Lillard is working his way out of Portland

[Soulyss]

One of the Blazers best reporters asked Dame about any injuries and he said he’s good. Haven’t heard any of the abdominal stuff locally. Could be true I guess, but if it is it’s not known widely here.

It’s just a bad shooting slump from what we can see. People need to pump the brakes on the 5/6 games into a season hot takes.

Yes, this. He's gone through mini-slumps before, he's never started the season with one... but it happens. He's playing hard, and if you take 5 minutes to look at the advanced stats...

His Defensive rating is 10 points better than last year, his net rating is about the same. Highest Assist / TO ratio in his career, highest assist average in his career.

The only issue: TS% is 16% lower than normal. It's just a shooting slump, any other conclusion is ****. He's missing a lot of open 3's that he simply doesn't miss very often. These slumps are usually followed by "Dame goes nuclear for a month" so...

OP =

[Lockdown504090]

We sure as **** aren't trading Lillard for Simmons.

The team is .500 playing so far against mostly teams either in the playoffs or were very good last year, while Lillard is playing pretty bad.

yall regret not trading for simmons. dames value is much higher but if blazers are stuck even 2 seasons, simmons value will eclipse a 33 yr old washed up dame. their value was already close when ben got all nba.

I have to say I'm not a fan of Simmons the person but objectively Simmons (+ pieces) for Dame looks better for Portland over time.

Wouldnt cj, simons and a pick get portland ben simmons? its an overpay, but thats a contender

dame
powell/ snell
simmons/little
covington/nance
nurkic/zeller

That has a chance to win a title if lillard plays like dirk in 11 for a playoff run

[madmaxmedia]

He’s kinda painted himself in the corner in that regard. If he was trying to get out we’d be getting all kinds of cryptic messages and stories about him liking social media posts about him leaving. We’ll just have to wait until next offseason to do it all over again.

It's crazy that's how we do it now, passive-aggressive liking Instagrams and Twitters...

[DusterBuster]

yall regret not trading for simmons. dames value is much higher but if blazers are stuck even 2 seasons, simmons value will eclipse a 33 yr old washed up dame. their value was already close when ben got all nba.

I have to say I'm not a fan of Simmons the person but objectively Simmons (+ pieces) for Dame looks better for Portland over time.

Wouldnt cj, simons and a pick get portland ben simmons? its an overpay, but thats a contender

dame
powell/ snell
simmons/little
covington/nance
nurkic/zeller

That has a chance to win a title if lillard plays like dirk in 11 for a playoff run

Morey doesn't think CJ is good enough return for Simmons. Even with Simons in the deal, he'd probably want 4 first rounders as well.

[Lockdown504090]

I have to say I'm not a fan of Simmons the person but objectively Simmons (+ pieces) for Dame looks better for Portland over time.

Wouldnt cj, simons and a pick get portland ben simmons? its an overpay, but thats a contender

dame
powell/ snell
simmons/little
covington/nance
nurkic/zeller

That has a chance to win a title if lillard plays like dirk in 11 for a playoff run

Morey doesn't think CJ is good enough return for Simmons. Even with Simons in the deal, he'd probably want 4 first rounders as well.

funny. i will say though, i dont think portland will get more for dame either next year or the following than what they could get the 6ers to give up

maxey shake milton 5-6 picks/swaps and ben simmons. Thats better than what the thunder got for pg.

[Myth]

Lillard is having to carry his team = He wants a trade
Lillard is struggling and deferring to his team = He wants a trade
Lillard sneezed = He wants a trade

[DusterBuster]

Wouldnt cj, simons and a pick get portland ben simmons? its an overpay, but thats a contender

dame
powell/ snell
simmons/little
covington/nance
nurkic/zeller

That has a chance to win a title if lillard plays like dirk in 11 for a playoff run

Morey doesn't think CJ is good enough return for Simmons. Even with Simons in the deal, he'd probably want 4 first rounders as well.

funny. i will say though, i dont think portland will get more for dame either next year or the following than what they could get the 6ers to give up

maxey shake milton 5-6 picks/swaps and ben simmons. Thats better than what the thunder got for pg.

In what world would Morey give up that much beyond Simmons for Dame? He’s of the belief that Dame and Simmons are relatively on par and would only be willing to give up Maxey and maybe a pick or two according to the reports of what the Sixers hopes were this summer. Doubt he’s come off that fever dream to up the offer that high.

I’m accepting the fact that the Blazers likely will never get fair value return for Dame because they won’t trade him ever, unless he asks. They would rather he just spend his whole career here even after his talents start to decline.

[monopoman]

Morey doesn't think CJ is good enough return for Simmons. Even with Simons in the deal, he'd probably want 4 first rounders as well.

funny. i will say though, i dont think portland will get more for dame either next year or the following than what they could get the 6ers to give up

maxey shake milton 5-6 picks/swaps and ben simmons. Thats better than what the thunder got for pg.

In what world would Morey give up that much beyond Simmons for Dame? He’s of the belief that Dame and Simmons are relatively on par and would only be willing to give up Maxey and maybe a pick or two according to the reports of what the Sixers hopes were this summer. Doubt he’s come off that fever dream to up the offer that high.

