Dame Lillard "I'm too solid for this weird azz era"

Am I missing something? That’s a tweet from 4 years ago.

 

dame time machine

 

I understand your concerns about "media reports" being a biased and often one-sided source of information. But that's true of almost any situation, right? It's just not human nature to defer opinion until one has all the facts - if that were true, we'd never have an opinion on something that we didn't see ourselves.

As you note yourself, the question of consent for a woman who was apparently highly intoxicated is problematic - if that is true, she could not legally consent to any of the acts involved. Billups and Ron Mercer payed money in a settlement. The woman apparently had injuries consistent with her claims - which is rare, as often rape doesn't leave any sort of injury.

My overall view is that Billups was involved in a problematic incident, many years in the past. I don't think we have or will ever have all the facts. But I don't think people are forced to stick their heads in the sand and ignore that "something" happened. Mr. Billups gets to live with the nebulous situation being part of his story.

 

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/...stinations-for-blazers-superstar-point-guard/

Tier 8: Lillard probably wouldn't be interested
Lillard may not have much leverage, but if his goal is to contend, he'll do everything in his power to avoid these teams, most of whom would likely rather rebuild in peace anyway.

29. Cleveland Cavaliers
28. Detroit Pistons
27. Sacramento Kings
26. Orlando Magic
25. Houston Rockets
24. Washington Wizards
23. Indiana Pacers
22. San Antonio Spurs
21. Charlotte Hornets

Tier 7: Lillard probably wouldn't be interested, but could maybe be convinced
Lillard probably wouldn't want to play for these teams, but there are circumstances under which it becomes feasible.

20. Minnesota Timberwolves
19. Oklahoma City Thunder

Tier 6: Don't have the assets to trade for Lillard
These teams couldn't trade for Lillard if they tried… barring something unforeseen.

18. Brooklyn Nets
17. Utah Jazz
16. Chicago Bulls

Tier 5: Could probably make a Lillard trade, but don't want to
These teams lack the motivation to trade for Lillard.

15. Phoenix Suns
14. Atlanta Hawks
13. Denver Nuggets

Tier 4: They don't fit in any other tier
Let's call this team the most realistic long shot

12. Memphis Grizzlies

Tier 3: Would only have the assets if Lillard forced the issue
These are the teams that make the most sense for Lillard, but that he probably doesn't have the leverage to get to.

11. Milwaukee Bucks
10. Dallas Mavericks
9. Los Angeles Clippers
8. Los Angeles Lakers

Tier 2: Fringe contenders
If the top five teams pass, these teams are in the running.

7. Miami Heat
6. Boston Celtics

Tier 1: Genuine favorites
If Lillard is traded, these are the likeliest destinations.

5. Toronto Raptors If you're looking for a dark horse in the Lillard sweepstakes, it's Toronto. Masai Ujiri made a far riskier trade when he acquired Kawhi Leonard on an expiring contract. Now he has far more capital to work with. Theoretically, Toronto could build a deal without sacrificing any of its three core players: Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby. The No. 4 pick is a premium asset, something the Blazers could legitimately build around. Toronto owns all of its own first-round picks moving forward, so they could give Portland a huge picks-based offer. Matching salary is the real challenge, but the Raptors could get there by signing-and-trading Kyle Lowry to a third team while sending its mid-tier salaries (Aron Baynes, Chris Boucher and Rodney Hood) to the Blazers. If Portland wants youngsters like Malachi Flynn and Yuta Watanabe? They can have them as well.

This would be an untraditional setup for Lillard. He wouldn't have a typical co-star, but he'd have a nearly perfect setup beyond that. VanVleet, Siakam and Anunoby are all fringe All-Stars, but more importantly, they all defend at a very high level. Lillard knows Gary Trent Jr. well from their time in Portland, and small-ball units featuring those five players would likely thrive on both ends of the floor. The Raptors could use their mid-level exception to sign a big man and from there, they'd just have to fill out the bench with reasonable depth.

Is that team beating the Nets? Probably not, but the Raptors know firsthand how precarious super teams can be. They won their own championship with Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson sidelined. If you can bring yourself within one sprained ankle of the title, you do it. If this is on the table for the Raptors, they should go for it.

4. New York Knicks Constructing a package here isn't hard. The Knicks own all of their own first-round picks, plus two extras from Dallas. RJ Barrett is a possible star still playing out a rookie deal, and the Knicks have enough cap space to absorb Lillard outright, so this deal could have the added benefit of saving Portland cash. With Immanuel Quickley, Mitchell Robinson and Obi Toppin as possible throw-ins, the Knicks certainly have enough to make a deal… if they want to.

Whether or not they want to is the more interesting question here. Say the Knicks sell the farm for Lillard. Then what? What does a Lillard-Julius Randle tandem really accomplish without a dominant supporting cast? Probably not much. They could feasibly acquire Lillard on the hope that someone else follows given the appeal of the New York market, but there isn't an obvious third guy coming. Kawhi Leonard is the only superstar free agent this offseason, and he's expected to remain in Los Angeles.

