Haynes: Damian Lillard Requests Trade

[Tor_Raps]

It would not shock me if Portland decides to take a lesser deal than Miami's out of spite.

Not saying Ainge took a lesser deal but Ainge did say screw it and traded Mitchell to Cavs vs Knicks

Knicks were nickel and diming, Ainge didn’t even call them back. Just made a trade with Celeveland instead. Worked out well for Utah/Ainge.

And we all should know how we got Kawhi. There's plenty of instances of where a player doesn't get to go exactly where he's demanding.

My biggest concern is that we're coming off a pathetic season so we are not very attractive to a guy like Lillard. If we had our 48 win season last year, I'd be a lot more confident in Lillard sucking it up.

[Fairview4Life]

It would not shock me if Portland decides to take a lesser deal than Miami's out of spite.

Not saying Ainge took a lesser deal but Ainge did say screw it and traded Mitchell to Cavs vs Knicks

Knicks were nickel and diming, Ainge didn’t even call them back. Just made a trade with Celeveland instead. Worked out well for Utah/Ainge.

And we all should know how we got Kawhi. There's plenty of instances of where a player doesn't get to go exactly where he's demanding.

My biggest concern is that we're coming off a pathetic season so we are not very attractive to a guy like Lillard. If we had our 48 win season last year, I'd be a lot more confident in Lillard sucking it up.

He has 45 million reasons to suck it up.

[goinrogue]

OG, Gary, precious and 2 picks easily beats any offer Miami would make id OG is up to re-signing. Not saying I would do this just saying a deal can be done without including scottie.

[DreamTeam09]

Mystery team is toronto per Droppin

Isn’t this guy a troll? He’s probably just saying Toronto because he knows about the large fan base.

Naw. Called a bunch during FA before woj shams

I refuse to believe anything from anyone who's not plugged into the NBA circles. I myself would've been right on many FA signings, or possible trades or non trades. Unless these guys like woj or shams are using burner accounts, how is a random twitter user plugged into multiple organizations and not work for anyone?

[Tor_Raps]

Not saying Ainge took a lesser deal but Ainge did say screw it and traded Mitchell to Cavs vs Knicks

Knicks were nickel and diming, Ainge didn’t even call them back. Just made a trade with Celeveland instead. Worked out well for Utah/Ainge.

And we all should know how we got Kawhi. There's plenty of instances of where a player doesn't get to go exactly where he's demanding.

My biggest concern is that we're coming off a pathetic season so we are not very attractive to a guy like Lillard. If we had our 48 win season last year, I'd be a lot more confident in Lillard sucking it up.

He has 45 million reasons to suck it up.

Still believe that a Lillard - Trent - OG or Barnes - Siakam - Poeltl with a decent bench becomes an immediate contender. Not favs but definitely one of the teams who can win it all. This sure beats the hell out of whatever we're doing now.

Only issue is that OG fits better for the Raptors while Barnes fits better for Portland in the trade scenarios but I'm not sure Raptor fans want to hear that lol.

[PhilBlackson]

Idk what to make of going for Lillard assuming Scottie isn't involved in any attempt. Of course I'd pray that Scottie ascends enough & in time for it to be worthwhile but man does it ever just feel like Masai & Bobby don't have a clue of what the vision is or isn't for the team.

I'm just split because I'm already pretty unenthusiastic about this up-coming season and/or future of the franchise because I think they dropped the ball on the last couple of drafts where they used the picks to TRY and address more immediate needs vs having a long term outlook/they also could've been higher in those drafts had they not made short-sighted moves and therefore also even better prospects.

I would've wanted to draft players with higher upside & look forward to a rebuild around THEM but now it's really just Scottie, the other young players are nothing special sooooo we're just kinda stuck in the stupid No Man's Land. I think I'd STILL prefer to trade Pascal to ATL to get AJ & Bufkin buuuut if the Raps plan on extending Pascal then I guess you might as well try & trade for Dame.

I don't think it makes us a real championship contender tbh...

BUT if you're re-signing Pascal because you can't get a trade you like (don't think it's going to be easier when he's paid even more & is the head of a mediocre team), then you might as well attempt to be a relevant franchise vs an irrelevant one which we're on the path to be coming. Without Dame, we look poised to literally be a treadmill team UNLESS Scottie can explode to become a superstar caliber player....and if he did, well then having Dame here would make for the team being surprisingly suddenly amongst the elite within a year or two.

I don't think Dame is THE answer, in reality you need a guy who again would be closer to Kawhi's level when he was here (which was a top 3 level player) but I guess at least instead of being a footnote in the league, people will talk about Dame & the franchise plus be great exposure for Scottie (assuming he can actually develop into the player we hope him to be). But overall it's a sad state for the franchise because I think Masai & Bobby made a number of short sighted decisions & obviously they don't have any real, clear vision for the future. They seem to be like a leaf in the wind just going whereever it may take them.

[goinrogue]

Personally I think Portland would be thrilled to have a re-signed OG over anyone Miami is offering

[Pointgod]

didnt this droppin dude say Siakam trade to Atl was done as well? rando twitter account that went on a hot streak of calling chit. I very much doubt its real

Yes. Turns out anonymous sources on Twitter aren’t reliable for breaking news. That Ayton for Nurk deal sounds horrible for Phoenix.

