Are you trying to convince me, or the MVP voters who didn't vote for him? He played in more games (58) than Steph (56), who got votes,and only a couple games less than several others (Morant 61, Giannis 63, Butler 64, Doncic 66, Embiid 66). Shai and Luka also both missed the playoffs.
So much for those arguments. I still want to trade Lillard.
Most of those guys played more games and Dame was third-team All-NBA. Would have likely been second-team had Cronin not shut him down so the team could tank. BTW, Luka barely missed the playoffs despite playing with Kyrie (now THAT's a pair of divas) and Shai willed his team to the play-in.
The only coherent thing you've said over your past few posts is that Lillard is aging.
Last edited by pezsez1 on Wed Jun 28, 2023 1:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Duck07 wrote:I tend to agree with Jason Quick's take that Lillard needs to just shut up already and that it isn't doing any positive, not even for himself. Dame didn't meet with Cronin alone, he brought his Agent which is purposefully provocative for someone who wants to win in Portland.
I don't know if 07 is still reading, but I am interested in what you see as provocative about Lillard bringing his agent. I was imagining the interaction, after Cronin's draft completely flew in the face of what Lillard has been saying on his media tour about trading the picks for veterans. What do you think was the agent's role in the meeting?
Duck07 wrote:I tend to agree with Jason Quick's take that Lillard needs to just shut up already and that it isn't doing any positive, not even for himself. Dame didn't meet with Cronin alone, he brought his Agent which is purposefully provocative for someone who wants to win in Portland.
I don't know if 07 is still reading, but I am interested in what you see as provocative about Lillard bringing his agent. I was imagining the interaction, after Cronin's draft completely flew in the face of what Lillard has been saying on his media tour about trading the picks for veterans. What do you think was the agent's role in the meeting?
His role is primarily to work towards his client's best interests and I think his mere presence in that meeting says that Lillard is not fully committed right now to Portland for the duration of his contract; that unless Cronin makes moves that please Damian, he's going to be seeing which teams want to hold his clients contract through a trade. He wouldn't have even needed to say a word during the meeting to get that singular point across either.
If Dame was simply curious (or happy) about what the direction was after the draft, he doesn't need his agent. He should also already know that direction based on having asked Jodi one question: Are you spending over the Tax line this year so we can actually compete or will you just make moves to stay under by the deadline? I also think that's a very fair question for him to ask and one that he absolutely deserves a truthful answer to.
Dame's a grown ass man who can handle a hard truth over an easy lie. My concern is that there is so much sheer ineptitude within the organization they can't even do that right and probably told him some nonsense like "You're going to be really excited after the draft is over." At which point, yeah, bring your agent to the next meeting.
So the question is what does he want to do, and what’s realistic?
If Lillard’s goal is to truly compete for a title, he needs to come to terms with the reality that time and circumstance is not on his side in Portland and ask the team to find him a better situation.
If his goal is to leave a legacy as Portland’s forever king, then he needs to be all-in on the idea that the Blazers might be ready to compete in important playoff games again when he’s on the other side of 35.
Either way, it’s up to him. But he needs to step up to the plate, stop the double-talk and make his intentions known. Lillard has spent most of his career as one of the NBA’s most admirable players, but this interminable limbo has been a decidedly ugly look.
If Dame stays healthy and buys into this idea, I think its even possible they could win a 1st round series this year depending on the matchup. The rise of Sharpe this year is probably what will propel this team to the playoffs this year or not as it is.
I think they would have re-signed Reddish if they had any money, but they don't. Maybe we'll see one of them back on a minimum deal.
I'm steeling myself for disappointment. I think they blow their wad on Grant and then maybe trade one of the guards. It's all dictated by having to try to keep Lillard happy. The funny thing is, he never will be.
Duck07 wrote:
His role is primarily to work towards his client's best interests and I think his mere presence in that meeting says that Lillard is not fully committed right now to Portland for the duration of his contract; that unless Cronin makes moves that please Damian, he's going to be seeing which teams want to hold his clients contract through a trade. He wouldn't have even needed to say a word during the meeting to get that singular point across either.
If Dame was simply curious (or happy) about what the direction was after the draft, he doesn't need his agent. He should also already know that direction based on having asked Jodi one question: Are you spending over the Tax line this year so we can actually compete or will you just make moves to stay under by the deadline? I also think that's a very fair question for him to ask and one that he absolutely deserves a truthful answer to.
Dame's a grown ass man who can handle a hard truth over an easy lie. My concern is that there is so much sheer ineptitude within the organization they can't even do that right and probably told him some nonsense like "You're going to be really excited after the draft is over." At which point, yeah, bring your agent to the next meeting.
Great post, thank you. I was wondering if the agent also might be mentioning trades that he knew could have been made, or might still be made. His presence in a meeting like that seems so insidious, especially for a relatively inexperienced GM.
P.S. Never mind about Reddish. Looks like they would have had to pay him almost $8 million. Nope.
Phalanx wrote:
Great post, thank you. I was wondering if the agent also might be mentioning trades that he knew could have been made, or might still be made. His presence in a meeting like that seems so insidious, especially for a relatively inexperienced GM.
I just can't come up with a rationale reason why Goodwin is there beyond to insinuate what potential exit-trades for Dame are available IF Joe doesn't make other moves for Dame. We'll start finding out what FA deals are agreed to in the coming hours though and if there is any type of direction.
I think they have to sign Grant if only because losing him means you don't free up cap space and now you've lost a moveable asset.
Would have likely been second-team had Cronin not shut him down so the team could tank. BTW, Luka barely missed the playoffs despite playing with Kyrie (now THAT's a pair of divas) and Shai willed his team to the play-in.
