Dame requests a trade.

[The Sebastian Express]

PLaying Sharpe out of position in a crucial development year is so unwise.

[Butter]

For all those, "Dames good but" folks...

StatMuse: Damian Lillard last season: 32.2 PPG (!!) 7.3 APG 4.2 3PM 64.5 TS% The only player in NBA history to reach those numbers or better in a season at that efficiency. pic.twitter.com/iBM3I4h9Wm –

[Wizenheimer]

PLaying Sharpe out of position in a crucial development year is so unwise.

nothing new in that...just continuing the stupidity from 2015.

Blazers went thru 7 seasons of unwisely trying to justify CJ as a 'no-defense-6'3-SG-with-no-wing-or-2-way' ability. The roster contortions Olshey went thru to keep CJ in place were idiotic and infuriating. Example: Powell at SF after Derrick Jones

looks like Cronin is going to be just as stupid with Ant

[zzaj]

I have a sneaking suspicion that the opening night starting lineup is going to be:

Scoot
Ant
Thybulle
Grant
Center

With Sharpe coming off the bench creating for himself as 'the man'. It's COMPLETELY backwards, IMO...

[The Sebastian Express]

I have a sneaking suspicion that the opening night starting lineup is going to be:

Scoot
Ant
Thybulle
Grant
Center

With Sharpe coming off the bench creating for himself as 'the man'. It's COMPLETELY backwards, IMO...

Yes, Ant - if we keep him, which signs are pointing to yes - should come off the bench. He could be this generation's Lou Williams but an elite sniping three point shooter. Just.. silly to put him in the starting lineup.

[Wizenheimer]

I have a sneaking suspicion that the opening night starting lineup is going to be:

Scoot
Ant
Thybulle
Grant
Center

With Sharpe coming off the bench creating for himself as 'the man'. It's COMPLETELY backwards, IMO...

Yes, Ant - if we keep him, which signs are pointing to yes - should come off the bench. He could be this generation's Lou Williams but an elite sniping three point shooter. Just.. silly to put him in the starting lineup.

I wouldn't label him an elite 3 point shooter. Last season, his .377 mark was 71st among the 149 'qualified' NBA 3 point shooters...so about average or median. That's not close to elite. His career mark is a little better at .387, but that's also a long ways from elite

but if you're talking about him being a limited minute 6th man, look at these numbers:

2020-21 - games started 0%....avg minutes 17.3....3ptFG% .426
2021-22 - games started 53%....avg minutes 29.5....3ptFG% .405
2022-23 - games started 100%....avg minutes 35.0....3ptFG% .377

of course, the problem is that with the new CBA no team will be willing to pay a bench player 26M/year

[BlazersBroncos]

I would be so happy to see Dame in TOR. The TOR and MIA fanbases already are at each others necks. It would be awesome.

Even better if TOR w/ Dame bounced MIA in the playoffs. Would open a well aged scotch if that happens.

[The Sebastian Express]

I would be so happy to see Dame in TOR. The TOR and MIA fanbases already are at each others necks. It would be awesome.

Even better if TOR w/ Dame bounced MIA in the playoffs. Would open a well aged scotch if that happens.

If such a dream comes true, and we must all admit is is an unlikely dream, please take a drink for me.

[Kobewade11]

I would be so happy to see Dame in TOR. The TOR and MIA fanbases already are at each others necks. It would be awesome.

Even better if TOR w/ Dame bounced MIA in the playoffs. Would open a well aged scotch if that happens.

Hehe

[Norm2953]

I have a sneaking suspicion that the opening night starting lineup is going to be:

Scoot
Ant
Thybulle
Grant
Center

With Sharpe coming off the bench creating for himself as 'the man'. It's COMPLETELY backwards, IMO...

Let's just see who is here after the trade goes down

I do think of Sharpe becoming this superstar over night is premature. He will need to adjust how the league plays him for he did not exactly light up the summer league. He only can only play as many minutes as he can handle in 2023 and until the game slows down for him, keeping Ant in the starting helps for unless Scoot is ready to play 35 mpg, he is also going to need time

[zzaj]

I would be so happy to see Dame in TOR. The TOR and MIA fanbases already are at each others necks. It would be awesome.

