Blazers 2023-2024 Thread

[nogerO]

Maybe some will quit leg-humping Lillard now that he’s shown his true colors

[pezsez1]

By the way, has anyone done a welfare check on Pez? I'm guessing he isn't posting here because he is on Zillow looking at Miami real estate, but I just want to be sure he's okay.

I'm here! Out with the family this morning doing normal human things.

I'm not sad that Lillard is getting out. Parting ways is ultimately far more attractive than another year of "threading the needle" with essentially the same squad as last year. And I honestly hope I live a long, healthy life without ever hearing the term "threading the needle" associated with one of my favorite sports teams ever again.

That said, I'm not too optimistic today about the Blazers' future. Cronin clearly wanted to build around Lillard since taking over as GM and not only did he repeatedly fail, but he failed so hard that he convinced one of the most loyal athletes in pro sports to ask for a trade. I'm optimistic that Scoot will be good (but some folks really need to manage expectations a bit) and I'm a big believer in Sharpe... but I'm not a believer in Cronin. I mean we've really seen zero evidence that he has what it takes to build (and keep) a competitive roster. Drafting the right guys is one thing -- and arguably pretty easy when you have the #3 pick and Michael Jordan picking in front of you -- but eventually, we'll be back in the position where Cronin will have to make real personal moves and I'm not confident he'll be able to. I worry that even if Scoot/Sharpe are the next big thing that this front office will find a way to screw it up. Nothing about the Blazers today feels like "winning." This team feels completely adrift with nobody on top having any kind of plan.

And man, don't even get me started on whether Cronin will get us anything of value in return for Lillard. I do think they should work with Lillard to put him in a good situation -- Cronin owes him that for convincing Dame to tank two years of his prime in exchange for a worse roster -- but I'll be pissed if what we get back is Tyler Herro and 20 second-round picks. There comes a point at which Cronin needs to choose to not get fleeced. At least a few solid teams will be willing to trade for Dame, and Cronin should pick the best of those offers, not just send him to Miami for Herro. There's working with Dame, and then there's just being a chump. If we take a deal centered around Herro then Cronin is a chump.

I am somewhat excited to see this young team run next season & I'm excited for cheap tickets and better seats. I actually really enjoy watching guys get the chance to develop... spent years during the Stotts era screaming at the TV to give more minutes to young guys. I will feel a lot better though when I see some kind of evidence that our front office isn't a raging dumpster fire, because until that stops being the case the results will never really change.

EDIT: I'd also still like to see us trade Anfernee Simons for either a wing or a center. He makes too much money to come off the bench, he's not naturally a great point guard, and Sharpe is better as a shooting guard. In five years from now I'd love for Scoot to be the only undersized rotation player with a big contract. This team needs to find some young bigs with the potential to be those studs we never had over the past 10 years.

[greenyellow]

What the Blazers really need to do is be sold to someone who actually cares, is willing to spend to win, and isn't just there for the executor's fees. I'm hoping the tanking season ticket and merchandise sales along with all the bad feelings from the fanbase will ultimately be what makes Jody Allen and Bert Kolde sell.

[greenyellow]

I'd say at this point Cronin, the front office, ownership, and Dame have all failed this franchise.

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[pezsez1]

Keep in mind that Cronin's statement/actions could also be a smokescreen. It would be extremely bad business on the part of the Blazers to move Dame to a bad situation -- given all that Dame has done for the franchise, doing so would be borderline vindictive and not a good look for anyone else thinking about playing (or staying) here. Perhaps this is a last-ditch effort to urge teams like Miami to try a little harder with their offers.

I said earlier that I'd like for Cronin to choose the best offer from the good teams that get in on Lillard. I should ammend that slightly -- Cronin should choose from the best "serious" offers put forth by good teams. If those teams aren't putting forth serious offers (i.e. not Tyler Herro and pocket lint) then he should turn things over to the open market.

Cronin should try to do right by Lillard, but he also can't be a chump about it. If a team like Miami really wanted Lillard, then they need to appreciate this reality and pay an appropriate price. Otherwise, they don't really want him. Cronin isn't going to fleece anyone, and we shouldn't expect to be completely happy with any upcoming trade, but certain trades should be immediately deemed as unacceptable.

[greenyellow]

Keep in mind that Cronin's statement/actions could also be a smokescreen. It would be extremely bad business on the part of the Blazers to move Dame to a bad situation -- given all that Dame has done for the franchise, doing so would be borderline vindictive and not a good look for anyone else thinking about playing (or staying) here. Perhaps this is a last-ditch effort to urge teams like Miami to try a little harder with their offers.

I said earlier that I'd like for Cronin to choose the best offer from the good teams that get in on Lillard. I should ammend that slightly -- Cronin should choose from the best "serious" offers put forth by good teams. If those teams aren't putting forth serious offers (i.e. not Tyler Herro and pocket lint) then he should turn things over to the open market.

Dame has earned some respect for hanging around as long as he did without complaint but the Blazers have to look out for themselves in this situation. They're going to be telling anyone without the necessary assets to find a 3rd or 4th team to join in to make it worth their while. If someone like Gobert can fetch 5 FRPs, the Blazers need to demand that and more for someone considered a top-75 of all time.

