I used to follow the Blazers far more than I do now. They used to feel like a state team. The Trail Blazers kinda killed the feeling for me. I never really came back.
"Blazers: I don't care". John, remind the owner and her mgmt team there are many of us who don't care because of her. I'd rather re read spring OSU football articles.........
Real fans care. They don't jump ship because they hate owners. Read up on the Harold Ballard years of the Toronto Maple Leafs... still the biggest fan base in the NHL.
Worse things? Passing on Michael Jordan was perhaps the worst move in NBA history. A fish stinks from the head and from the ownership on down the Blazers today are smelly.
Most NBA observers see this draft as a huge success. How does this move result in ownership criticism. Ownership put Cronin in charge. He made the best move. Doesn't matter what ownership does they will be made the scapegoat - takes thick skin.
Anyone watch the post draft interviews? I love the hard hitting questions “What do you think about playing for Portland?” Do the reporters actually expect any other answer than “I’m thrilled?”
What I find interesting is how in the course of a couple of decades a 'team' game became a 'me' game. All this talk about what is best for 'Dame' is exhausting. Lillard has carved out a legacy in Portland - the guy has given his all to the team and to our community. Why suddenly is winning a ring the more important thing? Stars trying to organize trades to better teams for the sake of winning a championship is not what sports are about. It started years ago of course and accelerated with the LeBron era of crafting super teams. Yawn. I'd rather have a superstar play his whole career with a team - win, lose or draw. I will have so much more respect for Damian if he sticks it out and tries to make 'his' team a winner. If he goes to Miami or wherever, I could care less if he 'joins' a winning team and gets a ring. I hope he stays.
I personally liked the draft pick...I hope Lillard stays and all works out but until Jody and Bert the Toad are gone I have no intention of renewing my season tickets
Blazers didnt draft Micheal Jordon …why? Because we had Clyde Drexler. Joe Cronin is exactly right “you draft the best player and figure it out” I’m glad someone learned that lesson
What I think is you draft the best player ….it doesnt matter who else is on the team. Lillard will probably end up playing with scoot…we didnt draft Jordon because we thought it would conflict with Drexler …they probably would have been great together, maybe scoot and Dame will too. Im glad we learned that lesson.
We need Blazer season ticket holders to take a stance like MLS LA Galaxy and force a sale to new caring ownership like Phil Knight to reignite fan interest and support for the team.
This is the same ownership group that traded their most popular football player in decades to Denver for a draft haul, yes? Jody ain't afraid to take the big swing. The Broncos believed they were one Russell Wilson away from a championship and overpaid. There's no doubt a team or two out there (Sacramento?) who believe they're one Damian Lillard away from a championship and will overpay too.
That’s a good point about the Seahawks and the RW trade, hadn’t even thought of that. A bit of a different situation, but has some similarities as well.
Least we didn't draft they kid who provided a gun used in a murder. That would have been classic Blazers. Cronin's comment about drafting the best player available and figuring it out gives me hope. Something past Blazer GMs clearly didn't understand. Drafting need/fit instead of top talent.
Blazers are headed for more irrelevance. Nothing to see here. Move on. When does football start?
Thanks John for pointing out that the franchise and fans come first ..Lillard has worked hard supported the community and has been handsomely compensated…he is an ambassador and role model. Everything he has aspired to be through his persona and work ethic. He is owed nothing that could possibly jeopardize the vision if the franchise. He knows that we all know that. I’m sure JC will assess when the time is right as after all this is business.
Bang on. I hope Damian decides to stay and try and make 'his' team into a winner rather than jump ship to join some team that is already great and get a ring as a sixth wheel. If he stays, his legacy will be as a winner. If he leaves to just get a ring, he will be a chump. I bet he stays.
Obviously the blazers did the right thing. If Lillard moves on, Scoot will be forced to play more and improve quicker. It’s good Billips is a former point guard. He’ll teach the youngster the tips and trics, the nuances of the position.
John, it looks like you may get your wish. As the soap opera plays out, this comment from two weeks ago rang a bell. Since it now looks next to impossible for the Blazers to get full value in any trade with Miami (Heck the only player they have that comes close to Dame is Adebayo and that's due to potential not current stats. Butler makes zero sense as he is a year older than Lillard and scores ten points less per game). Damian could issue a statement something like this. "Since it is now clear that Miami is not willing to negotiate in good faith to make a trade happen, and since I do not wish to do anything to hurt the team I have helped build, I'm withdrawing my trade request and plan typo retire a Trail Blazer when my playing days are done. In the meantime, let's see if any other teams can run with us this season."
I used to follow the Blazers far more than I do now. They used to feel like a state team. The Trail Blazers kinda killed the feeling for me. I never really came back.
You are not alone.
Me Too!
Sometimes there's plenty of time between bites you know...
So wise.
"Blazers: I don't care". John, remind the owner and her mgmt team there are many of us who don't care because of her. I'd rather re read spring OSU football articles.........
Real fans care. They don't jump ship because they hate owners. Read up on the Harold Ballard years of the Toronto Maple Leafs... still the biggest fan base in the NHL.
