Lillard: I don't want to be a part of a rebuild.

[JasonStern]

I disagree.

Okay. Then let's keep Dame. Problem solved.

How so? Another treadmill season?

People pay $20/month for gym memberships to use treadmills. If Dame is keeping the team profitable...

[m0ng0]

If only people understood they can walk for free, and don't need a treadmill, might even see some cool birds and meet some wonderful people. Or just watch their team suck on the television.

[GEE]

I really just hope Dame wants to go there, and he announces by the end of this month. Dame IMO has become the Treadmill, because I get excited about the resulting roster not really knowing what it may produce on the court. With a couple small moves after the big one, our team could be really quite good, sooner than later especially if Cronin keeps hitting.

With Dame still here, it keeps this team on the same narrow course, that has far less flexability. I'd much rather have the mystery of the unknown Vs what seems to be a fairy predictable outcome w/ Dame, unless we sell off the future assets in Sharpe & Simons.

It's a split decision around here, but I'm definitely in the camp for turning the page, starting a new chapter.

[soobias]

i too am in the camp of starting newish trading dame before his value drops and if we can get some kind of young talent and several draft picks for him im all in... imo in 2-3 years the west will be wide open and if we can get a few good pieces and keep some kind of cap flexability that would be ok by me.
i dont want any over priced players so if we could trade DAME , KURK, and maybe SIMONS and let grant walk i would be happy.
i say maybe on simons cuz he's young on a decent to good contract that could be a really good contract in a cpl years.

[Norm2953]

Just force Dame's hands to finally ask for a trade.

Draft the player that best helps them at 5 and begin to build around Sharpe, Simons and pick 5.

Identify the player (s) needed to fill in around Sharpe and if Dame finally asks out, get some of those
guys that will be good role models for these young player. It will take a few years but its been done
before in the 70's, 80's,90's and recently in 2014 for all those teams added pieces when they had
the opportunity and did the trade to add the guy who was needed, when their core was ready to
contend.

This could all change if Victor walks through the door but think about what a team built around
Victor/Sharpe needs to contend when they are ready.

Sucks for Dame but Portland really missed their opportunity to compete around Dame in 2017-9
which is when NO should have mortgaged the future to get Dame what he needed to really
compete in the west

[GEE]

I just had a strange thought: Assuming it does happen and Dame and Simmons end up trading zip codes... How much might that change of cities affect each of the two players? I happen to think the change of media environments could be a HUGE difference maker for both players potentially.

For Dame, maybe not too difficult a switch, but it will be the big leagues in NY, and far different than having a -Zano as your biggest critic. Huge media and marketing opportunites for sure with the change, but like I said, far different than little-ass Portland.

The bigger difference I think will come in Simmons, where I think he will greatly benefit from getting out from the pressures of two of the larger cities in the countries media pressure. Being on the Blazers would definitely greatly reduce the spotlight on him, which alone I think will help the kid a ton.

I just salivate when I think of the small gamble in Simmons paying off big. If we could turn our pick into a legit 4 or 5, we might be really good with Simons, Sharpe, Grant, Simmons, FRP. Claxton, (Cam or Woods), Little, Thybulle with a hopefull addition of PRITCHARD would make for a really exciting 10 going forward, and we'd have a load of draft capital along with Knox, Eubanks, Keon, Walker.

If we somehow luck out and land Wemby, we would become an instant favorite to win in the West, and I would defintely be totally stoked to start next season having done both of the above. But if we don't land the #1, I again would trade the pick along with whatever other draft capital it takes, and get that upgrade to Nurkic. Mark Williams is THE GUY for me, but him or better is what I hope to see Cronin's attempt to do: Identify who the perfect fit is... Then overpay to get him with picks (as many as it takes).

If we can do the above, I think we will be quite competetive next season... I hope he asks out

[Village Idiot]

I don't get your obsession with Ben Simmons. While I retain some hope that he will once again become a productive player, he has some major mental and physical hurdles to get there. Even if he does there is still the ugly fact that he can't shoot.