I’m accepting the fact that the Blazers likely will never get fair value return for Dame because they won’t trade him ever, unless he asks. They would rather he just spend his whole career here even after his talents start to decline.

Even trying to trade a superstar level player that doesn't ask for a trade usually reduces the value you get, since teams start wondering.

"Hmm, why would they want to trade that player?"
"Do they know something we don't?"

So you get a similar affect of teams that are interested hedging their offers once you put that player on the market. So thus why it's nearly impossible to get full market value for any star player no matter what.

[BNM]

One of the Blazers best reporters asked Dame about any injuries and he said he’s good. Haven’t heard any of the abdominal stuff locally. Could be true I guess, but if it is it’s not known widely here.

It’s just a bad shooting slump from what we can see. People need to pump the brakes on the 5/6 games into a season hot takes.

Yes, this. He's gone through mini-slumps before, he's never started the season with one... but it happens. He's playing hard, and if you take 5 minutes to look at the advanced stats...

His Defensive rating is 10 points better than last year, his net rating is about the same. Highest Assist / TO ratio in his career, highest assist average in his career.

The only issue: TS% is 16% lower than normal. It's just a shooting slump, any other conclusion is ****. He's missing a lot of open 3's that he simply doesn't miss very often. These slumps are usually followed by "Dame goes nuclear for a month" so...

OP =

Excellent points. He did start slow last year, as well. Not as slowly as this season, but he did have several of his worst shooting nights of the season early on, then he went nuclear and absolutely carried the team on his back when Nurk and CJ were out. Like this year, last season CJ got off to a hot start while Dame struggled with is shooting consistency. Over the first 9 games of the season, Dame had a few good games, but also had several terrible shooting nights (4-12, 3-14, 6-17, 5-16 and 1-7, 0-8, 3-11, 1-7 from 3). He didn't really get a consistent shooting stroke going until the 10th game of the season.

Add in the fact that he's playing in a new system for a new coach and didn't have much of an off season. He played in the Olympics, where he got hurt, which limited his ability to work out during the shorter than usual off season (for him) and as a result he is struggling with his shot. He is doing other things to help the team to win. The effort is definitely there, it's just the shots aren't falling - yet.

Anyone who thinks Damian Lillard would ever intentionally play poorly, or take his foot off the gas in any way, knows less than nothing about Damian Lillard. That is simply not who he is, and if you actually watch the games, simply not what is happening.

[DusterBuster]

One of the Blazers best reporters asked Dame about any injuries and he said he’s good. Haven’t heard any of the abdominal stuff locally. Could be true I guess, but if it is it’s not known widely here.

It’s just a bad shooting slump from what we can see. People need to pump the brakes on the 5/6 games into a season hot takes.

Yes, this. He's gone through mini-slumps before, he's never started the season with one... but it happens. He's playing hard, and if you take 5 minutes to look at the advanced stats...

His Defensive rating is 10 points better than last year, his net rating is about the same. Highest Assist / TO ratio in his career, highest assist average in his career.

The only issue: TS% is 16% lower than normal. It's just a shooting slump, any other conclusion is ****. He's missing a lot of open 3's that he simply doesn't miss very often. These slumps are usually followed by "Dame goes nuclear for a month" so...

OP =

Excellent points. He did start slow last year, as well. Not as slowly as this season, but he did have several of his worst shooting nights of the season early on, then he went nuclear and absolutely carried the team on his back when Nurk and CJ were out. Like this year, last season CJ got off to a hot start while Dame struggled with is shooting consistency. Over the first 9 games of the season, Dame had a few good games, but also had several terrible shooting nights (4-12, 3-14, 6-17, 5-16 and 1-7, 0-8, 3-11, 1-7 from 3). He didn't really get a consistent shooting stroke going until the 10th game of the season.

Add in the fact that he's playing in a new system for a new coach and didn't have much of an off season. He played in the Olympics, where he got hurt, which limited his ability to work out during the shorter than usual off season (for him) and as a result he is struggling with his shot. He is doing other things to help the team to win. The effort is definitely there, it's just the shots aren't falling - yet.

Anyone who thinks Damian Lillard would ever intentionally play poorly, or take his foot off the gas in any way, knows less than nothing about Damian Lillard. That is simply not who he is, and if you actually watch the games, simply not what is happening.

Hell, OP couldn't even bother to spell Dame's last name properly lol.

[payton2kemp]

Portland should just trade for Simmons. They got scorers but no defense, it been the same story for years. He's 31 not getting any better.

We sure as **** aren't trading Lillard for Simmons.

The team is .500 playing so far against mostly teams either in the playoffs or were very good last year, while Lillard is playing pretty bad.

yall regret not trading for simmons. dames value is much higher but if blazers are stuck even 2 seasons, simmons value will eclipse a 33 yr old washed up dame. their value was already close when ben got all nba.

Dame looks so washed couldn't even been Philly without Embiid and Tobias lol.

[76ersForLife]

yall regret not trading for simmons. dames value is much higher but if blazers are stuck even 2 seasons, simmons value will eclipse a 33 yr old washed up dame. their value was already close when ben got all nba.

