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

[DusterBuster]

Some quotes from Dame sound a lot like his patience has run out. Can't say I blame him after having a near-MVP quality year and the team still being this bad. As much as Dame has always said this is where he wants to be, if Cronin can't pull out some magic this summer, I think there's a good chance we're seeing the final games of Lillard as a Blazer.

I suspect a lot will hinge on pure lottery luck. If the Blazers are able to strike gold in the lottery and get a top 4 pick, they should be able to do something to make Lillard change his mind. But if the Blazers stay at 6 (or drop), it's probably time for both sides to part ways and have a huge firesale. Turn the keys over to Simons, Sharpe, and whoever they pick + whatever they can get back from a Lillard trade. Try and move Nurk in a separate deal. Let Grant walk.

[DusterBuster]

As for a potential Lillard trade, two most likely candidates would be the Jazz and Knicks. Two places I think Dame would request to be traded to.

Jazz makes sense with all the unprotected picks they got from the Gobert trade, the 2025 and 2027 picks in particular. Hard to tell what direction they want to go in though. Can't tell if Ainge would think adding Lillard alongside the core they got there with Kessler, Markkennen and Clarkson would be good enough to compete and worth cashing out their chips on.

For the Knicks, I would guess something around Brunson and picks? Brunson and Lillard don't make sense together, so maybe that turns into a 3 team deal with Burnson being rerouted to another team for assets?

A couple of darkhorse candidates...

Houston: If Harden comes back, something around the Brooklyn picks I would guess. If Harden returns, that seems like they're flipping to win-now vs rebuild.

Dallas: If Kyrie leaves this summer, I could see them doing a bit "here's 3 unprotected and 3 swaps" type of deal to replace Kyrie with Lillard.

Miami: Some kind of combo of Lowry, Herro, and picks. They may have to make their 2025 pick totally unprotected to OKC for the deal to unclog some awkward protections (the pick becomes unprotected in 2026 anyway if not conveyed in 2025, so just does it a year earlier).

Brooklyn: If they want a fast rebuild by sending those Phoenix picks to Portland to match Dame and Bridges together.

Boston: Seems like Brown isn't super committed to the Celtics/Boston, so I could see them swapping Dame for Brown.

New Orleans: Could want a Lillard / CJ reunion to keep trying with Zion. Would be targeting the Lakers pick in 2024+ Bucks picks and Ingram likely.

Lakers, Philly, Clippers, Suns would love him, but don't have the pieces.

[Norm2953]

As he should.

I do think it would be easier to move him if he had not signed his extension but in any event, he'll
give management a list of teams he wants to go to. Hopefully they can get a package built around
draft picks/swaps and do a proper rebuild instead of these band aid moves they have been making
ever since LA left town.

[DusterBuster]

As he should.

I do think it would be easier to move him if he had not signed his extension but in any event, he'll
give management a list of teams he wants to go to. Hopefully they can get a package built around
draft picks/swaps and do a proper rebuild instead of these band aid moves they have been making
ever since LA left town.

He's coming off the best year of his career, they won't have trouble moving him even with his current contract. We aren't in a Russel Westbrook situation with a guy on a max contract who's diminished as a player.

In fact, I'd argue that extension makes him MORE valuable vs if he hadn't signed it since he'd be expiring and most teams would consider him potentially just a rental like Kyrie was. They'll be more hesitant to give up future assets for a guy who can bolt in a year.

However, I agree with you, he should ask out at this point imo as well. While I'm glad they're in the race for Wemby, for how good a year he had and for the team to be THIS bad is inexcusable. The team can't just keep kicking the can with the "but NEXT year..." line. It's time to put up or shut up.

My hope is that if the sides agree to part ways, it's a mix of both sides working together (which I believe it will be). So Dame provides his list of preferred teams, but him also allowing the Blazers to speak to other franchises as well. Then when they have all the offers collected, the Blazers and Dame discuss things. If a team not on his list is offering the best package, would Dame be willing to go to that franchise? If the answer is no for some reason, then they pick the best offer from the preferred destinations as a goodwill gesture to Dame and thanks for his time with the team.

[The Sebastian Express]

I think you're taking his quotes out of context, which seem to be from a 38 second clip which I believe is from his postgame the other day.

