Damian Lillard Trade Request Part 3

[WuTang_CMB]

Lets see if Cronin has a pair of nuts and get the right return for his team long term.

I think this has been drawn out so much because the Blazers are not happy with the Heats offer, and they are just trying to condition Dame to the idea of being somewhere else, while also gathering offers.

He would look so weak if he ultimately takes the Heat's original offer. GMs would lose all respect for him. Why jerk everybody around?

I just dont see it happening and I think Raps are sitting in a good spot. Heat are offering Herro who they dont like with a bunch of scraps. Toronto is offering OG who they like and maybe another 1-2 real assets.

Cronin taking Heat's offer would be idiotic and likely him caving to agent pressure and Dame's demands.

Lets see what hes made of

[Basketball_Jones]

Portland has been the one dragging this out to days before training camp

[ConSarnit]

This seems to be a POR problem not a Riley or Masai problem.

POR told Lillard they'd improve the team at the draft and did nothing. They told Lillard they'd improve the team during the offseason and did nothing. They've dragged this entire process to almost October with no decision in sight.

IMO Dame caused this problem. Had a chance to become an UFA but kept signing max extensions on a middling club, then demands out. I'll keep my mouth shut if we get him but wont sympathize with him as long as he plays for another team.

I don't blame Dame or Portland - for years now the talking heads in the media especially ESPN have been urging/demanding that Dame should demand a trade, some even questioning his manhood/commitment to winning - I think this constant barrage eventually wore Dame down but I think he was happy in Portland.

I think Dame screwed up. He kept taking extensions 2 years out from being a UFA. He didn’t learn anything from Lebron signing those 2 year deals. If you are a star player you have one surefire way to put pressure on your team: get close to free agency. POR never has to worry about Dame walking because it never got down to the wire. There was never any threat of him walking for nothing so Portland only had to do the bare minimum. Even now POR can take their time because Dame still has multiple years left on his deal.

The best leverage Dame could have had was telling POR “make this team better or I’ll walk”. He never let it get close enough to the walk part for it to ever be a threat.

Lesson to NBA stars: never extend before the last year of your deal and always get a player option.

[mademan]

Lets see if Cronin has a pair of nuts and get the right return for his team long term.

I think this has been drawn out so much because the Blazers are not happy with the Heats offer, and they are just trying to condition Dame to the idea of being somewhere else, while also gathering offers.

He would look so weak if he ultimately takes the Heat's original offer. GMs would lose all respect for him. Why jerk everybody around?

I just dont see it happening and I think Raps are sitting in a good spot. Heat are offering Herro who they dont like with a bunch of scraps. Toronto is offering OG who they like and maybe another 1-2 real assets.

Cronin taking Heat's offer would be idiotic and likely him caving to agent pressure and Dame's demands.

Lets see what hes made of

Yup. If Masai is offering OG and 1 1st and Miami is offering Herro and 2 1sts, why would Toronto add to the offer? We already have a better offer. Masai plays hardball and i cant see him not only outbidding the Heat, but also outbidding himself.

[Sandman88]

The dream is dead, folks

[WuTang_CMB]

I think this has been drawn out so much because the Blazers are not happy with the Heats offer, and they are just trying to condition Dame to the idea of being somewhere else, while also gathering offers.

He would look so weak if he ultimately takes the Heat's original offer. GMs would lose all respect for him. Why jerk everybody around?

I just dont see it happening and I think Raps are sitting in a good spot. Heat are offering Herro who they dont like with a bunch of scraps. Toronto is offering OG who they like and maybe another 1-2 real assets.

Cronin taking Heat's offer would be idiotic and likely him caving to agent pressure and Dame's demands.

Lets see what hes made of

Yup. If Masai is offering OG and 1 1st and Miami is offering Herro and 2 1sts, why would Toronto add to the offer? We already have a better offer. Masai plays hardball and i cant see him not only outbidding the Heat, but also outbidding himself.

Yeah this is where we are at. Portland wants Gradey and more picks. Masai shutting the door on that. If Masai offered OG and Gradey and fillers, it would have been done already IMO. Heat, BRK, Philly, BOS are not beating that.

[Coco Costanza]

The dream is dead, folks

Because....?

[Madvillainy2004]

I just don't see how Miami can beat our best offer. It seems like they're not even trying right now lol.

[Scizzup]

I just dont see it happening and I think Raps are sitting in a good spot. Heat are offering Herro who they dont like with a bunch of scraps. Toronto is offering OG who they like and maybe another 1-2 real assets.

Cronin taking Heat's offer would be idiotic and likely him caving to agent pressure and Dame's demands.

Lets see what hes made of

Yup. If Masai is offering OG and 1 1st and Miami is offering Herro and 2 1sts, why would Toronto add to the offer? We already have a better offer. Masai plays hardball and i cant see him not only outbidding the Heat, but also outbidding himself.

Yeah this is where we are at. Portland wants Gradey and more picks. Masai shutting the door on that. If Masai offered OG and Gradey and fillers, it would have been done already IMO. Heat, BRK, Philly, BOS are not beating that.

