[Haynes] Portland star Damian Lillard and his agent Aaron Goodwin are meeting with the team today to discuss the franchise’s direction, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport
Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard and his agent Aaron Goodwin are meeting with the team today to discuss the franchise’s direction, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport. pic.twitter.com/mUgEDzEbsw
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 26, 2023
by Venez21
16 Comments
Oh it’s over. Let’s see if he puts us on his shortlist or if he only wants Miami
I’m so split on trading for him, if they demand any of those later PHX picks or our 2030 picks then I’m honestly fine passing up on him
First, the Collins saga ends and hopefully the Dame saga ends soon, so we can know what direction we’re going.
I think if the draft day report is accurate then we’re pretty in on Dame. But only at the right price. I still think Portland is going to get a lot less than they think but also we pretty much have to do this deal without including Mikal or Clax (trading one or both for Dame pretty much defeats the entire point). I think he probably ends up in Miami but who knows
If Nets trade for Dame (I still think he goes to Miami), they have to go for it now and trade for another quality player. If they aren’t prepared to do that, then they should pass on Dame.
Don’t want him personally. I’d prefer we build through the draft.
I’m tired of this short term ring chasing situation.
We’d have around a 5 year window of being contenders with Dame. Dame, Mikal, CJ, and potentially healthy Ben would be a good enough team to come out the east – and who knows, maybe CamT and Dariq end up being key contributors as they develop more for us.
Don’t do it. Hold out for Luka.
It’s either dame or blow it up. Unless we know of another superstar that wants to come here in Mikals timeline.
If it’s between us and the heat, he probably will be a Brooklyn Net. Sean marks will overpay with draft picks and still keep Claxton. We will get a few years of playoff basketball then have to work from the ground up like we always do every 4 years at this point.
The only appeal of a potential Lillard deal to me is that we won’t have to offer much if we’re only bidding against the Heat. If we have to give up any of our own or more than one of the Suns/Mavs picks forget about it.
Any outcome except him coming to the Nets is fine with me.
Portland has very little leverage if Dame asks out. The Ringer has a good article that goes through every team and discusses their possibilities of adding him. Basically it boils down to Boston, Brooklyn, Golden State and Miami. He laughed at going to Boston and GS is far fetched, so it’s Brooklyn or Miami.
43
48
58
63million
Those are his cap hits the next 4 years, he will be 36 that last year. We shouldn’t be in any hurry or give up any assets that will help us contend to acquire him IMO. Miami can offer 27 & 29 1sts and 28 & 30 swaps plus their package of garbage. If we’re going to take back Nurks contract and use our trade exception, we should be able to beat their package while allowing us one more move to try and compete for the next 3 years. Mikal, Dame, (Dermarr??) and Clax would put us in the top 5 in the East and be able to reasonably compete for the foreseeable future, nothing we can do, short of selling all assets and mortgaging the future will make us the favorites.
This feels very similar to how KD’s talks with the Nets org felt last offseason. Nets were able to hold off until the deadline because they were still competitive, but KD really had lost faith in winning a ring in Brooklyn. Dame has obviously been much more loyal to the Trail Blazers than KD has been to any team, but I feel like he’s running out of patience.
Are they going anywhere nice?
If the Nets don’t have to give up any win now players, I can talk myself into. A dream scenario package of some combo of Dinwiddie, Harris, our firsts from this year, Thomas, Sharpe, and/or picks.
If the Nets think Bridges is that guy, deciding to already push our chips in for another chance at a championship isn’t that hard to believe. The massive question is if the Nets believe Simmons can return to form. If you’re the Nets and want to make that terrifying bet, you already have the pieces for a strong roster that has a chance at a ship.
I’m probably far too optimistic and a bit delusional, but I really do think Simmons can and will return to the player he was. That player was probably good enough to win a championship as the third option.
A starting lineup of Lillard/Simmons/Bridges/Johnson/Claxton is a very strong and solid 5. The main issue would be having two non floor spacers. At least the 3 that can shoot do it very well. If the Nets did go in on Lillard while also betting on Ben, you have to do everything in your power to bring in Brook Lopez. He’s just so important to make a roster that relies so heavily on multiple non shooters to work.
In this delusional world where we somehow aquire Dame for very little of our win now talent and Lopez, our roster is pretty much set. I think the team would benefit from one more smaller move getting a guy like Burks, but that’s it.
The starting lineup could go multiple ways. The guys you have to start are Lillard, Claxton, and Bridges. Then, you have to decide between Simmons, C Johnson, and Lopez. I can see a universe where Lopez wants to be on the Nets and is willing to come off the bench. The Simmons/Lillard/Bridges/Johnson/Claxton lineup has those spacing issues but is still a solid group. In theory, Clax and Simmons only share the court for the first 6 minutes and then sparingly from that point.
There’s also the potential that Simmons is convinced to continue coming off the bench for the sake of fit. Clax shifts to the 4 and Lopez into the 5. Lillard/Bridges/Johnson/Claxton/Lopez is probably the most well-rounded starting 5.
Finally, you try to have Cam Johnson come off the bench. He’s about to sign a starter level contract, so it’s a bit awkward, but he also doesn’t have anything to prove after acquiring what’s likely the biggest contract of his career. The Simmons, Claxton, Lopez is a wacky, but maybe fun fit. Simmons/Lillard/Bridges/Claxton/Lopez would probably go nuts on defense.
Idk what’s best of the 3, but my gut says sixth man Simmons. The depth chart becomes:
Lillard/Bridges/Johnson/Claxton/Lopez with a bench of Simmons/Burks/O’Neal/Finney-Smith
If Lillard can play like a superstar and Simmons can play like a third option, that group is talented enough to go all the way. With all of our wing defenders and a post defender in Lopez, Simmons can spend more time defending guards like he’s best at. Claxton can spend more time on the perimeter like he’s best at. In regards to the Lillard/Simmons pairing, Lillard runs the half court offense, and Simmons works the fast break. Simmons is the point guard when Lillard is off. Simmons gets paired with either Lopez or Finney-Smith at the 5 in most scenarios. Bridges won’t have to go as hard on offense with the addition of Lillard, allowing him to give more defense effort. Lillard is the only bad defender in that rotation.
I imagjne if he does ask out and lists Miami and/or Brooklyn, the actual trade package wont be as bad as people think. Looking at Beal’s recent deal and Dame’s age and contract Portland probably will have somewhat of a team friendly deal