? (4.5 games out) Make a big enough move that removes the 'stale' Continue along at the #6/7 Lottery pick pace? Continue to climb the Lottery ladder? (1 game from the #4 Lottery rank) IMO, Dame will continue to push through the All-Star game to get named to the team and all the bonuses/legacy pieces that go with that. But if they are on pace for option 3 or 4 above, does Dame finally shut it down after being named an All-Star, get his abdomen legitimately fixed (this is going on years now)? Maybe there are 7-8 wins in the next 21 which would be right at or just below the current pace they are on. The East Coast road trip could be brutal and even though there is a 4 game homestand right before the deadline, it could be too late if it already isn't. Which direction is more fun? Which gives the team more hope? Which is better for the future? We have just over 5 weeks to where this may be a very different team than what we have seen for years.....or God forbid, we continue on this path of unending frustration. #GoBlazers
Unfortunately what I want to happen and what will happen are most likely going to end up being different. This is setting up to possibly be the worst outcome. Be just good enough to sneak into the play-in games, get into the playoffs, lose our pick, then lose in the 1st round. Then we head into the off season with no first round pick and probably no cap space either.
I'll be right there with you if we don't make a move or make some bullshit deck shuffling move to get under the tax. That being said, I'm really hopeful that Cronin can't afford to take this opportunity for granted and we see some big move(s) that alter the trajectory of this season and the rest of Dame's career in an upward trend.
I expect the Blazers to slowly climb the lottery ladder, and make one or more trades. I want Dame to go get surgery after the all star break, if not immediately.
If surgery is what a doctor would recommend. Right now he seems to be doing great with what the cortisone shot has done for him. Those shots do a lot more than just reduce pain, they stop inflammation and can calm down and even end the tendinopathy. That can give the tendon a chance to heal even while being used.
Honestly, at this point, the goal should be to get the best pick possible. And Dame needs to be sold on this. One horrible season can turn a team around like the Spurs when they got Duncan or even us when we got Dame and then again when we got CJ. Our best shot at getting another NBA ready star is a high pick in the draft. Look at how good Mobley is this year. Once we see how good that player is, we can make bigger roster decisions then. Sucks. But I don't want another first round exit and that is the ceiling of this year's team.