Even better if TOR w/ Dame bounced MIA in the playoffs. Would open a well aged scotch if that happens.

If Lillard goes to Toronto, and they only give up Barnes, I honestly think they would beat out Miami. Lillard/OG/Siakam/Poeltl would be very, very good. Better than last year and IMO, pretty easily better than anything Miami could put on the floor, barring changes...

[zzaj]

I have a sneaking suspicion that the opening night starting lineup is going to be:

Scoot
Ant
Thybulle
Grant
Center

With Sharpe coming off the bench creating for himself as 'the man'. It's COMPLETELY backwards, IMO...

Let's just see who is here after the trade goes down

I do think of Sharpe becoming this superstar over night is premature. He will need to adjust how the league plays him for he did not exactly light up the summer league. He only can only play as many minutes as he can handle in 2023 and until the game slows down for him, keeping Ant in the starting helps for unless Scoot is ready to play 35 mpg, he is also going to need time

Depends on what your plan is...if you're plan is to have Sharpe as a starter long-term, the sooner he gets used to that role the better, IMO. As long as winning isn't yet a huge factor. It makes no sense to develop the Scoot/Ant undersized combo if you plan on a Scoot/Sharpe combo moving forward...


A lot will hinge on Chauncey. It's his first opportunity to really make the team his own. We'll see pretty quickly if he's actually as bad as he has appeared.

[BlazersBroncos]

I have a sneaking suspicion that the opening night starting lineup is going to be:

Scoot
Ant
Thybulle
Grant
Center

With Sharpe coming off the bench creating for himself as 'the man'. It's COMPLETELY backwards, IMO...

Let's just see who is here after the trade goes down

I do think of Sharpe becoming this superstar over night is premature. He will need to adjust how the league plays him for he did not exactly light up the summer league. He only can only play as many minutes as he can handle in 2023 and until the game slows down for him, keeping Ant in the starting helps for unless Scoot is ready to play 35 mpg, he is also going to need time

Scoot for sure is ready for 35mpg on a rebuilding team. He has an NBA body, seems to have great conditioning and is competitive as hell. Maybe not the 38mpg Dame got as a rookie, but closer to that than 28mpg.

[Norm2953]

Awfully tough to win any games, starting SS and Scoot on day 1. It would be tough on the fan base if Portland started the season 4-20 while the Heat start 20-4. Most teams would opt to surround prime rookie Scoot with some experienced players, until SS is fully ready to play 35 mpg, next to Scoot.

[DiegoChara]

I have a sneaking suspicion that the opening night starting lineup is going to be:

Scoot
Ant
Thybulle
Grant
Center

With Sharpe coming off the bench creating for himself as 'the man'. It's COMPLETELY backwards, IMO...

Yes, Ant - if we keep him, which signs are pointing to yes - should come off the bench. He could be this generation's Lou Williams but an elite sniping three point shooter. Just.. silly to put him in the starting lineup.

I wouldn't label him an elite 3 point shooter. Last season, his .377 mark was 71st among the 149 'qualified' NBA 3 point shooters...so about average or median. That's not close to elite. His career mark is a little better at .387, but that's also a long ways from elite

but if you're talking about him being a limited minute 6th man, look at these numbers:

2020-21 - games started 0%....avg minutes 17.3....3ptFG% .426
2021-22 - games started 53%....avg minutes 29.5....3ptFG% .405
2022-23 - games started 100%....avg minutes 35.0....3ptFG% .377

of course, the problem is that with the new CBA no team will be willing to pay a bench player 26M/year

Yeah, but 38% on extremely high volume, and creating the attempts for himself at a high clip. That has value.
Especially if you’re comparing him as a shooter to a static corner camping 3pt shooter.

[BlazersBroncos]

Awfully tough to win any games, starting SS and Scoot on day 1. It would be tough on the fan base if Portland started the season 4-20 while the Heat start 20-4. Most teams would opt to surround prime rookie Scoot with some experienced players, until SS is fully ready to play 35 mpg, next to Scoot.

