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

[Norm2953]

Dame is likely frustrated by not being able to be traded until July 9 for by then, Kyrie and
James Harden might have a new home in Miami.

It's a tough spot for Dame for Scoot is practicing in Portland, getting ready for his summer
league debut and he knows Scoot is the most valuable player on the Blazers roster given
his youth and rookie contract, followed by Sharpe for they can't leave as an UFA until perhaps
2030

[zzaj]

Nothing. Dame is the master of cryptic nothing burger tweets.

It seems clearer to me that Dame is coming back and starting the season in Portland. I think Dame is going the KD route. He’ll start the season with whatever Cronin can do this summer, see how it goes, but if it’s a certified **** show by January and another tank job is on the table, then I think there’s a quote agreement by all sides they’ll move him at the deadline.

Lol. "Storms".

Duder has spent 1/3 of his 32 years and basically his whole adulthood with more money than all of us will ever make in our lifetimes combined. I don't care how intense Oakland may have been for him (I know Ogden sure wasn't)...Lillard hasn't had much in the way of "Storms" in his life, sorry...

You don't know that at all. That's so dehumanizing. I'm sorry, but it is.

Dame has worked hard for the generational wealth he has and it's true he will have more money than probably all of us combined in our little forum here. But that doesn't mean he can't go through storms and rough times in his personal life. Just like the rest of us he has lost family members. He had a childhood where stuff did get dangerous. He has had people doubt him relentlessly and constantly.

It's frustrating to see this type of thought process from many towards so many people they'll never meet and they don't know. Yes, Dame and other athletes are in many cases incredibly well off. But they're also human. While they have a lot of financial security now and a lot of safety nets that you and I probably don't, that doesn't mean they aren't impacted by emotional turmoil, disease they can't fix or save, loss, relationship breakups, separations, growing apart, drama. Feeling used by people who want them only for their money, not knowing who to trust, not knowing if someone is genuine with you. Their own health issues, family health issues, health issues of friends. The constant demand from the public to be perfect and the same public which also thinks they're owed something and watches everything they do under a microscope. Who freaks out at them for having human emotions. Or freaks out at them not reaching certain statistics and then blaming them for money loss, etc.

Storms is broad and subjective. He didn't put down anyone else's experience in his tweet. He didn't say he went through storms others didn't. There's no reason to put down his experiences either.

Let them be humans.

That's fair, TSE. Also, what is a "storm" to me isn't necessarily a "storm" to someone else. As far as "dehumanizing"...yeah, maybe I'm guilty of that.

Sure Lillard has worked very, very hard to get where he is now...and I'm sure he's sacrificed a lot. I guess I just have a hard time accepting a "life's been hard" from somebody who hasn't had to worry about bills being paid for his whole adulthood, funeral arrangements for his lost loved ones or whether or not his kids are going to get to go to college. "Life's been hard" from a person that is worth hundreds of millions is hard for me to take seriously...maybe that makes me a small person. Just being honest.

[monopoman]

Sure Lillard has worked very, very hard to get where he is now...and I'm sure he's sacrificed a lot. I guess I just have a hard time accepting a "life's been hard" from somebody who hasn't had to worry about bills being paid for his whole adulthood, funeral arrangements for his lost loved ones or whether or not his kids are going to get to go to college. "Life's been hard" from a person that is worth hundreds of millions is hard for me to take seriously...maybe that makes me a small person. Just being honest.

Well you could also blame those born into wealth, Dame still had a pretty rough upbringing from what I hear. Similar to say Eminem sure if you look at him after his first album blew up he has looked like he had a great life, but roll the clock back to childhood or being a teen. He had a very rough life at that point and that helped shape him for the future, we shouldn't be upset that Dame got paid he was worth every **** dime.

Crap he likely brought more revenue to this team then they ever paid him, it's why team management doesn't bat an eye when they offer him some super huge contract where is paid nearly $60 million in the 2025/2026 season and $63 million in the 2026/2027 season.

I just will point out many spoiled little brats like say a Paris Hilton were born into such wealth that they could sit on their ass all day doing whatever and just rely on their inheritance. Crap the vast majority of billionaires were born into wealth, sure they might have had parents only with a net worth of $50-100 million but it's far easier to become a billionaire when you have rich parents.

