So is Portland trying to convince Dame they want to win now with this Grant trade?

[Kblaze8855]

https://www.hostpic.org/images/2206230843300343.jpeg

[Kblaze8855]

Big trade to do what….win 46 games? It looked for a minute like they would do the full rebuild but I guess not.

[NBAGOAT]

Yes rebuild isn’t happening. I be a bit impressed if they could trade for OG

[Axe]

Funny how lillard still chooses to rot in portland instead of moving on.

[Kblaze8855]

People will praise the hell out of it. And then say “He never won anything” in 10 years anyway.

[tontoz]

Just looks like incompetent management to me. They love that treadmill.

[Wally450]

What's their money look like? Could they go after Ayton?

[NBAGOAT]

What's their money look like? Could they go after Ayton?

Not without a s/t. Don’t forget they need to resign Simons

[warriorfan]

Just looks like incompetent management to me. They love that treadmill.

True but on the other side. I’m not sure how possible it is to build a championship team when you are giving dame that much of your cap. If it’s possible it is extremely difficult and unrealistic.

Dame ****ed himself out of contention by signing that insane contract that he wasn’t really good enough to warrant.

[hold this L]

Win what exactly? Dame has never come close to being a #1 guy for a championship contender in his entire career. They should trade him for picks and start a proper rebuild though. Him going to the Celtics would be interesting if they have enough assets.

[Johnny32]

lakers could have got grant for tht and a 1st a yr ago. kobe's agent is a terrible gm.

[FultzNationRISE]

Honestly WestGOAT would fit perfectly alongside Grant in Portland. The Blazers need to do whatever it takes to make that happen, even if it means parting with Dame.

[FilmyCogTurner]

People will praise the hell out of it. And then say “He never won anything” in 10 years anyway.

Is it really team loyalty when they're paying him a max contract?

[ShawkFactory]

Grant is a good bench player on a contending team. Don't see how this moves the needle in any way.

[Johnny32]

Grant is a good bench player on a contending team. Don't see how this moves the needle in any way.

bench player? he was the third option on a den team that went to the wcf in 2020 and played lal closer than anyone in the west.

[r15mohd]

if the Kyrie scenario doesnt work out for LAL...I can see Portland and LAL making a direct swap for Westbrook/Dame.

Portland gets Dame's long term off their books in acquiring Westbrooks last year and can truly rebuild instead of dragging it out to 2025. Dame gets to go closer to his hometown and truly contend for a title...Lakers can ride out AD and Dame if Lebron leaves, and still be contenders. Not sure why this hasnt been the driving force for LAL already - salaries work

[NBAGOAT]

if the Kyrie scenario doesnt work out for LAL...I can see Portland and LAL making a direct swap for Westbrook/Dame.

Portland gets Dame's long term off their books in acquiring Westbrooks last year and can truly rebuild instead of dragging it out to 2025. Dame gets to go closer to his hometown and truly contend for a title...Lakers can ride out AD and Dame if Lebron leaves, and still be contenders. Not sure why this hasnt been the driving force for LAL already - salaries work

blazers can get more for dame. he'll get a decent contract and 3 1sts, lakers only have 2 1sts to give

[r15mohd]

blazers can get more for dame. he'll get a decent contract and 3 1sts, lakers only have 2 1sts to give

i agree...but Dame is not going to allow himself to be traded to just anywhere for the sake of Portland getting better while he is pushed into some bottom feeding team. he has that leverage, and to me, take what you can or lose out in the long term cuz Dame will gladly stay and cash those paychecks in Portland, or gladly go to LAL.

[NBAGOAT]

i agree...but Dame is not going to allow himself to be traded to just anywhere for the sake of Portland getting better while he is pushed into some bottom feeding team. he has that leverage, and to me, take what you can or lose out in the long term cuz Dame will gladly stay and cash those paychecks in Portland, or gladly go to LAL.

well ofc dame will go to a contender but there are many options out there. harden+maxey+3 firsts, lowry+herro+3 1sts,jrue and 2 1sts,cp3+cam johnson+ 3 1sts,brown and a 1st. I'm not saying he'll fetch that much but even taking some stuff out from each offer, they're all significantly better than westbrook+2 1sts and all those teams become strong contenders

[r15mohd]

well ofc dame will go to a contender but there are many options out there. harden+maxey+3 firsts, lowry+herro+3 1sts,jrue and 2 1sts,cp3+cam johnson+ 3 1sts,brown and a 1st. I'm not saying he'll fetch that much but even taking some stuff out from each offer, they're all significantly better than westbrook+2 1sts and all those teams become strong contenders

some of those are hard to even see offered by the respective team, cuz Dame isnt same Dame from 2-3-4 yrs ago - age is up, he's been hurt, so who knows if teams are willing to risk it on the unknown.

plus i think the back to Cali notion plays heavy roles in these decisions too, and it being the Lakers just leaps and bounds it over the other teams based on brand/endorsement opportunities alone. but we shall see. LAL is in an okay spot, as much as many dont want to realize - opportunity for Dame or Kyrie at the expense of Westrbook and some picks. be a fool not to go all in for those chances.

