Dame Time

[Handlogten's Heros]

How are you cool with players forcing their way to big markets and forcing their teams to take a lesser package to do so?

If they have given 10 years and ample opportunity for their team to do something I'm cool with it. Those teams end up getting something back... if Gordo had done us that courtesy we would have been a whole lot better off. Dame sincerely gave it a try and was willing to stay committed. Portland has been unwilling to sacrifice any picks or prospects to make things a little better now. So part of the price of going that route is Dame ain't going to want to be there and he is in a spot in his career where he is going to want to pick his spot. They may be doing what is best for the franchise... then Dame gets to do what is in his best interest. I guess I just see both sides here... Dame want to win a title... this ain't a job for him... its what he's worked for his whole life. Portland gives him zero shot at that at this point. Has shown no willingness to get there. The Heat gives him a shot if he is great... I don't even think they'd be considered the favorite with Dame... maybe top 3-4. I'm cool with a guy who has given his all getting a chance to win a title (his lifelong dream)... even if a fanbase gets one less 2028 1st round pick because he picked his spot lol.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

This whole notion that POR did right by Dame because they pay him a lot is hilarious. They wanted him to take that money and were begging him to do. It’s a two sided agreement. It wasn’t a favor they did to Dame. They had to dish out promises they were unable to keep to get him to sign in the first place. If they promised Dame they would be better and they weren’t I don’t get to see why they get to play victim.

I’m not saying Dame deserves to pick his next destination, but it’s pathetic to ignore that the “eating cake” park isn’t a two sided thing.

He's also willing to be the bad guy and fall on the sword by being the one that files for divorce here. Portland was clearly acting in a way that doesn't project as being "all-in" for Dame so probably kinda wanted it this way rather than being the one that chased out an icon.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

The Blazers then made a series of offseason moves to build around Lillard. Portland acquired Jerami Grant from the Detroit Pistons and signed free agent Gary Payton II, who was key to Golden State’s championship run. The Blazers also re-signed rising guard Anfernee Simons and veteran center Jusuf Nurkic to deals as well.

Lillard played with Grant on the gold medal-winning U.S. team at last year’s Tokyo Olympics. Grant averaged 19.2 points in 47 games last season with the Pistons.

Lillard said he believes the team is headed in the right direction.

“I’m as anxious as I’ve ever been to get out there and make something happen,” he said. “I’m in a great space mentally and physically. I’m gonna come into this season comfortable and ready to do me, and do me at the highest level.”

So a year ago the Blazers were heading in the right direction and Lillard used that as a talking point as to why he signed the extension, then a year later they werent doing enough for him?

That's interesting.

Dame is allowed to ask out. Dame is allowed to try and influence the outcome. Portland is allowed to not honor that and fans are allowed to think of Dame what they want for him trying to do so.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Translation

"I wanted the money so I signed. I thought Portland made good moves but then I wasnt healthy and I'm not good enough to carry these kinds of rosters anymore. When Portland was super ****** I realized they had a chance at Wemby so I kept my mouth shut and sat to see if Portland got lucky. They didnt so I want out. Trade me to the team that just made the Finals"

 

[KqWIN]

He's also willing to be the bad guy and fall on the sword by being the one that files for divorce here. Portland was clearly acting in a way that doesn't project as being "all-in" for Dame so probably kinda wanted it this way rather than being the one that chased out an icon.

Yeah…Dame is not faultless here but I don’t understand why he deserves to take all the heat. The Blazers were dying for him to take that contract, it wasn’t a favor they were doing for him. If he didn’t take it, they wouldn’t be getting whatever trade package they are about to get. They would get nothing.

I don’t like NBA players forcing their way to certain teams….but I totally reject this idea that the Blazers, who got Dame to agree with promises they couldn’t keep, are victims because Dame signed the deal they were begging him to take.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

If I'm the Blazers, I just shut Dame down and wait. Same thing Darryl Morey did with Ben Simmons. Time is actually on the Blazers' side since Dame is under contract and the Blazers are rebuilding. Dame can expand his list of desired teams, or teams can up their offers. Taking the first bad deal isn't a solution for Portland.

Yeah... that would be so cool. I'd be so happy with the org that shut him down the last two years to tank shutting him down again... what a win that would be... sticking to their guns... fans would love that **** too.

You don't have to take a ****** deal. Miami has a chance to get to a fair deal if they can find something for Herro. Doing this to a guy like Dame would be hilarious bad business. Doing that to BS vs. doing it to Dame is not a great look.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

No one is calling the Blazers victims jesus ****ing christ.

If you cant see that players having the power to functionally create a NTC despite not signing one when they have 4 years left on their deal is a problem then you are being delusional.

Simply for the health of small market/non destination market franchises moving forward, you should not want Dame to go to Miami.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

The Heat are great. The Warriors are an all-time dynasty in the vein of the 90’s Bulls (that then added Shaq or something, running with the analogy). They are just not the same, not even all that similar due to the scale of difference.

The Heat were one game away from being in the lotto... Warriors set the record for wins in a season lol.

 

[jazzfan1132]

After more than 1K post some of you still think that Damian might be a Jazzman because We have some picks?

 

[KqWIN]

For the record….I don’t think burning bridges with Dame actually does anything. POR is going to do it and it won’t hurt them in the long run. The Clippers got Blake Griffin to sign by hanging his jersey in the rafters and then traded him as soon as they could. No one cared. Players have flocked to go there ever since.

Everyone plays hardball and is cutthroat. Teams, players….everyone is just out for their best interest and that’s fine with me.

 

[tksavis]

Yeah... that would be so cool. I'd be so happy with the org that shut him down the last two years to tank shutting him down again... what a win that would be... sticking to their guns... fans would love that **** too.

You don't have to take a ****** deal. Miami has a chance to get to a fair deal if they can find something for Herro. Doing this to a guy like Dame would be hilarious bad business. Doing that to BS vs. doing it to Dame is not a great look.

This doesn't have to be--shouldn't be--some kind of dramatic move by the Portland front office to "shut him down". They should absolutely take their time to find the best deal, and not be bullied into a crappy Miami deal by Dame's agents. Over time Miami will find a way to legitimately sweeten its offer. Or maybe training camp rolls around and Dame will have to play the "I'm not showing up" card, which will be self-inflicted damage to his long-cultivated image. My guess is that the closer that point comes, if Miami doesn't find a way to a legit offer before that, the more we'll see cracks in Dame's insistence that only Miami will do, and then another team or two will have a shot.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

No one is calling the Blazers victims jesus ****ing christ.

If you cant see that players having the power to functionally create a NTC despite not signing one when they have 4 years left on their deal is a problem then you are being delusional.

Its not a problem. If you can't see that Dame would stay if they were good enough you are delusional. Every time these stars have demanded trades out the franchises they spurned have made off really well. Portland will do just fine in this deal. Pelicans over here whining about guys requestion out of their JV *** organization... those guys made out like bandits in those trades. Were they better off keeping Jrue and AD together lol. They didn't even have their own medical staff for years... go on ahead and request out.

Simply for the health of small market/non destination market franchises moving forward, you should not want Dame to go to Miami.

Its a cautionary tale... build a winner or even the most committed guys will leave. Acting like Portland didn't have their chances here and kicked the can down the road at every opportunity is hilarious.