Worse things? Passing on Michael Jordan was perhaps the worst move in NBA history. A fish stinks from the head and from the ownership on down the Blazers today are smelly.
I feel for the great Portland fans.
I think maybe Oden maybe pretty close
Most NBA observers see this draft as a huge success. How does this move result in ownership criticism. Ownership put Cronin in charge. He made the best move. Doesn't matter what ownership does they will be made the scapegoat - takes thick skin.
Yeah that
Don't know much about pro basketball, but trying hard to not be a wise A...
Loved your take on this one...
Thank you!
Anyone watch the post draft interviews? I love the hard hitting questions “What do you think about playing for Portland?” Do the reporters actually expect any other answer than “I’m thrilled?”
Those aren't my kind of news conferences.
What I find interesting is how in the course of a couple of decades a 'team' game became a 'me' game. All this talk about what is best for 'Dame' is exhausting. Lillard has carved out a legacy in Portland - the guy has given his all to the team and to our community. Why suddenly is winning a ring the more important thing? Stars trying to organize trades to better teams for the sake of winning a championship is not what sports are about. It started years ago of course and accelerated with the LeBron era of crafting super teams. Yawn. I'd rather have a superstar play his whole career with a team - win, lose or draw. I will have so much more respect for Damian if he sticks it out and tries to make 'his' team a winner. If he goes to Miami or wherever, I could care less if he 'joins' a winning team and gets a ring. I hope he stays.
I personally liked the draft pick...I hope Lillard stays and all works out but until Jody and Bert the Toad are gone I have no intention of renewing my season tickets
Blazers didnt draft Micheal Jordon …why? Because we had Clyde Drexler. Joe Cronin is exactly right “you draft the best player and figure it out” I’m glad someone learned that lesson
Wait a second. You think passing on Jordan was a good move. Hello!
he's saying Jordan was the best player, we learned, we took the best player this time
You're really not suggesting Drexler and Jordan couldn't co-exist, are you? Or, are you suggesting Drexler was better than Jordan?
YES! I was happy to hear that from him. Hopefully the Blazers have learned that lesson.
What I think is you draft the best player ….it doesnt matter who else is on the team. Lillard will probably end up playing with scoot…we didnt draft Jordon because we thought it would conflict with Drexler …they probably would have been great together, maybe scoot and Dame will too. Im glad we learned that lesson.
We need Blazer season ticket holders to take a stance like MLS LA Galaxy and force a sale to new caring ownership like Phil Knight to reignite fan interest and support for the team.
This is the same ownership group that traded their most popular football player in decades to Denver for a draft haul, yes? Jody ain't afraid to take the big swing. The Broncos believed they were one Russell Wilson away from a championship and overpaid. There's no doubt a team or two out there (Sacramento?) who believe they're one Damian Lillard away from a championship and will overpay too.
That’s a good point about the Seahawks and the RW trade, hadn’t even thought of that. A bit of a different situation, but has some similarities as well.
Least we didn't draft they kid who provided a gun used in a murder. That would have been classic Blazers. Cronin's comment about drafting the best player available and figuring it out gives me hope. Something past Blazer GMs clearly didn't understand. Drafting need/fit instead of top talent.
Blazers are headed for more irrelevance. Nothing to see here. Move on. When does football start?
Thanks John for pointing out that the franchise and fans come first ..Lillard has worked hard supported the community and has been handsomely compensated…he is an ambassador and role model. Everything he has aspired to be through his persona and work ethic. He is owed nothing that could possibly jeopardize the vision if the franchise. He knows that we all know that. I’m sure JC will assess when the time is right as after all this is business.
Bang on. I hope Damian decides to stay and try and make 'his' team into a winner rather than jump ship to join some team that is already great and get a ring as a sixth wheel. If he stays, his legacy will be as a winner. If he leaves to just get a ring, he will be a chump. I bet he stays.
Franchise and fans… will outlast any player
Obviously the blazers did the right thing. If Lillard moves on, Scoot will be forced to play more and improve quicker. It’s good Billips is a former point guard. He’ll teach the youngster the tips and trics, the nuances of the position.
I’d like to see them together for a bit.
John, it looks like you may get your wish. As the soap opera plays out, this comment from two weeks ago rang a bell. Since it now looks next to impossible for the Blazers to get full value in any trade with Miami (Heck the only player they have that comes close to Dame is Adebayo and that's due to potential not current stats. Butler makes zero sense as he is a year older than Lillard and scores ten points less per game). Damian could issue a statement something like this. "Since it is now clear that Miami is not willing to negotiate in good faith to make a trade happen, and since I do not wish to do anything to hurt the team I have helped build, I'm withdrawing my trade request and plan typo retire a Trail Blazer when my playing days are done. In the meantime, let's see if any other teams can run with us this season."
BRAYDON ROY, LILLARD ETC. THE BLASER'S HAVEN'T HAD A POINT GAURD THAT LIKES TO RUN AND NOT LET THE DEFENSE SET UP SINCE DARNEL VALENTINE?
The soap opera continues...