I don't think his patience has run out. He mostly talks about how it's hard for him to disassociate from the present towards the idea of next year and appreciating small progress on developments is good for next year, because he's focused on this year. I imagine he, like we, expect that the pick will be traded unless it's number one.

Read on Twitter

The above is the 38 second clip, which is either before or after this minute clip:

Read on Twitter

Which I don't think combined is the full postgame interview anyways.

[BlazersBroncos]

Dame for the picks used in the Gobert trade would be a start. Would want Kessler but I think he is a guy you want as a defender if your leaning on Dame.

[Norm2953]

With the Knicks doing well after trading for Josh Hart, I would doubt they would push in their chips for
Dame.

I think Dame will give Portland has list and Portland will just have to settle for what they can get.

Hopefully they will be able to get back pieces to just start a rebuild. The Thunder have to start winning
eventually and have tons of picks as do the Rockets but Dame is not going there.

I could see Miami and Boston getting involved and Boston has more to offer with Jaylen Brown coming to
Portland

[HoopsFanAZ]

While this board, and a good share of Blazers fans, generally, won't find Dame's comments a surprise, other teams' fans might. And the media can spin it to whatever fits their narrative or market.

I've read or seen in Blazers' blogs and podcasts the idea that Shaedon Sharpe (and to a degree Simons) has escalated the timeline for making a BIG move one way or another. Shaedon looks like a SERIOUS player who the team doesn't want to move ... and that Ant and Dame (though different than with CJ) are still not good on D ... that Shaedon would be better at SG ... that Ant and 1st rounders are the path to getting an IMPACT forward to go with Dame and Jerami Grant.

This line of thinking and missing the playoffs, again, means waiting for the next February deadline got moved up to this summer. That narrative fits with Cronin valuing 2nd rounders and TPEs over players (BIGS) who could've helped this year. That the reality of having to sacrifice future 1sts AND Ant is likely to "go all in" pushing chips to the middle in what Cronin described as what others will say is an overpay (potentially). [The idea of having a Wiseman-sized contract for filler in a trade with picks, IMHO, maybe would've been an asset if Wiseman gained value, but being what the Warriors believe him to be makes him an unnecessary complication. Better to have an 8+ million TPE once the action gets done this summer.]

IF THIS BIG move doesn't happen in the summer, then a trade of Dame is either likely or he starts getting shopped quietly.

I agree with people who say Nurkic is expected as gone this summer. Unsure on Nas. And that Jerami Grant, either way, gets signed ... hopefully on a 3 or 4 year contract with team option on other years. The Blazers will be paying tax money next year is a foregone conclusion based on Cronin's statements and current actions.

Is this thread's title accurate in Lillard not wanting "to be part of a rebuild"? Yes, IMHO. It's get him help immediately (this summer) or start talking with Boston (for example) so Dame can play with Tatum. [Portland gets Jaylen Brown (age 26) as their #1 to go with Shaedon and Ant.] What happens in the playoffs with Boston, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, and Toronto gets real interesting for both Dame and Ant.

[DusterBuster]

With the Knicks doing well after trading for Josh Hart, I would doubt they would push in their chips for
Dame.

I think Dame will give Portland has list and Portland will just have to settle for what they can get.

Hopefully they will be able to get back pieces to just start a rebuild. The Thunder have to start winning
eventually and have tons of picks as do the Rockets but Dame is not going there.

I could see Miami and Boston getting involved and Boston has more to offer with Jaylen Brown coming to
Portland

They want stars, the Knicks absolutely would push all chips in for him. Dame takes them from a mid 40s to mid 50 win team and potentially a top 3 seed in East

[Norm2953]

I wonder if the Nets if they see the Knicks being interested would enter the picture.

They could offer something built around Simmons and all the picks in the KD deal or
could expand the deal to include Nurkic going to Brooklyn with Claxton and one of their
numerous SF's going to Portland with Simmons.

Hopefully if he wants out, he goes to a place where the team is ready to contend. Interesting
place the Knicks are in for last summer, Knicks fans wanted no part of trading RJ Barrett,
but he's had a bad season and everyone there would love to see the Knicks dump Barrett
to the Blazers as part of a Lillard trade

[BlazersBroncos]

The Thunder have to start winning
eventually and have tons of picks

The Thunder are winning. They are a better team than us and don’t even have Chet. They will be a HCA team next season

[The Sebastian Express]

Danny Marang was the one who asked this question of Dame and he feels it was taken so out of context that he's provided the full clip:

Read on Twitter

[monopoman]

With this thing I am waiting for him to blatantly state he wants a trade, stuff like this is so nebulous and in the past we have seen some statements that have Dame has corrected in the future.