I also will make a note many guys that go the basketball route don't even hit a small fraction of Lillards success. Even guys that ride the bench in the NBA are better basketball players than 90-95% of the basketball players that take it seriously on Earth. Becoming Damian Lillard is a hard road and requires a level of skill, and sacrifice that most of us can't fathom. It's basically like saying becoming Michael Phelps is super easy you just have to spend a bunch of time swimming.

[Jsun947]

Lol. "Storms".

Duder has spent 1/3 of his 32 years and basically his whole adulthood with more money than all of us will ever make in our lifetimes combined. I don't care how intense Oakland may have been for him (I know Ogden sure wasn't)...Lillard hasn't had much in the way of "Storms" in his life, sorry...

You don't know that at all. That's so dehumanizing. I'm sorry, but it is.

Dame has worked hard for the generational wealth he has and it's true he will have more money than probably all of us combined in our little forum here. But that doesn't mean he can't go through storms and rough times in his personal life. Just like the rest of us he has lost family members. He had a childhood where stuff did get dangerous. He has had people doubt him relentlessly and constantly.

It's frustrating to see this type of thought process from many towards so many people they'll never meet and they don't know. Yes, Dame and other athletes are in many cases incredibly well off. But they're also human. While they have a lot of financial security now and a lot of safety nets that you and I probably don't, that doesn't mean they aren't impacted by emotional turmoil, disease they can't fix or save, loss, relationship breakups, separations, growing apart, drama. Feeling used by people who want them only for their money, not knowing who to trust, not knowing if someone is genuine with you. Their own health issues, family health issues, health issues of friends. The constant demand from the public to be perfect and the same public which also thinks they're owed something and watches everything they do under a microscope. Who freaks out at them for having human emotions. Or freaks out at them not reaching certain statistics and then blaming them for money loss, etc.

Storms is broad and subjective. He didn't put down anyone else's experience in his tweet. He didn't say he went through storms others didn't. There's no reason to put down his experiences either.

Let them be humans.

That's fair, TSE. Also, what is a "storm" to me isn't necessarily a "storm" to someone else. As far as "dehumanizing"...yeah, maybe I'm guilty of that.

Sure Lillard has worked very, very hard to get where he is now...and I'm sure he's sacrificed a lot. I guess I just have a hard time accepting a "life's been hard" from somebody who hasn't had to worry about bills being paid for his whole adulthood, funeral arrangements for his lost loved ones or whether or not his kids are going to get to go to college. "Life's been hard" from a person that is worth hundreds of millions is hard for me to take seriously...maybe that makes me a small person. Just being honest.

You sound like a gigantic and petty baby. Just being honest.

[GEE]

Dame's Tweet is still really funny though. TSE's response was even funnier.

In other news: Harden picking up option to work a trade is VERY interesting to me knowing that Dame might still be Morey's #2 favorite after Harden... At least he was just a year ago. Strangest part to me is... I wouldn't think Harden would agree to opt in unless he knew where he was going beforehand, which makes me think that something is already very much in the works.

What could a 3-Way trade between Philly, Us, and a 3rd team look like? I still think Dame will end up elsewhere soon, because waiting, when everyone (and most of their mothers) know that Cronin isn't going after any older vets to help Dame win now. Not tomorrow, not a week from now... just not gonna happen. Cronin has given every indication, with his actions, that he is continuing to build with youth, and there's no way in hell he's trading away Sharpe, Scoot, Simons, future picks, any of that, for win now pieces.

Makes me hope that Cronin and Dame, like Morey and Harden might be aranging something very quietly. Obviously can't become official until the 9th I believe, but the thought of Dame with all the young bucks next year already sounds horrible to me. Dame going for scoring title, while the team is trying to semi-tank for one more year would suck, and wouldn't be very helpful to any of the youngsters we have IMO. He'd just eat 42 minutes a night trying to put up 50 burgers.

I'm simply hoping that Cronin, sometime soon after his meeting with Dame, may have received an updated list for him, teams Dame would accept. I want soooo bad to just move on, and will be extremely excited for the future of this team, once it finally does... if it ever does... Just Do It Already... PLEASE. There is ZERO point in waiting.

[The Sebastian Express]

:lol: Dame's Tweet is still really funny though. TSE's response was even funnier.

