[Article](https://www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/latest-on-harden-lillard-trade-talks-just-more-of-same-nothing-close-to-happening)
> Waiting until training camp would be a mistake by Portland — why make Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe and the rest of your promising young core deal with this circus? Whether Lillard shows up to training or not in Portland, it would be a storm the Trail Blazers are asking their young stars to weather rather than giving them a clean start. And for what? One extra protected first-round pick?
>The problem for Portland is less Miami’s offer — which is not ideal — and more that there is no strong market for Lillard right now beyond Miami. It’s why Blazers GM Joe Cronin said it would be easier if this were more than a one-team trade list, but his wishes do not solve the underlying market issues. It’s easy to say, “Brooklyn can offer five first-round picks” but why would the Nets do that? To become Portland East, a good team that’s not a contender with a guy about to turn 33 who will make $63 million in four years? Lillard isn’t on the timeline of Utah, and Oklahoma City would be stupid to take the ball out of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s hands. Maybe Boston could make an offer if their owners want to pay an insane amount of tax, but they have limited picks to trade. Does Philly want to give up Tyrese Maxey to be in the Lillard business for four years? Talk all you want about better offers, until someone makes one the Heat are the only game in town. Cronin can wait a while, but does he want to bring the circus to town this September?
by lopea182
11 Comments
Wouldn’t put it past Portland to pull a John Wall and just let him sit at home till the deadline.
It’d be more like the Iggy situation.
Should move the Blazers to a bigger market that can actually attract talent.
It’s funny that after the fake trades and “anybody but the Heat” clamor has died down reality sets in and people start reporting what a lot of Heat fans/reporters have been saying.
Not saying we aren’t homers or have our delusional views at times but the anti-Heat bias caused some insanely irrational takes
I mean the Portland Franchise is literally a giant mistake, so is any of this surprising?
Lol what? Why would Portland NOT drag this out another few months if they could hypothetically get an extra protected first round pick out of it?
The idea that doing so would create some “circus” that would stunt the development of their young core is asinine
This is true. Portland GM has never built a true winning team around Dame and has had 11 years to do so. Instead, he’s continuing to show he’s not a professional. Someone like Pat would never do so.
We all know that Dame wants to end up in Miami. Everyone knows it will probably happen (I hope). Why be dumb and ruin future team culture in Portland?
Cope
He is FUCKED!
I mean if all they have to do is wait to get an extra first round pick then yeah they should do that lol
This is the year we move past the bubble