Dame's Future In Portland

I want to make something very clear, and I’ve been saying it for years and years, it’s nothing new. But I respect the hell out of Dame Lillard. I don’t know how anyone doesn’t respect the hell out of Dame and I don’t really care. Because I do. And I always have.

I respect his game. I respect his work ethic. And maybe more than anything else, I respect his LOYALTY. 

In an era of NBA backstabbing and forcing your way out and jumping from super team to super team and trading half the roster at the deadline and all the other garbage… Dame stands out. Dame stands out because he participates in none of that garbage. Dame stands out because he's one of the last truly loyal cats left in pro sports.

Dame loves Portland. In fact, nobody has ever loved Portland the way Dame loves Portland. And I can say that confidently as a fellow Portland lover. Portland is an amazing city with some amazing clones. So I don’t want anyone to misconstrue what I’m about to say. Because I love Portland too, and I don’t blame Dame for wanting to stay.

But if he wants to actually win, now is the time to go. And Miami is the place to go to. If there ever was a time and a place to finally leave, this is the time and that is the place.

Dame and the Blazers are at a crossroads after they picked Scoot Henderson, another 6’2” point guard, in the draft last Thursday night. If there was a time to hit the reset button, it’s probably now. But obviously, Dame at 32 years old has no interest in being part of a rebuild, nor should he.

Which is why when word got out yesterday that Dame was meeting with the Blazers front office, most people assumed it was to finally ask for a trade. Because at this point, nobody would blame him. I don’t even think Portland fan would blame him. 

But apparently, that is not what happened at that meeting. According to a statement from GM Joe Cronin last night: “I met with Dame and Aaron Goodwin this afternoon. We had a great dialogue. We remain committed to building a winner around Dame,

Which is great and all… except Cronin actually has to get around to doing that. I hate to bring this part up, but if you check the standings since Cronin took over the front office, the Blazers finished 13th in the West in each of the last two seasons. And as much as I’d like to believe a major improvement is possible this offseason, it’s hard to see how it would be possible. 

It’s hard to see how the Blazers could possibly catch up to the Nuggets, or even the Suns or Lakers or Warriors, in one offseason. I’d love to see it happen, I just have no idea how.  So not only are they not championship contenders, they’re not even playoff contenders. 

I mean...Clearly, Dame would love to see it happen too. And that’s what he’s gonna with free agency approaching, watch and see what happens. Hope they dramatically improve the team into a legit contender from a legit, let’s face it, disaster. They were horrendous this season. And Dame does not deserve horrendous at this stage of his career.

I understand he doesn’t want to be the one to break it off. He doesn’t want to request that trade. And I respect the hell outta that. He doesn’t want to be grouped with Kyrie and KD and even LeCap and Kawhi and any of others that have jumped from team to team and treated those franchises and their fanbases like a joke. And here’s the good thing for Dame, nobody ever will group him with those mercenaries no matter what happens now. And least nobody with a brain that works.

This dude is clearly different from all of them. And he’s proven it. And he’s put in his time. And he’s been more loyal to the city of Portland and to the Blazers organization than anyone ever. If he has to leave to win, nobody is gonna hold it against him top bounce. . Again, at least nobody whose opinion matters.

I don’t want to speak for him, I don’t want to tell the dude what to do. I’m just saying, it's really hard for me to see the Blazers improving enough in the short term to contend. Really hard. Pretty much impossible. And if he ever is gonna leave, now would be the time to do it and Miami would be the place to go.

So Dame, do what you gotta do my dude. Just know that if you gotta go, nobody is gonna blame you.

I know you love that community. But I also know you’re proud as hell, competitive as hell, and you are concerned about your legacy: and I don’t think you want your legacy to be you gave everything you possibly had to a franchise that didn’t share that same sense of urgency or commitment.  I hope I’m wrong.  But so far Cronin hasn’t done anything to prove that I am.  They’re doing what they have to do for themselves, dame, unless they should you otherwise and stat, I suggest you do what you have to do for YOURSELF.  You don’t owe them a damn thing at. This point.