[Source](https://open.spotify.com/episode/1WpEEiFLqxU1EGBRCwSiyE?si=d6IYybLfRXq7lz6ali6z_w&t=900&context=spotify%3Ashow%3A7eZjcZwf6niRLweSzBCKHK)
>“I don’t think that the league’s statement changes the market [for Lillard]. I do think that the league’s statement potentially speeds it up a little bit in terms of “Okay, we [Miami] might need to get this going and get a real offer on the table. We might not be able to fleece the Portland Trail Blazers in the way that we hoped when Goodwin was pressuring the rest of the league,”
6 comments
We’ve no idea on what offer has been tabled and they won’t take whatever our max offer is anyway. A bit redundant
Here’s what I think:
The league wants this to be done before they finalize and release the schedule for 23-24 season, which usually happens around mid-August. Doesn’t mean the Blazers have to do it by then, but there’s that.
The league sending out the memo to all 30 teams basically saying “Lillard will comply and play for your team if he gets traded there” can only speed up the market, IMO. After this memo, all teams can now theoretically bid for Dame without being worried about possibility of Dame sitting out. If the market STILL stays the same and Miami still remains as the only bidder in the market, Portland might be more willing to trade Dame to Miami, or at least get engaged in conversations which they haven’t been willing to.
My prediction is Dame gets traded in August. Tim Reynolds pretty much predicted the same and said he expects the deal to be done before FIBA world cup starts in August 25th.
The NBA ain’t gonna do shit if there were better offers on the table Dame woulda been gone but so far its only us who’s been directly linked to the Blazers. You’re right I think this still works in our favor
I wonder if they would say this if Dame picked one of their favored Celtics, Sixers or Lakers instead of the Heat.
Maybe, I have read reports that teams weren’t concerned that Dame was going to sit if they traded for him.
I think if anything Portland can’t hide behind “Dame only wants Miami so we have no offers”. Now if no additional offers come in it’s on Cronin for not trying to get a deal done. He can’t blame Dame and his agent
WTF is a real offer, anyway?
They don’t want Herro and he would be the best player they’d be getting back, far better than anything they’re likely to get from us unless Jovic pans out. This includes JJJ and the FRPs we’d be sending out.
And if they’d accept Herro, JJJ, Jovic, and FRPs, I guarantee Dame would be in Miami right now. I know people here don’t want to believe it, but a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, and Riley ain’t gonna let it drag out this long for Jovic, JJJ, or FRPs. Jovic *may* develop into a good player, but Riley HAS to be in Win-Now mode, and a championship is worth it.