[droop10]

Keep in mind that Cronin's statement/actions could also be a smokescreen. It would be extremely bad business on the part of the Blazers to move Dame to a bad situation -- given all that Dame has done for the franchise, doing so would be borderline vindictive and not a good look for anyone else thinking about playing (or staying) here. Perhaps this is a last-ditch effort to urge teams like Miami to try a little harder with their offers.

I said earlier that I'd like for Cronin to choose the best offer from the good teams that get in on Lillard. I should ammend that slightly -- Cronin should choose from the best "serious" offers put forth by good teams. If those teams aren't putting forth serious offers (i.e. not Tyler Herro and pocket lint) then he should turn things over to the open market.

Dame has earned some respect for hanging around as long as he did without complaint but the Blazers have to look out for themselves in this situation. They're going to be telling anyone without the necessary assets to find a 3rd or 4th team to join in to make it worth their while. If someone like Gobert can fetch 5 FRPs, the Blazers need to demand that and more for someone considered a top-75 of all time.

I don’t think you can use Gobert as a standard. Wolves are a dumb franchise and that trade was widely panned as awful. I don’t think a decent organization would make that mistake. The most likely outcome is that everyone will be disappointed in whatever the return is, as the Blazers have little leverage. There aren’t going to be a ton of suitors and those that are interested won’t have a ton to offer.

[Boom]

Guys are here acting like Grant has some attractive contract that teams will be lining up to get their hands on. I doubt it. It was a reach by at least $5 million per year over his market value.

Only takes 1 team. Grant’s not a scrub.

[buckmarkduck]

Keep in mind that Cronin's statement/actions could also be a smokescreen. It would be extremely bad business on the part of the Blazers to move Dame to a bad situation -- given all that Dame has done for the franchise, doing so would be borderline vindictive and not a good look for anyone else thinking about playing (or staying) here. Perhaps this is a last-ditch effort to urge teams like Miami to try a little harder with their offers.

I said earlier that I'd like for Cronin to choose the best offer from the good teams that get in on Lillard. I should ammend that slightly -- Cronin should choose from the best "serious" offers put forth by good teams. If those teams aren't putting forth serious offers (i.e. not Tyler Herro and pocket lint) then he should turn things over to the open market.

Dame has earned some respect for hanging around as long as he did without complaint but the Blazers have to look out for themselves in this situation. They're going to be telling anyone without the necessary assets to find a 3rd or 4th team to join in to make it worth their while. If someone like Gobert can fetch 5 FRPs, the Blazers need to demand that and more for someone considered a top-75 of all time.

I like Dame, but any trade has to ONLY be with Portlands best interest. Dame can go to Anchorage for all I care, the blazers have to get the best deal. Anything less than a stud, solid depth and some picks, is useless for the future of the franchise.

[Boom]

Any team that trades for Lillard will want his blessing. I’ll be shocked if it’s not Miami or Brooklyn.

[Duck07]

I tend to think taking a Forward from the Spurs and all of those draft picks is the way to go.

Let him go be the man in SA and see if Wemby will boom or bust.

[greenyellow]

I like Dame, but any trade has to ONLY be with Portlands best interest. Dame can go to Anchorage for all I care, the blazers have to get the best deal. Anything less than a stud, solid depth and some picks, is useless for the future of the franchise.

That's how I think the franchise should handle it but likely won't as they'll likely cut off a little more value that they should get for someone of Dame's value to make it not look like they're being too difficult. They need to get at least two players who could fit alongside Ant, Scoot, and Shaedon past the next couple seasons. The Blazers shouldn't really be asking for any 2024 draft picks since it's a fairly weak draft with no clear #1 pick. They should only think about taking on wings/posts with decent upside, size, length, and athleticism with them having Scoot, Ant, and Shaedon manning the backcourt spots.

[greenyellow]

[bellsduck]

Bottom line. This is a business. Lillard doesn't get any points for being a long-time Blazer. We don't owe him anything other than a thank you for doing what he did while he was a Blazer. He was more than willing to take a contract that paid him $50 million a year and out the team in financial straight jacket. Good riddance.
I don't care where the Blazers trade Lillard as long as they get the best package available.
Cronin was in a horrible situation when he took over the job and he's done a fair job working with what he was dealt. I feel better today about where the Blazers are going than anytime in the last decade honestly.

[pezsez1]

I also think a deal with San Antonio makes the most sense. Might not be Lillard's ideal situation but they have Wemby and a ton of assets. They're going to be contenders quickly, if not immediately with someone like Dame. And we can't afford to get rid of him in exchange for another freaking guard. We need frontcourt players. We've needed frontcourt players for 10 years and getting them now (finally) would be a very nice silver lining.

Would San Antonio want to commit to Lillard and his contract given Wemby's youth? That's another question. The Spurs are in no rush and can afford to grow more organically. A team like the Heat or 76ers would definitely feel more pressure to make a move right now. (He'd fit in great in either place... would LOVE to see him playing with Embid. Holy hell, they would be a PROBLEM in the East.)

Would also be funny if Lillard followed in the footsteps of LMA. Not remotely the same circumstances, but still kind of ironic, nonetheless.