Damian Lillard

[mrblisterdundee]

Damian Lillard underwent abdominal surgery and will be out for at least 6-8 weeks. Does this change the calculus for the Blazers? Should they trade him by the deadline to some fringe contender trying to get over the hump? Should they wait to let him come back and build up his value before seeking a trade in the off-season? Do they still try to retool around him?


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[Scoots]

I hope a Blazers fan comes in here and corrects me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me that the fans would revolt if Dame were traded when he didn't want to go.

[valade16]

I hope a Blazers fan comes in here and corrects me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me that the fans would revolt if Dame were traded when he didn't want to go.

100%. As a Blazer fan, given the loyalty he’s shown to Portland and the Blazers trading him before he asks out would be unconscionable.

[smith&wesson]

I would trade him. Dame is not getting any younger, he’s turning 32 this year. the roster around him isn’t anywhere close to being enough. Dame has like a 3-4 year window left before he starts to decline. If that.

IF the Blazers focus this season on revamping the roster around him and do a good enough job I can totally see them staying the course with him though they have a lot of work to do.

[smith&wesson]

Also I don’t think Dames value is lower right now. Teams know what he can do. Dude is a super star in his prime in this league. Missing two months in recovery is not that big a deal.

[Saddletramp]

He’s one of those guys that signed a max and then immediately complained that the team wasn’t good enough. Before re-signing was when you should’ve brought that up or you should KD tested the FA waters but that might not have gotten him the most he could’ve gotten. Now he’s crying and that team doesn’t look like it’ll get better anytime soon especially with his cap hit. Meh.

Dang. They’re already at $110 million for next year and that’s not including Nurkic, Covington or Simons (who’s probably going to get paid one way or another). Ouch.

[ewing]

100%. As a Blazer fan, given the loyalty he’s shown to Portland and the Blazers trading him before he asks out would be unconscionable.

Simons has been lighting it up. Does he play defense?


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[KnicksorBust]

I think it's obvious Portland needs to move on and it's obvious the Knicks are the best fit. This opinion may or may not be biased and I may or may not be psd drunk scrolling right now.

[THE MTL]

His chance to be moved was this summer

[Mr.B]

100%. As a Blazer fan, given the loyalty he’s shown to Portland and the Blazers trading him before he asks out would be unconscionable.

Also considering Dame’s popularity amongst the other NBA players around the league I don’t see how trading Dame when he doesn’t want to be traded would make Portland even less of a free agent destination.

[crewfan13]

I'm sure if they went to him and talked it through, they could talk him into mutually deciding to trade him. Basically say we think it's time to rebuild. If you want to be part of thst rebuild, you can be, but we'll be looking to get younger and prioritize picks. If you don't want that, we're happy to trade you to one of the destinations of your choosing.

Dame has been seemingly a tiny bit on the fence about asking for a trade. I think a potential mutually agreed upon parting of ways actually makes sense.

[warfelg]

I think Dame/Portland should fo a mini-tank. Package RoCo/Nurk for players or picks. Either trade CJ or just keep him out for minor stuff. Use the high pick to trade for someone with using filler salary.

I’m thinking like 3 team it with RoCo and Nurk with Jeremi Grant or maybe John Collins coming back.
CJ for an expiring, a young player, and a pick.
Norm Powell for a couple of young players.

Use the young players, high pick, and future pick to go get a potential disgruntled star.

Lillard
Simons
Star Wing
Grant/Collins
PnR type center

[mrblisterdundee]

I would trade him. Dame is not getting any younger, he’s turning 32 this year. the roster around him isn’t anywhere close to being enough. Dame has like a 3-4 year window left before he starts to decline. If that.

IF the Blazers focus this season on revamping the roster around him and do a good enough job I can totally see them staying the course with him though they have a lot of work to do.

I’d be open to retooling around him, but it would take getting someone like Brown/Tatum or Simmons, or at least Jerami Grant, and probably giving up both Simons and Nassir to do so.
People talked about trading McCollum and other assets for one of these big fish forwards. But his value has dropped so much that I think the conversation now has to be about flipping Lillard into the next cornerstone while not losing Simons and Nassir.

Also I don’t think Dames value is lower right now. Teams know what he can do. Dude is a super star in his prime in this league. Missing two months in recovery is not that big a deal.

His value lowers every year he gets older and his contract grows. With this surgery, a team would have to be ok with not having a 100% Dame this year. Maybe he gets back to form by the playoffs, but I’m not confident.

I think it's obvious Portland needs to move on and it's obvious the Knicks are the best fit. This opinion may or may not be biased and I may or may not be psd drunk scrolling right now.

Sure; just figure out a way financially to get us Quickley, Barrett and Toppin without taking on Fournier, and you might have the makings of a deal. [emoji23]

[Raps18-19 Champ]

Dame is Portland.

No chance he gets traded unless he demands it.

I'm hoping Blazers get a top 3 pick and trade it for hometown kid Sabonis.

Trade all their other assets like Nurk and RoCo for picks or young players. Then trade CJ for Simmons.

C - Sabonis
PF - Simmons
SF - FA like DFS or Ingles
SG - Powell
PG - Dame

Or you can bring back Nurkic in the offseason and slide Simmons/Sabonis down.

[mrblisterdundee]

I'd heard Kevin O'Connor on The Ringer talking about how Simmons might fit in Golden State and thought of a three-teamer:
• Philly gets Dame and Brown III.
• Golden State gets Simmons, Milton and either Nurkic or Nance Jr.
• Portland gets Wiggins, Wiseman, Kuminga and Moody.

I think that helps all three teams for where they're at. Golden State is the right fit for Simmons to do what he's good at, while Nurkic can provide the interior presense they've lacked since Bogut, unless they prefer the versatility and extra contract year of Nance. Dame gives Philly a perimeter star and closer. Portland cashes in its star for a new core to pair with Simons and Nassir. Wiggins is still young enough to be an asset and can always be moved again if need be.