Blazers wouldn't entertain anything with just OG/filler and 2 picks that ain't far out. Lol trading Dame for an expiring contract is crazy. many other teams beat that if that is all it takes including Miami.

[ConSarnit]

Lets see if Cronin has a pair of nuts and get the right return for his team long term.

I think this has been drawn out so much because the Blazers are not happy with the Heats offer, and they are just trying to condition Dame to the idea of being somewhere else, while also gathering offers.

He would look so weak if he ultimately takes the Heat's original offer. GMs would lose all respect for him. Why jerk everybody around?

I just dont see it happening and I think Raps are sitting in a good spot. Heat are offering Herro who they dont like with a bunch of scraps. Toronto is offering OG who they like and maybe another 1-2 real assets.

Cronin taking Heat's offer would be idiotic and likely him caving to agent pressure and Dame's demands.

Lets see what hes made of

I think there is likely a feeling around the league that Dame’s value just isn’t that high.

Here’s what Dame is owed in age 35 and 36 year old seasons:

2025/26: $58m
2026/27: $63m

Any team taking on Dame means eating 2 bad contract years. That has to hurt his value. I think there is a real chance that “great” offers won’t ever materialize. I would think solid starter + 2 1sts is the type of offer POR is getting. It feels like the Heat can get there if they can get something (draft assets) for Herro. Maybe Herro just doesn’t have a lot of positive value around the league. Is anyone going to give up a solid 1st for Herro? I don’t know.

[Sandman88]

The dream is dead, folks

Because....?

Grange’s last tweet

[Zeno]

I just don't see how Miami can beat our best offer. It seems like they're not even trying right now lol.

That’s why I think it will come out our offer was not a good as reported and our interest was ‘overstated’. Can’t believe I’m predicting Lewenberg was right but I think Lewenberg was right.

[ConSarnit]

Yup. If Masai is offering OG and 1 1st and Miami is offering Herro and 2 1sts, why would Toronto add to the offer? We already have a better offer. Masai plays hardball and i cant see him not only outbidding the Heat, but also outbidding himself.

Yeah this is where we are at. Portland wants Gradey and more picks. Masai shutting the door on that. If Masai offered OG and Gradey and fillers, it would have been done already IMO. Heat, BRK, Philly, BOS are not beating that.

Blazers wouldn't entertain anything with just OG/filler and 2 picks that ain't far out. Lol trading Dame for an expiring contract is crazy. many other teams beat that if that is all it takes including Miami.

If I’m POR I’m looking to flip OG for other assets. His value declines the worse of a team he’s on. OG is a “final piece” and POR is 3-4 years away from needing a final piece. His UFA status is also a big question mark. Would he re-sign with POR for anything that isn’t a large-ish overpay?

The major question is what’s OG’s worth on the trade market right now? I really have no idea because it sort of seems like he could spurn a contenders offer to re-sign to go somewhere to “be the man” (ala Jerami Grant).

[tanuki1031]

Other side of this are the other teams just sitting on offers and not making a decision so he backs out

Going back to the fantasy example I really hate when guys sit on offers for days. Like I know you’re checking your phone every hour so I just back out. Your loss maybe next time you’ll get it together.

It's like actually playing the game. You force guys to make a fast decision, and that's when they're most likely to make a mistake. I like it.

That, and why not control what's potentially on the table for whoever is available when we all but know everyone else is going to drag you into it as a leverage play anyways.

We can't even fully fit on one hand the number of times FAs or trade targets of other teams where Toronto was seriously considered. It's always been "guy considering TO in free agency" and signs elsewhere for 20% less than TOs offer, or "guy is available for trade, TO interested and offering X"

Might as well make those pre-emptive trade offers whether they are genuine or not.

[Bruin]

LOOOL

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[WuTang_CMB]

Yup. If Masai is offering OG and 1 1st and Miami is offering Herro and 2 1sts, why would Toronto add to the offer? We already have a better offer. Masai plays hardball and i cant see him not only outbidding the Heat, but also outbidding himself.

Yeah this is where we are at. Portland wants Gradey and more picks. Masai shutting the door on that. If Masai offered OG and Gradey and fillers, it would have been done already IMO. Heat, BRK, Philly, BOS are not beating that.

Blazers wouldn't entertain anything with just OG/filler and 2 picks that ain't far out. Lol trading Dame for an expiring contract is crazy. many other teams beat that if that is all it takes including Miami.

It all comes down to which players they like and whats being offered. Not many teams in the mix and BRK's Bridges their prize get is off the board. OG's bird rights will also play a role.

[Sandman88]

Lol dame to the bucks?!?!

[TorontoBarneys]

I'm not even bothered much if we don't get Dame. Just get another shooter onto the squad like Hield without giving up too much and let's roll. I have confidence we can secure a playoff spot next season if we do.

[Mak]

Yes, Bucks is better than Heat. Love it.

[Bruin]

Wow Shams deleted Dame to Toronto and quickly deleted and posted this instead

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