4-20 would be great assuming the youngsters are playing hard and producing. We were not good enough last year to make the PO's with Dame. Scoot will be a clear downgrade this year. We need the losses to get a better future.

And as for SS not being conducive to winning games this year, fine. Simons has nowhere near the potential of SS and wont be adding many wins. Unless the effort isnt there we should be hand feeding Sharpe and brigning Simons off the bench - unless we are starting him with the hopes of moving him.

For the love of god its time for a guard duo that isnt undersized. Please.

[Wizenheimer]

Spoiler:

Yes, Ant - if we keep him, which signs are pointing to yes - should come off the bench. He could be this generation's Lou Williams but an elite sniping three point shooter. Just.. silly to put him in the starting lineup.

I wouldn't label him an elite 3 point shooter. Last season, his .377 mark was 71st among the 149 'qualified' NBA 3 point shooters...so about average or median. That's not close to elite. His career mark is a little better at .387, but that's also a long ways from elite

but if you're talking about him being a limited minute 6th man, look at these numbers:

2020-21 - games started 0%....avg minutes 17.3....3ptFG% .426
2021-22 - games started 53%....avg minutes 29.5....3ptFG% .405
2022-23 - games started 100%....avg minutes 35.0....3ptFG% .377

of course, the problem is that with the new CBA no team will be willing to pay a bench player 26M/year

Yeah, but 38% on extremely high volume, and creating the attempts for himself at a high clip. That has value.
Especially if you’re comparing him as a shooter to a static corner camping 3pt shooter.

yeah, he shot a lot but not that much more than a lot of players

player/attempts/%

Tyrese Maxey 369 .434
Stephen Curry 639 .427
Buddy Hield 677 .425
Corey Kispert 384 .424
Michael Porter Jr. 454 .414
Keegan Murray 501 .411
Darius Garland 412 .410
Isaiah Joe 394
Desmond Bane 407
Trey Murphy III 497 .406
Kevin Huerter 510 .402
Georges Niang 384 .401
Tyrese Haliburton 402 .400
Jamal Murray 432 .398
D'Angelo Russell 490 .396
Lauri Markkanen 511 .391
De'Anthony Melton 403 .390
CJ McCollum 543 .389
Royce O'Neale 419 .389
Quentin Grimes 407 .386
Donovan Mitchell 635 .386
Tim Hardaway Jr. 550 .385
James Harden 418 .385
Jrue Holiday 411 .384
Mikal Bridges 442 .382
Derrick White 391 .381
Kyrie Irving 496 .379
Tyler Herro 537 .378
Anfernee Simons 562 .377

I saw it for 7 long years....people working OT to try and conince others that their evaluations of CJ were underrating him. Now, that dynamic has replaced CJ with Simons

remember now....CJ was going to be an all-star once he escaped Dame's shadow...not so fast apparently

I'm not saying Simons isn't a decent or even good three point shooter. He's just a long ways from being elite and he's standing in the way of Sharpe

[DusterBuster]

PLaying Sharpe out of position in a crucial development year is so unwise.

I would sooner Sharpe just come off the bench as sixth man vs start and play him as an undersized SF where he will likely be overmatched nightly.

[The Sebastian Express]

PLaying Sharpe out of position in a crucial development year is so unwise.

I would sooner Sharpe just come off the bench as sixth man vs start and play him as an undersized SF where he will likely be overmatched nightly.

Yes. Ideally Ant comes off the bench and Sharpe starts at the two for full development, but your way is better than shoehorning him into the three and screwing him up.

[DusterBuster]

PLaying Sharpe out of position in a crucial development year is so unwise.

I would sooner Sharpe just come off the bench as sixth man vs start and play him as an undersized SF where he will likely be overmatched nightly.

Yes. Ideally Ant comes off the bench and Sharpe starts at the two for full development, but your way is better than shoehorning him into the three and screwing him up.

In a perfect world yeah, Ant is a 6th man in name only (getting starter minutes and finishing games), but you know how players and the NBA works, that rarely ever flies with player when asking an older and big salary player to come off the bench for a young player.

I don’t even consider that a realistic enough scenario to suggest.