I know you don't think treating basketball players, especially Dame, like people is the right thing to do, GEE. You've made that all too clear by the lies you've made up about him on the board and then when you had the audacity to say you were being bullied because people called you out on those lies.

[The Sebastian Express]

You don't know that at all. That's so dehumanizing. I'm sorry, but it is.

Dame has worked hard for the generational wealth he has and it's true he will have more money than probably all of us combined in our little forum here. But that doesn't mean he can't go through storms and rough times in his personal life. Just like the rest of us he has lost family members. He had a childhood where stuff did get dangerous. He has had people doubt him relentlessly and constantly.

It's frustrating to see this type of thought process from many towards so many people they'll never meet and they don't know. Yes, Dame and other athletes are in many cases incredibly well off. But they're also human. While they have a lot of financial security now and a lot of safety nets that you and I probably don't, that doesn't mean they aren't impacted by emotional turmoil, disease they can't fix or save, loss, relationship breakups, separations, growing apart, drama. Feeling used by people who want them only for their money, not knowing who to trust, not knowing if someone is genuine with you. Their own health issues, family health issues, health issues of friends. The constant demand from the public to be perfect and the same public which also thinks they're owed something and watches everything they do under a microscope. Who freaks out at them for having human emotions. Or freaks out at them not reaching certain statistics and then blaming them for money loss, etc.

Storms is broad and subjective. He didn't put down anyone else's experience in his tweet. He didn't say he went through storms others didn't. There's no reason to put down his experiences either.

Let them be humans.

That's fair, TSE. Also, what is a "storm" to me isn't necessarily a "storm" to someone else. As far as "dehumanizing"...yeah, maybe I'm guilty of that.

Sure Lillard has worked very, very hard to get where he is now...and I'm sure he's sacrificed a lot. I guess I just have a hard time accepting a "life's been hard" from somebody who hasn't had to worry about bills being paid for his whole adulthood, funeral arrangements for his lost loved ones or whether or not his kids are going to get to go to college. "Life's been hard" from a person that is worth hundreds of millions is hard for me to take seriously...maybe that makes me a small person. Just being honest.

You sound like a gigantic and petty baby. Just being honest.

No need for the name-calling. It's cool to critique people's points, but there's no need to call them names.

[monopoman]

:lol: Dame's Tweet is still really funny though. TSE's response was even funnier.

I know you don't think treating basketball players, especially Dame, like people is the right thing to do, GEE. You've made that all too clear by the lies you've made up about him on the board and then when you had the audacity to say you were being bullied because people called you out on those lies.

Some people have a clear agenda against Dame and some of those are even Blazer fans. You can clearly see this by how they belittle everything Dame has done, or claim he just cares about money. I bet if some random company offered them a 50% pay raise if they moved to that company instead most would take that without thinking for a second. Dame is not bad for trying to maximize his earnings especially because most sports stars never hit that level of earning again once they retire.

It's not like you can be 64 years old former NBA all-star, and still make $50 million a year very easily. Sure Dame will likely have nice promotion deals even later in life, or he might have the opportunity to be on ESPN as a former player analyst, but even that pays a small fraction of what he made as a player.

[Wizenheimer]

:lol: Dame's Tweet is still really funny though. TSE's response was even funnier.

I know you don't think treating basketball players, especially Dame, like people is the right thing to do, GEE. You've made that all too clear by the lies you've made up about him on the board and then when you had the audacity to say you were being bullied because people called you out on those lies.

Some people have a clear agenda against Dame and some of those are even Blazer fans. You can clearly see this by how they belittle everything Dame has done, or claim he just cares about money. I bet if some random company offered them a 50% pay raise if they moved to that company instead most would take that without thinking for a second. Dame is not bad for trying to maximize his earnings especially because most sports stars never hit that level of earning again once they retire.

It's not like you can be 64 years old former NBA all-star, and still make $50 million a year very easily. Sure Dame will likely have nice promotion deals even later in life, or he might have the opportunity to be on ESPN as a former player analyst, but even that pays a small fraction of what he made as a player.