[GEE]

I don't get your obsession with Ben Simmons. While I retain some hope that he will once again become a productive player, he has some major mental and physical hurdles to get there. Even if he does there is still the ugly fact that he can't shoot.

I just see the risk/reward being really good for this team, considering what he does bring is in my opionion what this team sorely lacks, including attitude. Simmons has a pure PG mentallity, and would much rather make a perfect pass than shoot, but that doesn't mean he can't do it. Don't need him too anyway really, but he would need to improve on it some, no question, and I think that's entirely possible.

[DusterBuster]

I don't get your obsession with Ben Simmons. While I retain some hope that he will once again become a productive player, he has some major mental and physical hurdles to get there. Even if he does there is still the ugly fact that he can't shoot.

Read on Twitter

Hoping that exec is Cronin.

[BlazersBroncos]

I don't get your obsession with Ben Simmons. While I retain some hope that he will once again become a productive player, he has some major mental and physical hurdles to get there. Even if he does there is still the ugly fact that he can't shoot.

I just see the risk/reward being really good for this team, considering what he does bring is in my opionion what this team sorely lacks, including attitude. Simmons has a pure PG mentallity, and would much rather make a perfect pass than shoot, but that doesn't mean he can't do it. Don't need him too anyway really, but he would need to improve on it some, no question, and I think that's entirely possible.

How can you say this? There is absolutely no evidence Ben Simmons can shoot. None. Zero. Zilch. You’re living in the realm of pure fantasy if you make even a moments worth of argument that Ben Simmons can shoot.

[GEE]

I never said Simmons shoots it well, but the important part of that sentence you highlighted is the part you didn't highlight. Because I really don't want to talk about him right now, I'll just say that there are many components to the game of basketball and scoring is only one of them; Someone has to rebound, someone has to play defense, etc. It's important to have plenty of every ingredient needed to have success. You can't just outscore the other teams with shooters... we tried that remember.

The thing I'm interested by today is the playoffs, and how the troubles of several teams currently, may open up and have a major impact on the Dame market this offseason, if he decides to explore it. Aside from Brooklyn, there are others that may be ringing Cronin's phone in the next few weeks.

- For Boston. laying an egg at home in game 5 means they must win 6 in Philly to stay alive. Needless to say, the odds are not in their favor and the result be more Brown chatter if they come up short in a similar way as last year.

- Obviously there will be Morey tampering the very moment Harden leaves, if he leaves. But the chances of Dame to Philly I think are quite small, but one could also definitely rule out Embiid to Portland because they seem to be the current favorites to win the EC.

- Miami is also winning, which makes them a lesser-likely candidate, than if they were struggling.

- The Bucks are the team to watch I think after their lame performance in the playoffs. I don't really like what they have to offer in trade, but they will likely be calling.

- There's the Dubs. I really hate those guys, and I'm glad to see the current infighting amongst teammates. I only hope it excalates. I hate the idea of dealing with those jerks, but I don't think there is a team in the league that has bigger guts when it comes to making moves, and might actually surprise the world by bringing Dame (how? / no clue) to the Bay.

- One more to mention is the Suns. If the Durrant move didn't secure the rings, than would that new owner of theirs, be wanting to explore trying to snatch Dame, if for say, Dame has them on his short list? Would not be my favorite choice obviously, but Nurkic/Dame <<<--->>> Ayton/Paul does work in the old checker.

I guess I'm just trying to keep an open mind with all things Dame, and not get hung up on Brooklyn knowing they will be one of many that will make offers for Dame this summer... maybe with some help from this year's crazy playoffs.

[Case2012]

I think all those teams are more likely to trade us one of their players after flaming out than trading Dame to them. Everything Dame and Cronin have said indicate that too.

[monopoman]

Ben Simmons is literally scared to shoot the ball in games typically, he actually has taken less 3 pointers as he has been in the NBA. Sure he will still pull up from mid-range on occasion but even there for a player that controls the ball as much as he does he has a heavy aversion to trying to shoot the ball in general.