If true, I’d guess Suns are looking to break down Ayton’s contract for more depth. Nurk plus another $18m give or take to work with.

Nurk sucks though, he’s always injured and he has 3 more seasons on his contract. If you told me they were trading Ayton for Myles Turner, Wendell Carter Jr or Robert Williams, I could see the benefit but not for an overpaid, oft injured Center.

[ArthurVandelay]

Just saying….

Ayton salary equals Nurkic, Boucher, Flynn

I’m holding out hope Toronto is operating as a third or fourth team to take Herro from Miami.

[Dalek]

Lillard wants to go to Miami like Kawhi wanted to go to the Lakers when he was on San Antonio. It never happened because of Masai and Toronto. Masai could convince Lillard to play here and maybe win a title. No doubt to me that we would have the most talented team he has played with.

Lillard
Trent Jr.
OG
Siakam
Poeltl

Schroder
McDaniels
Achuiwa
Koloko

The toughest scenario is giving up a package that could include Scottie, Gradey a pick and other filler for Lillard. You would mortgage your future again but you don't always have a shot at a superstar. And you get him for two full seasons.

Scottie is young but he hasn't put up close to superstar projections in two years. He is more likely to be a OG level of player than a Luka player. If he does ascend to a superstar level, who knows if he becomes a flight risk. I'd have to think he would be tempted to move back home to Florida at some point.

My problem with build around Scottie is we have no way to do that? We need premium prospects around Scottie and I doubt OG and Siakam would get us any future superstars because they don't have long-term deals.

[MiamiSPX]

If I were an NBA media personality and relied on social media engagement, I would also include the Raptors in everything I "report". Our online presence is 2nd to none, and we are psychotic when it comes to this stuff. People fall for it every time.

[pilkoids]

Worth remembering that Dame is 33

[mademan]

Lillard wants to go to Miami like Kawhi wanted to go to the Lakers when he was on San Antonio. It never happened because of Masai and Toronto. Masai could convince Lillard to play here and maybe win a title. No doubt to me that we would have the most talented team he has played with.

Lillard
Trent Jr.
OG
Siakam
Poeltl

Schroder
McDaniels
Achuiwa
Koloko

The toughest scenario is giving up a package that could include Scottie, Gradey a pick and other filler for Lillard. You would mortgage your future again but you don't always have a shot at a superstar. And you get him for two full seasons.

Scottie is young but he hasn't put up close to superstar projections in two years. He is more likely to be a OG level of player than a Luka player. If he does ascend to a superstar level, who knows if he becomes a flight risk. I'd have to think he would be tempted to move back home to Florida at some point.

My problem with build around Scottie is we have no way to do that? We need premium prospects around Scottie and I doubt OG and Siakam would get us any future superstars because they don't have long-term deals.

60 mill for Lilard + around 80 for Siakam/OG means we literally have no other way to improve. We're in 2nd apron territory and hoping Lillard stays good enough for multiple seasons to stay relevant. More likely, as is with the vast majority of aging superstar trades, we're not as good as we hope to be, Lillard gets hurt or doesnt play like a superstar in the playoffs, we underperform, fingers start getting pointed and it becomes a circus.

Honest question, how often does the team trading a huge package for an aging superstar work out?

[ATLTimekeeper]

Isn’t this guy a troll? He’s probably just saying Toronto because he knows about the large fan base.

Naw. Called a bunch during FA before woj shams

I refuse to believe anything from anyone who's not plugged into the NBA circles. I myself would've been right on many FA signings, or possible trades or non trades. Unless these guys like woj or shams are using burner accounts, how is a random twitter user plugged into multiple organizations and not work for anyone?

Just a week ago Shams said he wouldn't report to Toronto. Shams pretty much works for Pat Riley. That wasn't an random team he just chose out of thin air.

[Tor_Raps]

If I were an NBA media personality and relied on social media engagement, I would also include the Raptors in everything I "report". Our online presence is 2nd to none, and we are psychotic when it comes to this stuff. People fall for it every time.

Many of us remember a time where we'd kill to be included in any rumour. Now we're at a stage where fans are sick of it? Tbh, I'll never be sick of being mentioned with one of the greats in the nba.

[Fairview4Life]

Worth remembering that Dame is 33

And extremely good at basketball.

[mademan]

Worth remembering that Dame is 33

And extremely good at basketball.

ya but for how long

[Fairview4Life]

Worth remembering that Dame is 33

And extremely good at basketball.

ya but for how long

Let's say 3 years. I don't think his shooting is just going to disappear overnight.

[MiamiSPX]

If I were an NBA media personality and relied on social media engagement, I would also include the Raptors in everything I "report". Our online presence is 2nd to none, and we are psychotic when it comes to this stuff. People fall for it every time.

Many of us remember a time where we'd kill to be included in any rumour. Now we're at a stage where fans are sick of it? Tbh, I'll never be sick of being mentioned with one of the greats in the nba.

I am not sick of it, I just know what these media people are doing. Cronin has already discovered that teams aren't exactly lining up to pay $215 million to a 33-year old who has made it crystal clear he will not be happy (and maybe not even report) anywhere but Miami.

I get it, some of you are trying to speak it into existence but he will not be a Raptor.

[pilkoids]

I wonder how GTJ feels about this