Preseason Game Portland vs Golden State 10/11/22

[BlazersBroncos]

Welcome to reality, this is what you wanted. Now we have it! We could have had a nice young core in place already and had a couple more picks in the pipeline for a few years, but instead we have this...floundering, middling, treadmill of a mess.

But could we have? When is the last time a star was traded in the offseason coming off an injury? I cant think of anyone.

We got dealt a bum hand with Dame getting injuried last year. If we shop him in the summer and dont like the lowball offers, your stuck with a disgruntled Dame who has been nothing but loyal. The PR would have been horrible.

If you keep Dame, you either pay the guys you have as we did or target a big fish. No big fish were moved this offseason outside Gobert and Murray. The cost those guys demanded was astronomical. In an alternative universe, I wonder if had Dame been healthy he could have been the MIN target over Gobert. That is the type of Lillard deal I would hope for. But with the extension, I really think that time has passed.

[m0ng0]

Dame had surgery in January, he was perfectly fine and probably could have come back to play but they were in full on tank mode by than. He could have easily worked out for teams and would have no problem passing a physical.

That's BS and everybody knows it.

He even said I'm stronger than EVER, convienently after the draft...

And with all this "uncertainty" about his trade value being in the garbage WHY THE HELL WOULD WE EXTEND HIM?

[Case2012]

I think extending him to finish his career here made sense, I just would've waited until next off season to do it. Then again, he probably wouldn't been eligible for even more money. I'm kind of disappointed that he didn't go the Dirk or harden(of all people) route and take less money to help us grab another piece but given what we know about Jody, she's not willing to spend anyways. It's a tough situation. I think the must obvious course of action is to free up our picks to make a big push for someone at the deadline. We have enough young guys to consolidate some of the talent for a veteran with a proven track record.

[PDXKnight]

Imagine if we blow this year and somehow Land wanambe. Can't say I expect to be quite that bad but it'd be cool as maybe it finally gives us a road map moving forward even because right now we look like lost puppies

[BNM]

But could we have? When is the last time a star was traded in the offseason coming off an injury? I cant think of anyone.

Kawhi Leonard - played just 9 regular season games between 12/12/2017 and 1/13/2018. Was traded to TOR on 7/18/2018.

Kevin Durant - 6/10/2019 ruptures Achille's. Was traded to BRK on 7/7/2019

[Dame Lizard]

Dame had surgery in January, he was perfectly fine and probably could have come back to play but they were in full on tank mode by than. He could have easily worked out for teams and would have no problem passing a physical.

That's BS and everybody knows it.

He even said I'm stronger than EVER, convienently after the draft...

And with all this "uncertainty" about his trade value being in the garbage WHY THE HELL WOULD WE EXTEND HIM?

It was madness.

Loyalty is a two way street. If Dame wants to retire a Blazer, but isn't willing to take a paycut from the $60m he's eligible for, then the club needed to reconsider things.

I'm not even suggesting that he took a huge paycut, more just agree a salary in the low 50s. That's still 50 million per annum. Sheesh......

To those who want to respond with "an extra $5-10m wouldn't change anything on this roster", please don't. That's a genuine upgrade at a key position, and also absolutely makes a difference with respect to his trade value.

[DaVoiceMaster]

Billups is going nowhere. It's the first year of a revamped roster.

Covington and Nance Jr for Grant is a wash, except it cost the Blazers depth.
Powell for Hart is a wash.
Now, when I say it's a wash, it's not, but it is close enough.
That still leaves a hole for CJ? Sure, Simon's is replacing him, but CJ is better a d who's replacing Simon's off the bench? All this to say, the Blazers are worse now than before.

This team has been putrid to watch at this point. They have to make a move or two before the deadline.

[GEE]

From what I saw in this game alone, was a similar look (+Grant) as we saw much of last season, with a bigger guard at the 2 in Keon, but it could have just as easily been Hart there like last year, which I think would drastically improve Hart's game, cause he hasn't looked very good at the 3 and I don't recall him playing there much if at all last season. Also, a debate could easily be had whether starting J.Grant at the 3 would make him at his' best.

In all the other previous games this PS, It has been TOTALLY DIFFERENT than last season, as Chauncey taught a new system that Dame never seemed to excel in... then he had to shut things down. Disappointing that it appears he still hasn't shined under Chauncey, and didn't take the opportunity with this last PS game to at least work on some isht.

Not passing blame here... Chauncey and Dame are both being tasked with figuring out a winning style, while again starting 6'2 & 6'4 at the guard spots. INSANITY, by definition. It's ok though. I will stay optimistic because regardless of what happens, I think we will be ready to make our push next season... not this one.

I imagine Chauncey will for now go with Dame / Simons, and I would be amazed if it ends up working well. The obvious next move would be to convince Simons it's in the team's best interest for him to be the 6th man with starter-like minutes and finishing games. This could give us a better shot at winning more games, and would give Dame every opportunity he should need to look great again. But even this still might not lead to success because again... I've yet to see Dame play well under Chauncey.

Try to remain calm and patient... Trust "The Process".