I also have no interest in a player who I feel has never made a strong attempt to get better, he might be a good defender and passer but he sure as heck doesn't want to work on his faults. Having any player on the court people can leave wide open from range in the year 2023 is a big disadvantage. He's basically like the anthesis of Dame a player with a ton of hype that went into the NBA and really never tried to hit his true potential.

[Norm2953]

Let's just see how Portland operates in the next six weeks.

Presumably Portland will be able to workout all the players they wish to see. How they operate
depends on what they see both in the individual workouts and in the combine. Its going to be a
draft with good depth but few stars but that might be okay for Portland with Dame, Ant, Sharpe
and probably Jerami Grant has plenty of offense. They really need to find guys who can get the
ball for the scorers.

[JKiddy]

I think if you win the lottery tonight Dame might decide to stay. If not, I think POR will go full rebuild and you will be 10x better for that in 4 years. You will have some insane young talent and will be exciting like you were as a team in the last 90's early 00's. I love those teams.

[DusterBuster]

I think if you win the lottery tonight Dame might decide to stay. If not, I think POR will go full rebuild and you will be 10x better for that in 4 years. You will have some insane young talent and will be exciting like you were as a team in the last 90's early 00's. I love those teams.

It's most definitely not going to be that cut and dry. Agreed that winning the lottery means Dame is a lock to stay. If they're 2-5, I think it's a 50/50 shot Dame stays, I think it drops to maybe ~25% if the Blazers fall below 5.

I think there's going to be plenty of player movement this summer, I think the coaching craziness is a tea-leaf that teams are getting antsy about where they're at.

My more nuanced take is that if the Blazers end up with 2-5, I think there will be players to be had that Dame may like enough to stay. Will all depend on if a deal can be agreed upon. If the Blazers get froze out and/or prices are too high for the guys they want that Dame likes, then I think both sides go the parting ways route.

At that point we can talk about the Blazers gifting the Nets Dame for pennies on the dollar

[DusterBuster]

Quick was on 1080 and asked the Lillard question, he says the sense he gets from around the team, he's not right now on edge of asking out. Said there's a ton of IF's still, but what he's hearing is that even if the Blazers don't win the lottery, a lot of things would need to happen for him to ask out. The team would need to make a pretty dedicated move toward youth only (so keeping and using the pick on an unready 19yo, not being serious about looking for a trade or getting veteran help, then maybe, but it's definitely not as locked in as some fans - particularly one from in or near Brooklyn - would like you believe.

[Case2012]

Dame isn't asking out unless Cronin does the complete opposite of what he said he's been trying to do, which would be a slap in the face to Dame. To be fair, that's exactly what Olshey did for years.

The pick is gonna be traded unless it's Wemby. Even then I would still move it if I could get Giannis or Biid, or maybe even Brown plus other assets.

[DusterBuster]

Dame isn't asking out unless Cronin does the complete opposite of what he said he's been trying to do, which would be a slap in the face to Dame. To be fair, that's exactly what Olshey did for years.

The pick is gonna be traded unless it's Wemby. Even then I would still move it if I could get Giannis or Biid, or maybe even Brown plus other assets.

Hype train is legit off the charts right now for Wemby. Hype probably outpacing trade value of any player in the NBA. Not sure with this much hype that any team would move that pick, even for Embiid or Giannis. I would still consider it, but I think the league has passed the point of no return and that pick is for all intense and purposes, untradeable.

[PDXKnight]

Dame isn't asking out unless Cronin does the complete opposite of what he said he's been trying to do, which would be a slap in the face to Dame. To be fair, that's exactly what Olshey did for years.

The pick is gonna be traded unless it's Wemby. Even then I would still move it if I could get Giannis or Biid, or maybe even Brown plus other assets.

Hype train is legit off the charts right now for Wemby. Hype probably outpacing trade value of any player in the NBA. Not sure with this much hype that any team would move that pick, even for Embiid or Giannis. I would still consider it, but I think the league has passed the point of no return and that pick is for all intense and purposes, untradeable.

Yeah it's wild. I'd trade vic for giannis in a split second and probably would do so for 4 other players without thinking much. I know he's worth more than lavine but jokic and embeiid? The nba has gone bonkers