The Sebastian Express wrote:I think him waiting until the morning after getting Grant 160 million over five years was **** for him to do. I think then leaking it to the public via Haynes was also **** to do - because of the aforementioned Grant signing.
I'm a big Dame fan. I do think the organization, specifically Olshey, failed him. And I don't mind the trade request in and of itself. But I don't think they give Grant 5/160 without Dame's signoff and so I think it's **** of him to wait until that's in place then publicly request a trade. I've been a bit frustrated by his comments since the end of the season of not wanting to play with 19 year olds, which I did feel did Portland a bit of a disservice since teams knew Portland was desperate - I think I made a comment about this in early June or late May when I gregariously wrote that he needed to stop saying it, even though I got his frustration.
Each of those components separate and by themselves I don't mind. Giving Grant 160/5 is rough to see and I think a bad contract, but I'm happy for Jerami he got paid. Power to him. Dame requesting a trade, I get it. Sad day, but I get it. Dame leaking it to Haynes, we all knew that was coming if it ever happened. Expected and no hard feelings. Combined together? Feels kind of **** by Dame.
Prior to this I was fine with making sure he got to Miami, but with the Grant stuff in place I now hope POrtland finds the best deal possible. I don't have faith in Cronin to get that done, but I will hope.
Thanks for the eleven years, Dame. Disappointed it kind of ended with him helping saddle Portland to Grant for that length of time.
I give Dame the benefit of the doubt here in that I think Portland was gonna sign Grant anyway. A few reasons for this.
Teams have to hit the salary floor and Grant is a solid enough player that he can still be moved. So the Blazers had incentives not to let him walk. Also, some teams don't like to go full youth when they rebuild so the young players have role models. Look at the Knicks. Blazers strike me as that sort of org.
But beyond that, simply resigning Grant with Lillard doesn't make the Blazers contenders. My guess is there were other threads out there and both parties waited until those loops were closed before Dame made the request.
The timing and optics are suspect but I don't think anyone did the other party dirty here. It's a clean break. I'm gonna miss watching him play here.