I have to say I'm not a fan of Simmons the person but objectively Simmons (+ pieces) for Dame looks better for Portland over time.

Well the biggest problem with this supposed trade that everyone forgets to remember, is Simmons made his list of teams/cities he would want to play for. Portland never appeared on the list, and Simmons later came out and said straight up "I DON'T WANT TO PLAY FOR PORTLAND!!!"

We are not trading our best player for a guy that acts like going to Portland is purgatory for him or some ****, he might put up with being here for a year or so but I have a strong feeling he would request a trade unless Portland wins a championship with him shortly after we get him.

I still think the value is lopsided heavily in the Sixers favor even with a few late picks coming to Portland, but the biggest barrier to the trade is Simmons himself.

Only a Lillard hater would claim Ben for Lillard is a fair trade.

Simmons hasnt said a single word to the media since game 7 last season. So this nonsense that Ben said he doesnt want to play in Portland is just a figment of your imagination.

[Myth]

I have to say I'm not a fan of Simmons the person but objectively Simmons (+ pieces) for Dame looks better for Portland over time.

Well the biggest problem with this supposed trade that everyone forgets to remember, is Simmons made his list of teams/cities he would want to play for. Portland never appeared on the list, and Simmons later came out and said straight up "I DON'T WANT TO PLAY FOR PORTLAND!!!"

We are not trading our best player for a guy that acts like going to Portland is purgatory for him or some ****, he might put up with being here for a year or so but I have a strong feeling he would request a trade unless Portland wins a championship with him shortly after we get him.

I still think the value is lopsided heavily in the Sixers favor even with a few late picks coming to Portland, but the biggest barrier to the trade is Simmons himself.

Only a Lillard hater would claim Ben for Lillard is a fair trade.

Simmons hasnt said a single word to the media since game 7 last season. So this nonsense that Ben said he doesnt want to play in Portland is just a figment of your imagination.

By this rationale we can’t know he wants out of Phili either. Didn’t realize all reports are imaginary unless a player says it directly to the media.

[monopoman]

I have to say I'm not a fan of Simmons the person but objectively Simmons (+ pieces) for Dame looks better for Portland over time.

Well the biggest problem with this supposed trade that everyone forgets to remember, is Simmons made his list of teams/cities he would want to play for. Portland never appeared on the list, and Simmons later came out and said straight up "I DON'T WANT TO PLAY FOR PORTLAND!!!"

We are not trading our best player for a guy that acts like going to Portland is purgatory for him or some ****, he might put up with being here for a year or so but I have a strong feeling he would request a trade unless Portland wins a championship with him shortly after we get him.

I still think the value is lopsided heavily in the Sixers favor even with a few late picks coming to Portland, but the biggest barrier to the trade is Simmons himself.

Only a Lillard hater would claim Ben for Lillard is a fair trade.

Simmons hasnt said a single word to the media since game 7 last season. So this nonsense that Ben said he doesnt want to play in Portland is just a figment of your imagination.

So you are saying Ben never requested a trade and gave a list of teams?

Did you sleep through the entirety of the off-season, Ben was reported as saying MANY things. ****, we had a long thread this last Summer based on Ben demanding a trade and everyone discussing that.

[76ersForLife]

There is no list of teams, where did u ever hear that from?
The only thing reported was that Morey,Doc and 76ers owner met with Simmons and his agent.

Simmons demanded a trade during that meeting and told the 76ers he would play anywhere as long as it wasn't in Philly.

There is no list of teams. Ben barely even has any leverage to demand a trade with 4 yrs on his contract much less tell the 76ers where to trade him.

[76ersForLife]

Also u said nothing about his agent, you said that Ben came out straight up and said no Portland.

[bebopdeluxe]

I have to say I'm not a fan of Simmons the person but objectively Simmons (+ pieces) for Dame looks better for Portland over time.

Wouldnt cj, simons and a pick get portland ben simmons? its an overpay, but thats a contender

dame
powell/ snell
simmons/little
covington/nance
nurkic/zeller

That has a chance to win a title if lillard plays like dirk in 11 for a playoff run

Morey doesn't think CJ is good enough return for Simmons. Even with Simons in the deal, he'd probably want 4 first rounders as well.

This didn't age well.

CJ/Dame - 40 points on 40 shots. 15 for 40 from the field against a team missing its 3 best players.

Woof.

[monopoman]

Also u said nothing about his agent, you said that Ben came out straight up and said no Portland.

You figure his agent would not just be making up a list of teams, on his own. If his agent is out there saying:

"Ben wants to play for Lakers, Knicks, or Warriors"

And this information is not accurate he is actively hurting his client by making other teams think that Ben would freak out and get super upset if traded there. I would legitimately fire my agent and get on ESPN renouncing everything they said, if they made up a list of teams.

****, teams already have suspicions that Ben is a fickle player since he has made it very clear he would prefer to not play a single minute again as a Sixer.

[RedSalsa]

Eh. He sucked in the Olympics as well

Looks cooked

[kio80]

More like working his way out of the league, maybe he will strike gold in the rapping business