Any off the cuff clip can be misquoted or misinterpreted, if he really wants a trade I have a feeling he will be very upfront about it.

If a trade does happen I think teams would be pretty damn happy with his contract in general, at most you are paying him that high salary for 1 year or so where he might be a lesser player. If this team thinks having Dame gives them a real shot at a championship most teams will take that contract happily.

[JRoy]

Shhh, Lillard.

Just let it happen.

[DusterBuster]

That’s fair, happy to admit I got manipulated by the out of context clip.

Like mono said, we probably just need to wait for Dame to straight out say he wants to be traded. He’s not the quiet type. If that how he feels, he would outright say it.

I still have to wonder though about this summer. That just has to be so demoralizing to have a MVP season and have a roster struggling to crack 35 wins.

[m0ng0]

He does not want any part of a rebuild? Yet he cut the team off at the knees to get paid and extended. That's rich. You wanted Grant so they got him.
Dame is the greatest Blazer EVER, but he is not a leader or possibly even a good judge of talent. Love ya man but you kinda screwed us. Where are we at compared to last year? The time to move him was last off season and we dropped the ball.

[PDXKnight]

He does not want any part of a rebuild? Yet he cut the team off at the knees to get paid and extended. That's rich. You wanted Grant so they got him.
Dame is the greatest Blazer EVER, but he is not a leader or possibly even a good judge of talent. Love ya man but you kinda screwed us. Where are we at compared to last year? The time to move him was last off season and we dropped the ball.

Strong words here, I strongly disagree to the part about him not being a great leader.

I do think teams need to not let stars be the gm as that has a tendency to blow up almost every time. Grant isn't worth the money he seeks and him rejecting that offer is enough for me to say meh on him.

[PDXKnight]

That’s fair, happy to admit I got manipulated by the out of context clip.

Like mono said, we probably just need to wait for Dame to straight out say he wants to be traded. He’s not the quiet type. If that how he feels, he would outright say it.

I still have to wonder though about this summer. That just has to be so demoralizing to have a MVP season and have a roster struggling to crack 35 wins.

Demoralizing yes surprising no. Grant is not an impact player at least not the way we are playing him, he can't rebound and is a black hole as a number 2 or 3 option (he should mostly be catch and shoot imo), Simons doesn't fit well next to Dame and Sharpe looks like a better back court partner, Nurk looks to have regressed on average, our back court continues to be one of the biggest defensive liabilities in human history , and on top of all of that we have zero bench.

[JRoy]

He does not want any part of a rebuild? Yet he cut the team off at the knees to get paid and extended. That's rich. You wanted Grant so they got him.
Dame is the greatest Blazer EVER, but he is not a leader or possibly even a good judge of talent. Love ya man but you kinda screwed us. Where are we at compared to last year? The time to move him was last off season and we dropped the ball.

I disagree.

He had to prove he is healthy and has done that and then some.

It’s time to do what is best for the franchise.

[m0ng0]

He does not want any part of a rebuild? Yet he cut the team off at the knees to get paid and extended. That's rich. You wanted Grant so they got him.
Dame is the greatest Blazer EVER, but he is not a leader or possibly even a good judge of talent. Love ya man but you kinda screwed us. Where are we at compared to last year? The time to move him was last off season and we dropped the ball.

Strong words here, I strongly disagree to the part about him not being a great leader.

I do think teams need to not let stars be the gm as that has a tendency to blow up almost every time. Grant isn't worth the money he seeks and him rejecting that offer is enough for me to say meh on him.

And Dame was the one asking for him, so possibly poor judge of talent sticks? He just seems to let the team do what they want, he never seems to be recruiting guys he just lets things happen. With an FO in such chaos you would think he would be calling all of his friends/players recruiting. And maybe he is? What is the holdup? Are we that bad of a franchise? Do people want no part of living in PDX? I understand that completely. Or has he crushed our cap space? I don't know but to me it sounds like a guy who is happy being on the treadmill getting payed huge money.