[NBAGOAT]

some of those are hard to even see offered by the respective team, cuz Dame isnt same Dame from 2-3-4 yrs ago - age is up, he's been hurt, so who knows if teams are willing to risk it on the unknown.

plus i think the back to Cali notion plays heavy roles in these decisions too, and it being the Lakers just leaps and bounds it over the other teams based on brand/endorsement opportunities alone. but we shall see. LAL is in an okay spot, as much as many dont want to realize - opportunity for Dame or Kyrie at the expense of Westrbook and some picks. be a fool not to go all in for those chances.

La is definitely a good spot, I just don’t see dame demanding to go to just la when actually many options are out there. I agree my suggestions were overpays but that was just to show how many teams to go for dame. Jrue holiday and 1 1st is a significantly better offer than westbrook and 2 1sts for example

[Axe]

Win what exactly? Dame has never come close to being a #1 guy for a championship contender in his entire career. They should trade him for picks and start a proper rebuild though. Him going to the Celtics would be interesting if they have enough assets.
Good idea but he's becoming older so they should do it quick.

[Xiao Yao You]

Big trade to do what….win 46 games? It looked for a minute like they would do the full rebuild but I guess not.

small markets like the Blazers and Jazz can't afford to tank for long. There's a reason both franchises have usually been playoff teams for decades

[KNOW1EDGE]

Great move by Portland. Get a solid (not great) player for essentially a pick in the 20-25 range.

Anyone saying Portland should/will trade Dane for Westbrook is out of touch with reality.

IF Portland decides to trade Lillard it will be for young guys and picks not a clearly over the hill black hole like Westbrook.

[Xiao Yao You]

Great move by Portland. Get a solid (not great) player for essentially a pick in the 20-25 range.

Anyone saying Portland should/will trade Dane for Westbrook is out of touch with reality.

IF Portland decides to trade Lillard it will be for young guys and picks not a clearly over the hill black hole like Westbrook.

westbrook expiring

[HylianNightmare]

Good piece. Need more

[tontoz]

Grant will be a ufa next summer.

[KNOW1EDGE]

westbrook expiring

I didn’t realize that, but it doesn’t change anything.

Portland is not trading the face of their franchise, an MVP level talent, in his prime, for an expiring contract.

If they trade him, it’s going to be for good young players and picks. But I can tell you, Portland has absolutely no intention of trading him until he demands out, which seemingly isn’t going to happen.

[Xiao Yao You]

I didn’t realize that, but it doesn’t change anything.

Portland is not trading the face of their franchise, an MVP level talent, in his prime, for an expiring contract.

If they trade him, it’s going to be for good young players and picks. But I can tell you, Portland has absolutely no intention of trading him until he demands out, which seemingly isn’t going to happen.

Might be the only way you can match salaries

[KNOW1EDGE]

Might be the only way you can match salaries

If Portland were planning on trading him, (which their not) you are right they would need to match salaries. Westbrook’s salary might match up. But LA would have to include young players/picks. Cap space does Portland no good really, they can’t sign any big name free agents. If they trade Dame, they are going to want something tangible in return. Portland is not interested in trading Dame for cap space. Again, it’s the best player in franchise history (arguably) they aren’t going to let him walk in his prime for cap space. -cap space they would be able to do nothing with besides sign a mid tier guy to a max. No superstar is signing in Portland during free agency.

[Xiao Yao You]

If Portland were planning on trading him, (which their not) you are right they would need to match salaries. Westbrook’s salary might match up. But LA would have to include young players/picks. Cap space does Portland no good really, they can’t sign any big name free agents. If they trade Dame, they are going to want something tangible in return. Portland is not interested in trading Dame for cap space. Again, it’s the best player in franchise history (arguably) they aren’t going to let him walk in his prime for cap space. -cap space they would be able to do nothing with besides sign a mid tier guy to a max. No superstar is signing in Portland during free agency.

expiring contracts and assets. Same as always

[KNOW1EDGE]

La has no fillers. They have no good young players portland would want. They have no draft picks. Westbrook’s expiring plus THT is not going to get it done.

It’s not a feasible trade. LAL are not a feasible trade partner. Portland isn’t looking to trade Dame. It’s unrealistic wishful thinking on the part of Lakers fans. Portland is super invested in Lillard and are not trading him for cap space and fillers.

Beal and fillers? Maybe.
A good player in his prime and fillers? Maybe.

Westbrook and fillers? -you are high.

[Xiao Yao You]

La has no fillers. They have no good young players portland would want. They have no draft picks. Westbrook’s expiring plus THT is not going to get it done.

It’s not a feasible trade. LAL are not a feasible trade partner. Portland isn’t looking to trade Dame. It’s unrealistic wishful thinking on the part of Lakers fans. Portland is super invested in Lillard and are not trading him for cap space and fillers.

Beal and fillers? Maybe.
A good player in his prime and fillers? Maybe.

Westbrook and fillers? -you are high.

Unrealistic? Teams don't want to help the Lakers by giving them their stars for crap?

[KNOW1EDGE]

Unrealistic? Teams don't want to help the Lakers by giving them their stars for crap?

Unrealistic and Lakers fans? Never. Lol

I’m just a Portland fan eager to squash the idea because id be livid if they traded Dame for Westbrook. If I have to see Dame walk I want to see a young guy with star potential or a lottery pick in return.