I know, for a fact, that if you own one of these franchise auto dealerships like Damian Lillard Toyota and have mangeable debt, it's a license to print money. Not, I don't know how much of it Dame owns, but a place like that can generate massive revenue and carry major tax shelters

[monopoman]

I know you don't think treating basketball players, especially Dame, like people is the right thing to do, GEE. You've made that all too clear by the lies you've made up about him on the board and then when you had the audacity to say you were being bullied because people called you out on those lies.

Some people have a clear agenda against Dame and some of those are even Blazer fans. You can clearly see this by how they belittle everything Dame has done, or claim he just cares about money. I bet if some random company offered them a 50% pay raise if they moved to that company instead most would take that without thinking for a second. Dame is not bad for trying to maximize his earnings especially because most sports stars never hit that level of earning again once they retire.

It's not like you can be 64 years old former NBA all-star, and still make $50 million a year very easily. Sure Dame will likely have nice promotion deals even later in life, or he might have the opportunity to be on ESPN as a former player analyst, but even that pays a small fraction of what he made as a player.

I know, for a fact, that if you own one of these franchise auto dealerships like Damian Lillard Toyota and have mangeable debt, it's a license to print money. Not, I don't know how much of it Dame owns, but a place like that can generate massive revenue and carry major tax shelters

Well like most things the more money you have the easier it is to make more. I can think of about 10-20 things I could to generate more money if I had say $1 million or more in the bank. Most of these things would have pretty damn low risk on losing money in general.

Capitalism is built that way it's again why most billionaires don't start off working some random job for $60k a year and then 20 years later they are now worth a billion.

[zzaj]

You don't know that at all. That's so dehumanizing. I'm sorry, but it is.

Dame has worked hard for the generational wealth he has and it's true he will have more money than probably all of us combined in our little forum here. But that doesn't mean he can't go through storms and rough times in his personal life. Just like the rest of us he has lost family members. He had a childhood where stuff did get dangerous. He has had people doubt him relentlessly and constantly.

It's frustrating to see this type of thought process from many towards so many people they'll never meet and they don't know. Yes, Dame and other athletes are in many cases incredibly well off. But they're also human. While they have a lot of financial security now and a lot of safety nets that you and I probably don't, that doesn't mean they aren't impacted by emotional turmoil, disease they can't fix or save, loss, relationship breakups, separations, growing apart, drama. Feeling used by people who want them only for their money, not knowing who to trust, not knowing if someone is genuine with you. Their own health issues, family health issues, health issues of friends. The constant demand from the public to be perfect and the same public which also thinks they're owed something and watches everything they do under a microscope. Who freaks out at them for having human emotions. Or freaks out at them not reaching certain statistics and then blaming them for money loss, etc.

Storms is broad and subjective. He didn't put down anyone else's experience in his tweet. He didn't say he went through storms others didn't. There's no reason to put down his experiences either.

Let them be humans.

That's fair, TSE. Also, what is a "storm" to me isn't necessarily a "storm" to someone else. As far as "dehumanizing"...yeah, maybe I'm guilty of that.

Sure Lillard has worked very, very hard to get where he is now...and I'm sure he's sacrificed a lot. I guess I just have a hard time accepting a "life's been hard" from somebody who hasn't had to worry about bills being paid for his whole adulthood, funeral arrangements for his lost loved ones or whether or not his kids are going to get to go to college. "Life's been hard" from a person that is worth hundreds of millions is hard for me to take seriously...maybe that makes me a small person. Just being honest.

You sound like a gigantic and petty baby. Just being honest.

I’ve been called worse. And speaking of being honest…that’s just basically what I was doing with my post. I have a hard time taking people seriously who have only lived a fraction of their lives in poverty but now have unimaginable wealth that say they’ve had a rough go of it. And HONESTLY, I don’t think I’m alone in that. It’s OT but it’s the same controversial kernel behind the Titanic submersible incident.

People can call me petty or a baby, or whatever…but I’m more interested in the person who has had to persevere through, say 60 years of trauma and dig and claw their way to get ahead despite massive odds against them…and haven’t really gotten “anywhere” except through a life. I’m not discounting Lillard’s own perseverance or fight to get the odds on his side. He’s certainly a hero for many, and rightfully so. But that type of hero story is the type that makes headlines. There is another kind of hero that doesn’t get headlines, or even another human to look them squarely in the eyes—that’s the hero I’m interested in.

