Woj: Blazers plan is to pursue high end talent “now”.

[BigLurch92]

About damn time. I love that we are finally shifting. Would love to see Jerami Grant to Portland. I wonder what it would take.

[DusterBuster]

Woj did say the Blazers inquired about Harden.

Link?

[DaVoiceMaster]

Woj did say the Blazers inquired about Harden.

Link?

Well, here is my lack of experience with Twitter. It says:

Adrian Wojnarowski
@ChesterWiggins2

The ChesterWiggins2 makes me think this is a dummy account? I dunno. I should have stayed dormant!!!

[url]

Read on Twitter

[/url]

[DusterBuster]

Woj did say the Blazers inquired about Harden.

Link?

Well, here is my lack of experience with Twitter. It says:

Adrian Wojnarowski
@ChesterWiggins2

The ChesterWiggins2 makes me think this is a dummy account? I dunno. I should have stayed dormant!!!

[url]

Read on Twitter

[/url]

Haha, yeahhhh, that's a fake one.

[DaVoiceMaster]

Link?

Well, here is my lack of experience with Twitter. It says:

Adrian Wojnarowski
@ChesterWiggins2

The ChesterWiggins2 makes me think this is a dummy account? I dunno. I should have stayed dormant!!!

[url]

Read on Twitter

[/url]

Haha, yeahhhh, that's a fake one.

*Sigh*

Back to hibernation I go. Ciao!

[wco81]

I would much rather roll the very low odd dice on trying to get Harden here this summer than Grant.

This 100%. I'm so tired of the safe bets... I feel like the Blazers are finally willing and in a position to go for something big, but I fear they're going to wuss out and just take more base hits rather than go for a home run.

There's a GB board on whether Harden is worth the super max.

Some think he's in decline.

Others think he may be dogging it to get out of Brooklyn.

He's not getting younger so if he can't finish the way he used to, it could be an expensive mistake.

[DusterBuster]

I would much rather roll the very low odd dice on trying to get Harden here this summer than Grant.

This 100%. I'm so tired of the safe bets... I feel like the Blazers are finally willing and in a position to go for something big, but I fear they're going to wuss out and just take more base hits rather than go for a home run.

There's a GB board on whether Harden is worth the super max.

Some think he's in decline.

Others think he may be dogging it to get out of Brooklyn.

He's not getting younger so if he can't finish the way he used to, it could be an expensive mistake.

People on the GB say a lot of things.

There's no question the Dame/Harden/KD era players are hitting the last stages of their careers, but they are very good still. I think Harden in particular is struggling with the situation in Brooklyn... it's not been what he was expecting - to say the least. Who knows if he's dogging it or not, but at the end of the day, if the Blazers have a chance to pair 2 Top 15 players, they have to do it. It'll be the first time they've been able to do that since... the 90's? Maybe ever?

If you have even a small chance to pair 2 HOF guys even in their early 30's together, you take it and just hope for the best.

[The Sebastian Express]

This 100%. I'm so tired of the safe bets... I feel like the Blazers are finally willing and in a position to go for something big, but I fear they're going to wuss out and just take more base hits rather than go for a home run.

There's a GB board on whether Harden is worth the super max.

Some think he's in decline.

Others think he may be dogging it to get out of Brooklyn.

He's not getting younger so if he can't finish the way he used to, it could be an expensive mistake.

People on the GB say a lot of things.

There's no question the Dame/Harden/KD era players are hitting the last stages of their careers, but they are very good still. I think Harden in particular is struggling with the situation in Brooklyn... it's not been what he was expecting - to say the least. Who knows if he's dogging it or not, but at the end of the day, if the Blazers have a chance to pair 2 Top 15 players, they have to do it. It'll be the first time they've been able to do that since... the 90's? Maybe ever?

If you have even a small chance to pair 2 HOF guys even in their early 30's together, you take it and just hope for the best.

I'd do it. If it doesn't work out, we can say we actually really did try and we look beyond the Dame era to a new one. But I'd rather roll the low odds dice, like I said earlier, on trying to get Harden to sign here than trading for Grant or someone of that caliber. Those latter trades are after we have another difference maker.

[Wickzki]

Maybe just a smoke screen so teams don't low-ball Lillard thinking he is easily available or we spend half a season twisting in the wind. Because with Lillard's injury I bet we get more value next summer, probably during the draft when we can trade him for picks whose value is actually known.

I think you're on the money. But the Blazers will be in a panicked sell now mode when they strike out in free agency and everyone that Dame was loyal to in Portland is gone and he demands a trade outta here.

I would assume Dame is aware of all these deals before they're made and has some idea of what the grand plan is here. If they fail on that grand plan, we'll see then... but so far everything Dame has said indicates he wants to stay forever, regardless of the outcome. A lot of people think he's going to ring chase, he might just simply be happy with the life he's built here for his family in Portland and doesn't want to uproot that just for a ring.

