Some GREAT info from Quick (What Billups investigation took place, where Dame stands with the Team)

i certainly hope billups can have a similar effect but we know nothing about how he'll be as coach. what happened in NY would be the absolute best scenario

 

Isn’t it basically just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic, though? Playing Dame/CJ/Norm at crunch would still happen and it just didn’t work. It’s one of CJ or Norm, isn’t it? I hope CJ along with Zach’s expiring QO can bring a Siakim or similar player around the draft and then re-sign Powell. Now that’s an upgrade.

Dame
Norm
Pascal
RoCo
Nurk

Yes please

 

Totally agree.

Yes to a degree. But the unforseen variable was Dame. Everything we've seen in the last month has been Dame's way of putting pressure on Neil to improve the roster. Honestly, forget CJ as part of this equation. He can stay or he can go it doesn't really matter. The roster as a whole needs to be significantly better. I don't think ownership wants to rebuild, I don't think they want to trade Dame at all. And I think if next year fails they aren't going to keep Olshey on as the decision maker for the rebuild.

 

whos your 6 man with this roster? Melo?

 

Scoring isn’t the problem there, is it? Towns is awful on defense and Ingram is average, at best.

And we all know Dame isn’t exactly Gary Payton.

 

Which is why I don’t understand why so many people want Zach gone. If he accepts the QO that expiring contract adds one more asset in a trade as filler, and Neil doesn’t have many of those at his disposal at present.

 

3 of the top 10 trending players being traded are Blazers.

Dame
CJ
RoCo

 

after this past week in the news, everyone thinks we'll blow it up

 

Okay more speculation on my part, but this guy doesn't tweet information unless he is certain of his source (He had Harden wanting out before anyone else):





He's saying ownership, Olshey and Dame all have growing issues with each other. This seems to make sense in the grand scheme of things.

Ownership: Doesn't want to lose Dame and tank the value of the team, especially if they want to sell at some point.

Olshey: Doesn't want to push all in and give up all future flexibility for someone that may or may not make us a contender.

Dame: Wants us to push all in. Done being patient and giving Olshey the benefit of the doubt.

Ownership putting pressure on Olshey to make Dame happy, using his job as leverage, but maybe without all the financial resources. Olshey thinks his roster is good enough with the right coach to win. Dame wants significant roster improvements. Who is going to win out?

From the meeting yesterday, my guess is Dame. But we will see. This offseason and the ensuing NBA season is do or die.

 

They can sign Kanter to be the trade filler, and Kanter can actually play!

 

This was terrific insight. Worth the listen: https://www.audacy.com/1080thefan/podcasts/primetime-with-isaac-and-suke-20359

 

Dame's got a great situation in Portland and he has said so. However, since Terry being fired and most fans pushing for his bud CJ to be traded it good be a domino effect and many in here were concerned about it, including me.
Hopefully the first task that Chauncey can accomplish is settling things down and getting team chemistry right.

 

Long story short, Dame wants BIG change. Next time he takes the floor in Portland, he wants the home team to have a decided talent advantage over nearly every opponent. He doesn't want just change along the margins and tweaking the rosters, he wants more. Quick said this is the first time he has felt unsure of what's going on in Dame's mindset. Quick also noted that Neil might not have the assets to pull off a move like what Dame wants, and that's the cause for concern here, but Neil is fully aware that he has to be more aggressive than he normally would.

Also as @KristinthBonkers says, he also went into a bit more in a personal convo with Dame that he made an agreement not to reveal to the public (not sure how this is relevant, but classic Quick anecdote for you).

 

I legitimately despise when reporters tease something that they will never reveal to the public. If you know something and you can't tell us, just stfu.

 

as do i, but i think it was said to provide some legitimacy to his insight without just saying unnamed sources. it's annoying but not a big deal.

 

This only works because the Pistons are under the cap. Can replace Jones with Nurkic since I'm not sure what to do with Nurk after this deal. Maybe route him somewhere else and give some value back to one of the teams. Re-sign Powell.

Dame/Simons
Powell/Simons
RoCo/Nas
Grant/Simmons?
Simmons/Nurk

THAT is a team.

 

Maybe Dame thinks Jody should pay luxury tax to go after FA's.

 

if that's all it took to get Grant, I'd keep CJ and use our other pick to see if we can package with a S&T'd Powell for an upgrade at SF