Dame is coming back to Portland!!!

[PDXKnight]

As a fan of Dame im excited but I dont think its a smart move tbh

**** same bro. I love the move, I think a basketball move, it's totally stupid.

Yeah man itll be cool to see him back but does he make us better at 36 when healthy? And at this point its like why the heck did we trade jrue? Never wanted the jrue deal now i really hate it. As much as I didnt like Ant would've made way more sense to keep him for 1 more year till Dame was healthy if the plan was to add Dame all along. And frankly im not so sure we couldn't have added someone for the mle who wins more games for us than Dame

[GEE]

dark day for mongo and Gee

Still??? Really??? WTH did I ever say about Dame, other than simply suggesting that the Blazers could escape "The Treadmill", by selling high on Dame. Just an idea that was against popular opinion at the time....... and look at all ya'll now. Blazers did finally move on and look to a new era, with the most recent big move being the drafting of Yang. In short time, Cronin has done a very decent job I'd say fixing what dumb-ass Olshey crapped on us.

Anyway..... as for bringing Dame back, I'm not surprised because I predicted it a week or so ago, when I posted about Brian Windhorst being on ESPN and spoke about the best fitting team for Dame to return to. I'm pretty sure (w/o looking back for it) I said then I thought he'd be back in Portland. Overall I think the move is Sexy for sure, but I worry a little about the effect it may have on the teams' chemistry. People, players and coaches all had to move on and adapt to a post Dame team..... and now he's back?

Money's no big deal, it's just a little confusing for all I think, but let's just have a look at it shall we, using John Wooden era positions:

Guard: Dame / Jrue / Scoot / Love
Wing: Deni / Grant / Sharpe / Camara / Thybulle / Rupert
Post: Clingan / Yang / RWIII

That's 13, and it looks really damn good to me on paper at least. How Chauncey uses players in rotation and the distribution of minutes will be a tough one, but that team is as deep as any in the NBA. But I still want to continue sending flowers to that guy in Milwaukee from Greece. Adding Giannis to the above somehow by the time Dame returns would look like Champs to me. I think it would actually be sweeter without the Freak, now that I think about it, and still quite achievable

[DusterBuster]

So for all the Marang hate, he does have a direct line to Dame. Marang is basically the Windy of Dame's Lebron if that makes sense.

Dame and Marang texted 30 seconds before news broke and have texted since after.

Marang claims from Dame, this is the team Dame has always wanted in Portland. Now... I hope Dame has enough self awareness that at 36/37 and after the injury he just had, being the guy back here isn't realistic.

That said... if he left to give the team to restock off of his trade, then if he believes in himself enough to still be a 75% Dame Lillard on his return... and he has a all D player in Camara, and Deni becoming a Luka-lite, and Clingan being a legit defensive center... and Yang being... whatever the **** he his... plus young guys he can mentor without playing for half a season...

Look, none of this makes sense or from a reasonable dollars and cents basketball move is logical. It's not, none of it. Flat out, it's not from top to bottom.

But the one thing this summer has done that no other Blazer summer I can remember is give irrational hope. I'm probably typing 1000000% memberberries... but something I've sensed since the draft is this team has the factor of just... "we're gonna be fun and let the chips fall where they may"... and they just super-infused that this afternoon.

I have no idea what this team will do, but I'm **** HAMMMERING the over in Vegas if it's still where it was. This just has the feel of a team that's gonna over-perform when it has no reason to do so.

[PDXKnight]

^ Its deep but at least currently lacks all star talent. Dame at 36 coming off an achilles is doubtful to be an all star again id have to think and with his lack of defense and offensive game likely to be in decline i seriously doubt we are better with him on the floor at this point as there is a pretty substantial likelihood he gives up more points than he scores.

Still is a cool story and it tears at my heartstrings. On one hand i love the concept of bringing him back. From a personnel standpoint adding Dame or Jrue was a bad move. I think jrue likelu does more to win us games at this point but also makes 2-3 times as much so really really hated and continue to hate that trade especially after this singing. I think for mle you almost have to take a flier on Dame and I can't blame the fo for doing so as much as I question if it will translate to wins. But absolutely hands down locking in 100 mil over 3 years assuming jrue accepts the 3rd year option is a bad fiscal move and nonsensical even if it was done before Dame was bought out (can't recall)

[Shem]

Read on Twitter

Here is what Dame posted on Twitter/X.

Beautiful. If I were an emotional person, now would be the perfect time to shed a tear. Instead, I'm an old grumpy guy so I'll just do what I normally do (fart, sniff).

I think the vast majority of us that post here are old farts. I mean who isn't under the age of 50 that posts here?

[oldfishermen]

Hope Dame can motivate Grant.

[DusterBuster]

So Lillard returns to Portland with a no-trade clause to finish his career here. Then the Blazers are sold and new management moves the team to Las Vegas. ???

I believe that’s a serious threat, I also believe the team is setting up themselves the best to make that an impossibility.

When the Sonics left, yes they had KD and Russ, but they weren’t really anything but hope. Key arena was dead then because it was already a forgone conclusion the team was gone.

The Blazers are not a forgone conclusion they’re gone. I wonder… just wonder… if a few days after Sterling’s timid “we hope they stay in Portland”, that Cronin and Dame came together and said **** THAT. Jody doesn’t care about the salary for the next couple years, the team isn’t in cap hell… so let’s super infuse this franchise with as much national attention as possible.