My dad always used to say, “you want to do good for people? Volunteer the day AFTER Thanksgiving.” And I believe there is something to that…

Anyway, I’m rambling now. Sorry if I offended anyone. To keep this thread on track, I won’t say more on the matter…

[GEE]

Woke up still laughing at this. Any critique of Dame on here is like blasphemy. It just is. Having a difference of opinion about what direction to take this team, is all I've ever done on here.

And yes, I do believe when a group on this forum (I think I used the words "Circle-Jerkers") repeatedly come to the defense, of what I believe to be ugly behavior against posters (not just me) that have opinions that oppose popular opinion, they get blasted with insults.

The result I feel is far less posters, resulting in far less real discussion and just affirmations of a small groups beliefs. For the record, I've also said many months ago that it would absolutely be prefered to have two 50/40/90 guys in Dame and Simons, but it is like threading a needle. I think they gave it every effort, but it didn't work, but Simons isn't the one getting shipped... IMO!!!

[ebott]

In a little less than 8 hours we should have a good idea as to how much the team has improved vis free agency. I do not expect it to be that significant. Does that mean we will start having real Dame trade info in 9 hours?

[BlazersBroncos]

:lol: Woke up still laughing at this. Any critique of Dame on here is like blasphemy. It just is. Having a difference of opinion about what direction to take this team, is all I've ever done on here.

And yes, I do believe when a group on this forum (I think I used the words "Circle-Jerkers") repeatedly come to the defense, of what I believe to be ugly behavior against posters (not just me) that have opinions that oppose popular opinion, they get blasted with insults.

The result I feel is far less posters, resulting in far less real discussion and just affirmations of a small groups beliefs. For the record, I've also said many months ago that it would absolutely be prefered to have two 50/40/90 guys in Dame and Simons, but it is like threading a needle. I think they gave it every effort, but it didn't work, but Simons isn't the one getting shipped... IMO!!!

You make things up about Dame, its not wanting him moved but the conjecture you make up to belittle all the positive things Dame has done for this franchise and community.

You have keyed in on like 3 things - Dame is selfish and holding the team hostage, cant wait to see him go - Mark Williams is the next Bill Russell - RUI! is a needle mover.

All 3 of those things are parroted ad nauseum - it just gets old.

Your likely to get your wish, but with that wish will come a few 25-30 win seasons.

[Dangeruss]

I’m okay with a couple 25-30 win seasons. The one thing this franchise FO has proven it can do well is draft. Let’s keep that going. FA is historically a dead one for a Portland team.

Draft and trades are the only way we can build something, looking at history.

[m0ng0]

Your likely to get your wish, but with that wish will come a few 25-30 win seasons.

I look at it like this, would you rather be OKC or the Clippers/Lakers? I would rather watch a team of young guns playing/improving every night over a team that quits at game 70 every year. We can't build a big 2 or 3 here, but we sure as hell can build a team from the ground up and we already have 4 or 5 nice pieces. Plant the seeds watch it grow and fertilize as necessary.

[Tim Lehrbach]

Every franchise would rather be the Lakers.

[DusterBuster]

Every franchise would rather be the Lakers.

Or Heat.

[Norm2953]

I think the Blazers if they go the rebuild route are one front court prospect from being
competitive, for the Scoot/Sharpe BC could be elite.

I'd love to add a 6-8/6-9 guy to play the Batum role and the 2024 draft seems loaded with
guys with length and might have 5/6 guys taller than 7". Ron Holland who might have
been the #1 prep out of HS is going to play for the G League Ignite and might be a
tremendous fit for the Blazers in the 2024 draft

Team might end up winning 25/30 games but will get better as the season wears on. Add
another front court player on the level of Scoot/Sharpe and then allow the team to grow
together

[HoopsFanAZ]

Portland has Dame.
Contending teams (and those who might) want Dame.
Crappy deals and pieces who don’t fit the guard heavy youth of Portland are bad deals.
It’s not for Portland to flip Herro … or Maxey … or …

Who does Portland want for Damian Lillard? Make the list. It’s the job of other teams who want Dame to formulate a trade to make Portland happy-ish. Why is it that Morey has to be happy? Masai? Ainge?

Who does Portland want for Dame?