As much as we love Dame, it is a legitimate question. You have to build so much around him, but are limited in the amount you can pay. It can work if you build through the Draft and then pay over the Cap/Lux for your own player. Otherwise, it will be very difficult.
If Grant walks, Dame will ask for a trade. Cronin has to resign Grant no matter the price. I'm fine with that, Grant is a big helper on this team. Blazers just need bigger stronger players so the shooters can shoot, and more reliable ball handlers so the shooters can shoot, and better defensive players so the shooters can shoot.
That's a fair question to make and a conversation to have. Another one is "If you think that's unlikely to happen, is it more of a priority to remain loyal to one of the best players and leaders in NBA history who has stayed loyal to you, even if it meant probably not competing for a ring in his career?" And one other question: "Are the odds of seriously competing with 5 1st round picks instead of Damian Lillard significantly better than seriously competing with him?" I think those are the real knotty questions the Blazers have to make and Blazer fans need to consider.
True. Lillard has generational wealth accumulated through not only contracts but endorsements. If he invested properly he should be closing in on billionaire status. Which is why I kind of scoff at the extension for $225mil at 32 years of age. Is winning truly the most important?
If we're getting into the thing about Dame's wealth, you have to account for a couple of other things. 1. How is Dame trying to set up his family's future? 2. How committed is Dame to his philanthropy? Like Mick mentioned above, winning might be important to Dame, but things like this might be more important. Dame might be content trying to make himself the best player he can be and in the chase itself, against the best Dame Lillard he can be, against the superteams banding together, etc., especially when measured against what else he can achieve outside the sport with the resources to which his hard work and personal success has entitled him. He doesn't owe the Blazers or anyone a hometown discount if a larger issue for him is giving his son the best life and funding children's developmental programs across the country.
Meh. Then let’s start over and try and find a young star through the draft that does have a hunger to win. I’ve been a fan of the Blazers FAR before Lillard, I’ll be a fan long after. My allegiance to the Blazers exceeds any player we’ve ever had.
That's fine. I'm just laying out the things that should be considered. Your opinion certainly is valid.
I don’t really see what Grant offers other than scoring(when he’s making shots), his rebounding and defense are subpar. Definitely not a 2nd or 3rd option on a contender. If Grant and Thybulle were our 4th and 5th best starters sure that would be great but 2nd and 3rd best isn’t gonna be enough. He’s a 20 mil per year player, unfortunately we will pay him more than anyone else will offer. I wonder if there is another 6’8 player in the league who averages 36 min per game that actually gets less rebounds.
Part of the issue is, we haven't been competing with Dame. Endless sweeps out of the Playoffs isn't exactly competing. I admire the loyalty, but that is all it is. It hasn't translated into wins. Who knows what the 1st round picks would get us. Likely, not a singular player as good of a scorer as Dame, but would the results be that much worse in terms of being a contender? I love Dame, but I'm a Blazer fan first before any single player. I want the team to contend. Not every year, but it's been over 20 years. Not exactly in the ballpark of having a chance at real success.
I’m not saying I blame Dame for taking every dollar he can but I think it should be noted that even previous franchise greats like Dirk and Duncan took significant pay cuts in their later years to try to allow rosters to be built around them. Both those other players had already delivered championships at that point and both were 7 footers that are easier/cheaper to build a contender around.
poor comparison....both Dirk and Duncan had max salaries until they were 36. Dame's 32 and signed his extension when he was 31. He could still, just like those two guys, agree to a reduced salary at 36 Dame did accept less than the max when he signed his 2nd contract in his mid-twenties which is something neither Dirk or Duncan did, Dirk also got a max salary for one year at 38. And the Spurs had to waive and stretch Duncan's final season salary. He was still on their cap when he was 43 so, it's not Dame then, it's the shit decisions of management and the penny-pinching Vulcan mindset out of Seattle that's been the problem why would anything change if the same management and ownership was still in place after trading Dame?
yeah, his rookie extension was a bargain because of major concerns about his health. Still doesn't change the reality of comparative rosters and style of play. Both player are PG's who play poor defense. Curry is obviously better, but he's also obviously had better talent around him and ownership willing to spend big time luxury tax. Dame is paid 34% of the cap; Curry is being paid 39% of the cap my point is that the 34% of the cap number is NOT the reason Portland hasn't been able, and can't seem to be able, to build a contender
Yeah, but we're not trying to replicate their template now. They wouldn't have been able to build those championship teams if Curry was making 39% of their cap. Maybe their first one, but definitely not with Durant.
On the basic question of the thread title, I suppose we all have our favorite and least favorite players on the current team. I think it’s always more important to think about who you’re going to get. That impacts what players you have to give up to make the deal happen, which in turn influences who you need in order to fill the holes created in your roster.
The biggest difference with Dame's wealth is where he invests it....he invests it in Oregon. That's a franchise player.
I agree Portland has overpaid on FA and will likely do so again winth Grant this summer. Grant and his agent knows Portland losing him for nothing would be a massive setback and that's where their leverage comes from. Portland could play a game of chicken with Grant and his agency, but it would certainly come at a cost. Not to mention, this deal was almost certainly agreed to months ago.