Just thinking outside championship or bust, especially considering the situation, Yang and then Dame in this moment feels like … we might be a 40 win team, but we’re gonna **** sell out every moment and any prospective new owner will see you’ll make money even in a mediocre year (vs bad sport cities which barely sell out in a good year), so putting money into an arena or city blocks will be worth it.

Man, there’s some real hope with this. If you want to bicker about cap space, roster spots, or whatever else… have at it. For a team and city in a rocky moment, you can’t ask for a better glimmer of hope.

[DusterBuster]

Still is a cool story and it tears at my heartstrings.

I'm leaving it at this.

Everything else you said is so on point... but this is what matters. This is a moment that I think matters.

If this team goes out and is a 35 win team, Portland is going to be there for every game. Dame is doing what Clyde didn't. Dame is showing a care about the city that no other Blazer great did, even Bill. Now again, way different situation, this is a unique situation, but given that the FO wants him back, he wants to be back, the franchise might be in a weird spot give the commissioners comments... Dame has always been about more than the game and about the city of Portland, this almost transcends basketball and is a spot where he can rehab, be a backup, be a starter to other younger stars, or even be a part owner in the sale (something he's been open about wanting to do - along with CJ which we shouldn't discount)...

It's all just a very... interesting... coincidence of timing...

[DusterBuster]

Hope Dame can motivate Grant.

To keep consistency… **** Grant. If he wants to come in and collect a check, great. If he wants to **** off somewhere else… have at it.

[GEE]

The beautiful thing is that we gave up nothing at all, and added exactly what we were in shortest supplly of: Shooting... Check. It's like MLE money so who cares about that.

There's also really no RISK at all. As long as Dame returns humble and looks to fit in (and I have to think he and Cronin have that understanding of what his role will be) it's all potential REWARDS. If the team chemistry suffers a hit, we just cross that bridge when and if we get to that point.

Perhaps Cronin and Dame had this planned all along

[NO-KG-AI]

It’s a great story, great for the fans, and it’s a salary amount that can’t kill you even if he’s totally shot

[DusterBuster]

It’s a great story, great for the fans, and it’s a salary amount that can’t kill you even if he’s totally shot

Bing... **** ... O.

The PR session for this is going to be nuts.

[HoopsFanAZ]

1. Doesn’t hurt the cap and is PR that cannot be bought.
2. Cannot now sign someone into the MLE and cock it up with someone less than exciting.
3. Dame is out for a year, so the guard rotation is not jammed up — Jrue, Scoot, Sharpe get minutes.
4. Dame gets proper respect with NOT the minimum AND the 3rd year is a p-opt AND no trade clause — Portland and Cronin did all they could in the offer to an all-time Trail Blazer who I expect to be worth more than his $$$ on and off the court. (If it doesn’t work for Dame coming off injury in 26-27, he can opt-out and retire with dignity.)
5. When Dame is back on the court in 26-27, trade one of Scoot, Shaedon, or Jrue. Both young dudes have a prove-it-year regardless.

Go Blazers!

[Butter]

Perfect, Dame can spend next year coordinating a new arena while he's doing hisbrehab

[ForeverTFC]

From the outside looking in, the Yang selection and this signing seem to me like an ownership trying to shore up their books and fan support for a sale that keeps the team in Portland.

I don't think this deal makes any sense from a basketball POV, but keeping your team matters a lot more than what you look like in 2028. Good luck to you guys.

[The Sebastian Express]

Would've preferred vets min, but still happy and yes, did cry a little.

[HoopsFanAZ]

MANY fans are good with DA and Simons gone and agree that Holiday is better — in the short-term than Simons … and has more value, IMHO. DA’s cap hit is gone in just one year. Dame being back on the court in 26-27 is good timing with the young dudes showing improvement — or not — and then Jrue being tradable with a year plus a p-opt left (if he’s still around).

Having a veteran guard, a veteran forward, and a veteran center can help a team grow; Jrue, Grant, and Time Lord are professionals. With Grant and Jrue’s 2 years + a p-opt as their “worst” contracts, the Trail Blazers are not in cap hell AND they have picks and swaps along with that Olshey-owed, non-lottery pick to Chicago.

This off-season has worked out wierdly, but it’s worked better than I hoped for.

[Capn'O]

Would've preferred vets min, but still happy and yes, did cry a little.

Did you listen to Skylar Grey's "I'm Coming Home?" I only ask because that would be a bit weird and I definitely didn't do that on my way home from work.

[The Sebastian Express]

Would've preferred vets min, but still happy and yes, did cry a little.

Did you listen to Skylar Grey's "I'm Coming Home?" I only ask because that would be a bit weird and I definitely didn't do that on my way home from work.

I didn't. But I was on my phone and also unfamiliar with the song except I think now that you've mentioned it, like the opening verse maybe.

[Capn'O]

Would've preferred vets min, but still happy and yes, did cry a little.

Did you listen to Skylar Grey's "I'm Coming Home?" I only ask because that would be a bit weird and I definitely didn't do that on my way home from work.

I didn't. But I was on my phone and also unfamiliar with the song except I think now that you've mentioned it, like the opening verse maybe.

Knicks did a promo with it after they traded for Melo

Watch on YouTube

I did listen to it today. Emotionally.