RexBoyWonder wrote:The truth is most of us are guilty of the same crime we assign to Cronin :
We overestimate the objective value of 33YO Lilard on his current contract.
Lilard is a great scorer, he's also tough and likable.
He's also a 33YO tiny guard owed 200+ Mil$ until he's 36 YO, after missing a lot of time in recent years and being a minus defender even now before his decline worsens.
Simply put - there are dozens, yes dozens of higher value contract in the NBA.
That's why other teams aren't offering the entire farm for him, and it's why we shouldn't mortgage our entire future for him either.
A very good player, but small, getting old, on a MASSIVE guaranteed contract. That's the full picture here.
We want him, but you can't act desperate under these circumstances.
As a Blazers fan I don't want to get too back and forth with all of this, but the salary thing with Dame (and being a reason he's not getting back good offers) is way off base. The thing that so many people don't understand about NBA contracts is cap%. If you go back to just 7 years ago to the last big salary cap jump, you would all think these contracts that these FAs just this last week are getting would be franchise crippling deals. They're not. Including Dame's.
Not to be patronizing, I'm sure this is basic for many here. But the simple fact is, Dame's contract moving forward is perfectly in line with most players his caliber and age. For example
Steph Curry:
23/24 - Age 35 - salary is
38% of the leagues salary cap
24/25 - Age 36 - salary is
39% of the leagues salary cap
Damian Lillard:
25/26 - Age 35 - salary is
37% of the leagues salary cap
26/27 - Age 36 - salary is
36% of the leagues salary cap
Damian Lillard will be making the equivalent of what Steph Curry is making this year and next year at his age 35 and age 36 years. Do you think Golden State would pick up the phone today for a Tyler Herro offer? Even if they were rebuilding? Do you think GS could do Wayyy better than that offer? The answer is likely yes. And he's already at 35 years old. Dame is still 32. Steph is a clearly more accomplished player, but they're the same realm of player.
Portland can't get better offers, not because of his contract, but because Dame and his agent have suppressed the market in the media. This is why Portland is in no rush to move him, and will likely wait until they soften their stance on other teams, and more offers roll in.