Once again, I think RealGM / fans are ignoring any and all human aspect to the player's thought process.

Loyalty is a huge part of the human aspect.

Why would Dame remain loyal to a franchise that has or js

* sacked his coach
* fired his GM
* traded/trading Dame's most talented and closest teammates.

If I'm Dame unless I don't give a **** about winning I'm livid at the Blazers. They're not the same franchise they were 6 months ago.

[DusterBuster]

I think you're on the money. But the Blazers will be in a panicked sell now mode when they strike out in free agency and everyone that Dame was loyal to in Portland is gone and he demands a trade outta here.

I would assume Dame is aware of all these deals before they're made and has some idea of what the grand plan is here. If they fail on that grand plan, we'll see then... but so far everything Dame has said indicates he wants to stay forever, regardless of the outcome. A lot of people think he's going to ring chase, he might just simply be happy with the life he's built here for his family in Portland and doesn't want to uproot that just for a ring.

Once again, I think RealGM / fans are ignoring any and all human aspect to the player's thought process.

Loyalty is a huge part of the human aspect.

Why would Dame remain loyal to a franchise that has or js

* sacked his coach
* fired his GM
* traded/trading Dame's most talented and closest teammates.

If I'm Dame unless I don't give a **** about winning I'm livid at the Blazers. They're not the same franchise they were 6 months ago.

You're acting like he wasn't aware of all 3 of the things you just mentioned. Dame is not stupid. We as fans knew all 3 of those things were coming for weeks/months before they happened, so it's silly to think any one of those 3 caught him off guard.

[The Sebastian Express]

I think you're on the money. But the Blazers will be in a panicked sell now mode when they strike out in free agency and everyone that Dame was loyal to in Portland is gone and he demands a trade outta here.

I would assume Dame is aware of all these deals before they're made and has some idea of what the grand plan is here. If they fail on that grand plan, we'll see then... but so far everything Dame has said indicates he wants to stay forever, regardless of the outcome. A lot of people think he's going to ring chase, he might just simply be happy with the life he's built here for his family in Portland and doesn't want to uproot that just for a ring.

Once again, I think RealGM / fans are ignoring any and all human aspect to the player's thought process.

Loyalty is a huge part of the human aspect.

Why would Dame remain loyal to a franchise that has or js

* sacked his coach
* fired his GM
* traded/trading Dame's most talented and closest teammates.

If I'm Dame unless I don't give a **** about winning I'm livid at the Blazers. They're not the same franchise they were 6 months ago.

And all reports from people close to the team so far is Dame was on board with these moves. Which does fit his comments about if we're going for a draft pick he'd sit the rest of the year to rest because he knows he can't tank and it'd be against what's best for the franchise.

[wco81]

Has anyone tried the wine from CJ's winery?

May be going up for sale soon.

Maybe he'll open a Cajun restaurant.

[The Sebastian Express]

Has anyone tried the wine from CJ's winery?

May be going up for sale soon.

Maybe he'll open a Cajun restaurant.

CJ owns land for his winery, not just the winery. He owns it all. It's a business he made for himself. He's not going to sell his vineyards.

[DusterBuster]

Has anyone tried the wine from CJ's winery?

May be going up for sale soon.

Maybe he'll open a Cajun restaurant.

CJ owns land for his winery, not just the winery. He owns it all. It's a business he made for himself. He's not going to sell his vineyards.

Yeah, I'd imagine he's going to keep spending his summers there and after he retires, that'll probably be his business long-term.

[wco81]

He wanted to be a sportscaster and he sounded good the few times he's done it.

But unless he gets a network gig, probably wouldn't be worth his time since he will have serious NBA money when he's done.

Seems like a good dude, even if he wasn't quite good enough to help take the Blazers where they wanted to go.

[BlazersBroncos]

I think you're on the money. But the Blazers will be in a panicked sell now mode when they strike out in free agency and everyone that Dame was loyal to in Portland is gone and he demands a trade outta here.

I would assume Dame is aware of all these deals before they're made and has some idea of what the grand plan is here. If they fail on that grand plan, we'll see then... but so far everything Dame has said indicates he wants to stay forever, regardless of the outcome. A lot of people think he's going to ring chase, he might just simply be happy with the life he's built here for his family in Portland and doesn't want to uproot that just for a ring.

Once again, I think RealGM / fans are ignoring any and all human aspect to the player's thought process.

Loyalty is a huge part of the human aspect.

Why would Dame remain loyal to a franchise that has or js

* sacked his coach
* fired his GM
* traded/trading Dame's most talented and closest teammates.

