This man is Joe Cronin.
Portland Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin said at a press conference Monday afternoon at the Thomas & Mack Center that the franchise needs to put the team in the best position possible, so Damian Lillard The trade could take “several months,” he said.
Cronin said the last time he spoke to Lillard was July 1, when Dame made the trade request.
4 years and over $200 million Lillard, who remains on contract after signing a two-year extension with the Trail Blazers last summer, has made it clear he wants to play for the Miami Heat. that’s all miami heat There, he would quickly form the big three Eastern Conference contenders alongside Lillard, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.
Cronin said no suitable deal has been found for Portland at this time.
Read Cronin’s full statement regarding Damian Lillard below.
Joe Cronin said he hadn’t spoken to Damian Lillard since the trade request and that there had been no meaningful moves in trade talks.
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) July 10, 2023
Joe Cronin: “Even throughout the draft, it was always the goal to build around the dame. The difficulty we faced was finding the right trades. I kept searching the market, but I couldn’t find those players at all.”
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) July 10, 2023
Joe Cronin: “I can understand why Dame would look at it and why this is not a chance to win right now. From that perspective, I understand and respect that.”
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) July 10, 2023
Joe Cronin: “With any deal, the goal is to get the best results. Maybe you’ll be the player who wins more now. It could be a young player and a pick. It could just be a pick. Set No parameters.”
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) July 10, 2023
Blazers general manager Joe Cronin said of Damian Lillard’s trade request to the Heat, “As a team, we always want more options. I can’t say, but you probably won’t get the maximum benefit.”
— Anthony Chan (@Anthony_Chiang) July 10, 2023
Joe Cronin: “What about the rest?” [Dame]His career seems important to us. At the same time, we have to find the right deals and do what is best for us. “
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) July 10, 2023
Joe Cronin: “We will wait patiently. It will take months if it takes months.”
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) July 10, 2023
Joe Cronin: “What I’m saying about Shadon, Scoot and Anphanie is that they’re going to be ‘quick win’ guys very soon.”
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) July 10, 2023
Joe Cronin: “I don’t feel like I’ve done everything I could because I didn’t finish what I was supposed to do. In that sense, I feel like I failed. Our goal was to win as soon as possible.” If he didn’t feel that way, it was my fault.
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) July 10, 2023
You can watch the full Cronin press conference here.
What you are witnessing here is nothing more than a violent clash between Damian Lillard and Joe Cronin.
Remember the report from the other day? Damien won’t go to training camp unless he’s traded to the Miami Heat, and I’d bet at this point that that includes the Portland Trail Blazers. All he did was pull Kawhi Leonard. he didn’t play He was with the San Antonio Spurs before he was traded. If Cronin wants to incorporate this into the new season, Dame will just have to do the same.
That’s the question… is Portland willing to take that risk? (Related: Hilarious! MLB Draft Commissioner Rob Manfred Gets Relentlessly Booed and Heard Hearing)
Not only would that be a reputational dent for Portland that would take years to recover from, but Damien’s lack of play would also erode his trade value. Miami could easily play from that angle, and at this point Lillard clearly doesn’t mind being a villain to get all this done – and that’s easy.
I call the Blazers bluffing.
Like I said…
Damian Lillard’s deal with the Miami Heat is done.
(Like this tweet when the news is announced)
— Andrew Powell (@AndrewPowellDC) July 6, 2023
Damian Lillard Will Be The Miami Heat – 100% Guaranteed.
