Dame Comes Home

[NYG]

Jerami Grant, Robert Williams III, Matisse Thybulle, Duop Reath and Kris Murray for Damian Lillard and Pat Connaughton

Portland consolidates their spare parts to turn Grant's 3 years into Lillard's 2 years while landing a crowd favorite when he returns to the court the following season.

This would be step one of trying to convince Giannis to stay in Milwaukee with his 2027 free agency looming. It's probably a bit of a desperate move, but at least gives them bodies for 2025-26.

[JRoy]

Hard no for POR.

No interest in paying assets for a reunion tour. If he wants to sign for vet minimum in a few years, sure.

[Myth]

Portland shouldn’t do this. They are trying to win, so why strip themselves of so much depth and defense go take an injured Lillard? They would have practically no bench. They’d have to spend money on probably garbage players just to fill the roster, which increases money now. All to save $36M in 3 years? Also, why would Portland want to help Bucks retain Giannis when they are hoping for their picks in the coming years? Finally, this could end up as a feel bad story. Lillard comes back in time for the Blazers to give the reins to Scoot and not offer Lillard a large contract? If Lillard wants back eventually, let him sign a cheap contract on his own terms when his current contract runs out.

[Texas Chuck]

Hard no for POR.

No interest in paying assets for a reunion tour. If he wants to sign for vet minimum in a few years, sure.

I don't see any Portland assets in this deal. I see bad contracts and insignificant end of roster guys.

[zimpy27]

Portland shouldn’t do this. They are trying to win, so why strip themselves of so much depth and defense go take an injured Lillard? They would have practically no bench. They’d have to spend money on probably garbage players just to fill the roster, which increases money now. All to save $36M in 3 years? Also, why would Portland want to help Bucks retain Giannis when they are hoping for their picks in the coming years? Finally, this could end up as a feel bad story. Lillard comes back in time for the Blazers to give the reins to Scoot and not offer Lillard a large contract? If Lillard wants back eventually, let him sign a cheap contract on his own terms when his current contract runs out.

Ok so Portland playoff bound next season?

Are you sure a tank year in 25-26 and then a push in 26-27 isn't the smarter move?

[JRoy]

Hard no for POR.

No interest in paying assets for a reunion tour. If he wants to sign for vet minimum in a few years, sure.

I don't see any Portland assets in this deal. I see bad contracts and insignificant end of roster guys.

They are hardly world beaters. All will play more games than Lillard next year.

[DaVoiceMaster]

If Lillard were healthy, I would seriously consider this deal. Not now.

[RiotPunch]

How about something like

MKE: Grant, Holiday
PDX: Lillard, BOS '26 1st (lottery protected)
BOS: Timelord

Bucks make an expensive desperation play.

Blazers bring Dame home, collect a 1st while getting off of Grant's deal.

Celtics shave huge cap, bring back a familiar big.

[Myth]

Portland shouldn’t do this. They are trying to win, so why strip themselves of so much depth and defense go take an injured Lillard? They would have practically no bench. They’d have to spend money on probably garbage players just to fill the roster, which increases money now. All to save $36M in 3 years? Also, why would Portland want to help Bucks retain Giannis when they are hoping for their picks in the coming years? Finally, this could end up as a feel bad story. Lillard comes back in time for the Blazers to give the reins to Scoot and not offer Lillard a large contract? If Lillard wants back eventually, let him sign a cheap contract on his own terms when his current contract runs out.

Ok so Portland playoff bound next season?

Are you sure a tank year in 25-26 and then a push in 26-27 isn't the smarter move?

It’s a valid question, but if that is the plan, I still don’t think this is the path as I don’t expect Lillard to bounce back the year after, and I don’t see the reunion going well for what I spelled out above. Lillard was bad at defense before. I think he very likely is the worst defender in the league after such an injury, and I wouldn’t want him expecting the keys being handed back to him if he’s not the same. If we are going to tank, see what actual value we can get for the expiring contracts. If we aren’t tanking, I think Grant moving forward alone is a better contributor to this team, even if he is overpaid, then we have some other plus defenders there when healthy.

[Myth]

How about something like

MKE: Grant, Holiday
PDX: Lillard, BOS '26 1st (lottery protected)
BOS: Timelord

Bucks make an expensive desperation play.

Blazers bring Dame home, collect a 1st while getting off of Grant's deal.

Celtics shave huge cap, bring back a familiar big.

This one at least gets us an asset that may help for our future.

[DaVoiceMaster]

No Tatum or Holiday, that pick could be okay. Maybe Top 10 protected instead.

[RiotPunch]

How about something like

MKE: Grant, Holiday
PDX: Lillard, BOS '26 1st (lottery protected)
BOS: Timelord

Bucks make an expensive desperation play.

Blazers bring Dame home, collect a 1st while getting off of Grant's deal.

Celtics shave huge cap, bring back a familiar big.

This one at least gets us an asset that may help for our future.

I'm not in love with it for the Bucks, so must be close?

[Andre 2999]

If Lillard were healthy, I would seriously consider this deal. Not now.

Man if he were healthy, I would love to see Dame on this team now with Sharpe, Deni, Tou, and Ayton/Clingan. Having him be the same perfect mentor for Scoot that he was for Simons. He'd finally have some real talent on the wings to play with and multiple plus-defenders to cover his a**.

Unfortunately, his injury changed the scenario. I'd still love to have him back once his contract is more affordable. But as it stands now, that's a lot of money to be tied up in someone who will be out all next year, and may never fully recover after that.

I probably wouldn't make a move for Dame now. But if Cronin used Grant/Ayton + salary filler contracts to bring him back, I'd still welcome him home.

[Blazinaway]

Hard no for POR.

No interest in paying assets for a reunion tour. If he wants to sign for vet minimum in a few years, sure.

I don't see any Portland assets in this deal. I see bad contracts and insignificant end of roster guys.

which IMO is appropriate given Dame's contract and Achilles rupture and age. That really does not matter however, Dame back to Portland the next 2 years simply is not happening.

[Astaluego]

I would try Utah, he also has ties there (if I'm not mistaken, did he play there in college?) and his injury won't bother them since they're not going to try to win and next year when he's over and recovered they could trade him again without a problem since he doesn't have as big a tie as the one he has with the BLAZERS (I imagine a 3-way trade where Beal goes to the Bucks, depth to the Suns (Collins/Sexton etc) and Lillard + Suns/Bucks assets to the JAZZ...
however does Connaughton + Kuzma work for J. Grant?

[Myth]

however does Connaughton + Kuzma work for J. Grant?

I would do that for Portland contract wise.

[JRoy]

however does Connaughton + Kuzma work for J. Grant?

I would do that for Portland contract wise.

As long as Kuzma get cut/sent elsewhere.