What does the team do if Dame isn't traded before the season starts?

TBpup and I were talking about this. If Dame isn't traded this summer, and Joe continues to pause on free agents and trades, what does the team look like in game 1?

We lost Eubanks, Knox, Watford, and Reddish. We haven't added anyone except our rookies. Scoot, Murray, and Rupert.

Do we play Dame? That seems risky. What if he gets injured?

Do we play Nurk? Who is the backup center right now? Reath?

I think there's a very good chance that Dame isn't traded before training camp and I'm really wondering what our rotation looks like we're still in this holding pattern.

Here's who is currently on the roster:

 

The same as if Dame hadn't asked for a trade.

The one thing that Billups can't do is start Simons and Dame together. It's the worst pairing possible out of all the combinations.

 

I just don't think we can play Dame. It hurts Scoot's development. Dame could get injured and hurt his trade value. I would rather Dame hold out.

 

If Lillard does not make it easier to trade him, then there really isn't any reason for the Blazers to continue the process.
And he should understand that. That means he plays for the trailblazers for the rest of his contract.

 

Dame plays and show why he's a bargain at the price we're asking for him.

 

From the point of view of people who wanted to him to stay, I think they would want him to play and give it a shot.

My main point here is that if Dame does not end up saying he will be happy playing anywhere, to me that means he's OK staying with Trail Blazers.

I do not think it will be acceptable, nor should it be acceptable to the owners, that a player will sit and do nothing. either he should agree to be traded to where the trailblazers want him to go or he should play.

 

I know you want him gone (traded) and I understand that point of view.

But I don't think that has been the intention of Joe Cronin. Cronin, I believe, would be just as happy or probably even happier if Dame stays.

I think this is something that people haven't considered. And that means Dame has even less leverage than he thinks.

 

I think there’s zero chance he won’t be traded by training camp. Miami or Cronin will cave before then. My guess is it happens between now and next Friday, Miami has to figure out their roster and fill in the gaps before all free agents are gone. I wouldn’t be surprised if they sign Watford.

If I was a betting man and I am I would bet deal gets done this weekend

 

Alternate question - what if it takes 2 months to trade him and now there's no free agents left? If Nurk goes too... who is our center?

 

If no bigs come back in the trade, I assume Badji until the trade deadline.

 

I would actually rather have Reath if we can keep him. I think he's more ready to play big minutes. Badji needs a LOT of work.

 

Whatever, honestly. Slightly less undersirable?

(Nothing personal about these guys, they are just not NBA caliber centers based on the little I have seen of them).

 

Who else is even out there at this point?

 

Well, I am still hoping for a Ben Simmons trade option and running him at Center. I am shocked no-one ever tried to do that in the NBA - it just seems like the perfect spot for him in the modern-nba with his aversion to shooting but his ability to switch on defense.

 

True.

 

I don't agree with that

the way for Portland to maximize Dame's trade value is to play him as if they were keeping him unless a great offer was made. Sitting him out doesn't generate great offers; it just tells teams to make low-ball offers

yeah, there's a risk he gets injured but the NBA is not a risk-free zone

Cronin is starting to reverse the perception and gain the upper hand on leverage because it's looking like Portland may very well expect Dame to show up for training camp and play next season. Signalling it's bluff by sitting Dame out hurts the leverage Cronin is building

 

Why not make it 3-4 team trade bring Phoenix into it and trade Nurk plus one of the first rounders we get Ayton. Solves problems for everyone Phoenix dumps huge contract and get a pick back which they desperately need. Miami gets Lillard and we get a young center with some upside plus draft picks

or do 3 team deal with Brooklyn where they get Hero we get Ben Simmons as our center. We become run and gun team