If I'm Dame unless I don't give a **** about winning I'm livid at the Blazers. They're not the same franchise they were 6 months ago.

Dude, Dame signed off on all this. No way he was not aware. They are shooting for the moon hoping the flexibility will open doors. If it doesn’t work you have an understanding with Dame that he gets out if he wants out.

We are in a great spot to escape the treadmill, whether it be use the flexibility to get another true #2 or full rebuild.

Dame finally realized loyalty to the franchise is more timeless than loyalty to his friends. We 100% don’t make these moves if Dame didn’t finally realize you have to move the homies to have a chance at really striking gold.

Also, the CJ deal was great. The only issue with this all is we should have come away with a FRP or BBJ in the LAC deal.

Hart is gonna surprise. He is such a good glue guy.

[monopoman]

I would assume Dame is aware of all these deals before they're made and has some idea of what the grand plan is here. If they fail on that grand plan, we'll see then... but so far everything Dame has said indicates he wants to stay forever, regardless of the outcome. A lot of people think he's going to ring chase, he might just simply be happy with the life he's built here for his family in Portland and doesn't want to uproot that just for a ring.

Once again, I think RealGM / fans are ignoring any and all human aspect to the player's thought process.

Loyalty is a huge part of the human aspect.

Why would Dame remain loyal to a franchise that has or js

* sacked his coach
* fired his GM
* traded/trading Dame's most talented and closest teammates.

If I'm Dame unless I don't give a **** about winning I'm livid at the Blazers. They're not the same franchise they were 6 months ago.

Dude, Dame signed off on all this. No way he was not aware. They are shooting for the moon hoping the flexibility will open doors. If it doesn’t work you have an understanding with Dame that he gets out if he wants out.

We are in a great spot to escape the treadmill, whether it be use the flexibility to get another true #2 or full rebuild.

Dame finally realized loyalty to the franchise is more timeless than loyalty to his friends. We 100% don’t make these moves if Dame didn’t finally realize you have to move the homies to have a chance at really striking gold.

Also, the CJ deal was great. The only issue with this all is we should have come away with a FRP or BBJ in the LAC deal.

Hart is gonna surprise. He is such a good glue guy.

This is definitely the case, especially when Dame himself said he was working with Billups nearly every day trying to figure out how to make things better with the current roster.

Now I don't think he talks to the FO every day but you can bet your ass they aren't making moves like this that could piss off Lillard without Lillard giving the go ahead.

[DusterBuster]

Loyalty is a huge part of the human aspect.

Why would Dame remain loyal to a franchise that has or js

* sacked his coach
* fired his GM
* traded/trading Dame's most talented and closest teammates.

If I'm Dame unless I don't give a **** about winning I'm livid at the Blazers. They're not the same franchise they were 6 months ago.

Dude, Dame signed off on all this. No way he was not aware. They are shooting for the moon hoping the flexibility will open doors. If it doesn’t work you have an understanding with Dame that he gets out if he wants out.

We are in a great spot to escape the treadmill, whether it be use the flexibility to get another true #2 or full rebuild.

Dame finally realized loyalty to the franchise is more timeless than loyalty to his friends. We 100% don’t make these moves if Dame didn’t finally realize you have to move the homies to have a chance at really striking gold.

Also, the CJ deal was great. The only issue with this all is we should have come away with a FRP or BBJ in the LAC deal.

Hart is gonna surprise. He is such a good glue guy.

This is definitely the case, especially when Dame himself said he was working with Billups nearly every day trying to figure out how to make things better with the current roster.

Now I don't think he talks to the FO every day but you can bet your ass they aren't making moves like this that could piss off Lillard without Lillard giving the go ahead.

This is right. These are the moves Dame was asking for last summer. Dame knew something could happen, this was not a surprise.

Here’s Dame in his own words on it…

https://www.nba.com/blazers/forwardcenter/damian-lillard-cj-mccollum-trade-we-both-knew-point-would-be-coming-dont-make-it-no

Sorry Wickzki, just wrong on this one.

[DusterBuster]

That said, this last paragraph from Dame…

I’m at peace, I’m doing what I’ve got to do to get myself right and being at home with my family. I’m just waiting patiently to let things unfold and allow him to execute his plan. Once we get there and we see what that looks like and what that is, then I’ll have, I guess, more feelings that I have now but you’ve got to allow him to do his job and see what that finished product is. That’s just where I am.

So yeah… he better do something big, or Dame will ask out this summer…

If Jeremi Grant is the 2nd best player on the roster, the Dame era will be officially over.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Here’s Dame in his own words on it…

https://www.nba.com/blazers/forwardcenter/damian-lillard-cj-mccollum-trade-we-both-knew-point-would-be-coming-dont-make-it-no

Some great quotes in there