In that sense, it might make more sense for the Knicks to hold off and wait until they have a clearer plan for building around a star addition. If, for instance, Leonard were to tell them "trade for Lillard and I'll sign here," then it would make sense to go all out for Lillard. Otherwise? The Knicks don't have to rush. They have a good thing going here. This is the Knicks we're talking about, though. History says that when they think they have a chance to add a star, they do it and ask questions later.

3. New Orleans Pelicans The Thunder can outbid anyone for the superstar du jour, but the Pelicans aren't far behind, and with Zion Williamson already looking like a star, they don't have to be patient if they don't want to. A Lillard-Williamson pick-and-roll would instantly become the most dangerous two-man game in basketball. Lillard uses screens so far from the basket that blitzing him would effectively become impossible. Williamson with a head of steam in a 4-on-3 would be un-guardable out of the short roll.

Portland could receive any sort of package it wants from the Pelicans. Want young players? Take some combination of Brandon Ingram, Jaxson Hayes, Kira Lewis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker or their restricted free agents (Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart). Picks more your speed? The Pelicans have 11 of them in the next seven drafts. Assuming Oklahoma City doesn't get involved, the Pelicans will start the bidding with the most to offer. The question is how much they're willing to give to pair their 20-year-old superstar with a teammate a decade older than him. If the Pelicans are concerned with keeping a coherent timeline, take them out of the hunt. If not? They're right in the thick of this.

2. Philadelphia 76ers Does Portland want Ben Simmons? If the answer is yes, there's a deal here. It might involve Tyrese Maxey, Matisse Thybulle and more picks, but there is a workable framework if Portland believes Simmons makes sense as their franchise player.

Houston preferred picks to Simmons. They were criticized for it at the time, but now? They've come out of the Harden deal looking very, very smart. Simmons might be a franchise player in the right framework, but does Portland want to overhaul its franchise to give it to him? That remains to be seen.

The Philly side of the equation is cleaner: if they can pair Lillard with Joel Embiid, they should do it. Having two of the best 11 players in basketball makes you an instant title contender, and while they'd be less talented than the Nets, they'd have one of the few players in basketball that poses real matchup issues for them in Embiid. None of this matters if Portland doesn't want Simmons, though, so if he's not their cup of tea, the 76ers tumble down this list immediately.

1. Golden State Warriors Who cares if Lillard and Stephen Curry would struggle defensively in the same backcourt? Irving and Harden are on the same team. The modern NBA has shifted so aggressively toward offense that a team with Lillard and Curry would need hardly anything on the other end of the floor to survive. That they'd have Draymond Green, a far better defender than anyone Brooklyn has or can reasonably acquire, would just be a bonus. Klay Thompson might be the third-best shooter on this team. Good luck tracking him, Curry and Lillard off of the ball at once while Green stands at the top of the key, just waiting for one of them to make it around a screen for yet another easy bucket.

James Wiseman isn't quite as valuable as he was a year ago, but he's still a former No. 2 overall pick. The No. 7 and 14 picks this year hold a fair bit of value to a rebuilding team, and Golden State can offer its own picks in 2026 and 2028 to the Blazers as well. If Golden State is built around four stars in their 30s, those picks suddenly look incredibly valuable.

Lillard is an Oakland native, but he's taken a backseat to Curry in the Bay Area for obvious reasons. There could be no more fitting end to his career than returning home and winning a title that would not only cement his legacy, but Curry's as well. There are teams that can offer Lillard a chance to win and there are teams that can offer Portland a worthwhile rebuilding package, but the Warriors are the team best-positioned to do both, and given his background, they are likely the realistic suitor Lillard is most likely to push for. This is an offensive match made in heaven, so to hell with any defensive concerns. If the Warriors can get Lillard, they should do everything possible to do so.

 

this stupid MFer still thinks harden's a defensive liability smh

 

This is pretty well said and closer to how I feel now that I've had more time to think about things. Me claiming that the only reason he walked was because he was an athlete with deep pockets was a pretty big stretch, although it may have factored in.

 

NOPE!

 

The injuries are consistent with her having sex , those injuries don't mean rape, this is the part I am talking about.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6474446/

Nobody is saying stick your head in the sand, you were drawing a conclusion based on "Facts" when we don't know all the facts.

When I was in college there were sisters that were known to engage in group activities, one of those situations got out of hand and a person or persons did not have consent and everybody was charged with rape not everybody was convicted.

My point being we don't know what exactly happened so let's not claim we are giving an opinion on the "Facts".

 

If I am Denver I am offering Murray Bol and 2 unprotected picks. Dame and Jokic two man game. How do you stop that in the end of games? Both are top 5 clutch players in the game. Both together good luck

 

Huge amounts of schadenfreude watching Portland and Dallas rn.

 

GS getting Dame for Wiseman and picks is all sorts of suck.

 

Look at the brightside, at least they will be aging and done by the time the Rockets are ready to compete again.

 

You mean in 2070 when the Tilman heirs have to sell the team?

 

I could see a potential implosion if that happens. Dame is all about his own stats imo and would cause massive disruption between that team. I don't think he could handle not being the man with his fake tough guy routine.

 

Get him on the Warriors. IDC. I just want Jalen Green on the Houston Rockets and by the time he hits his prime, these dudes are all going to be out of the league or on their way out.

 

Agreed. I couldn't care less about player movement over the next 2 seasons. The Rockets window will be closer to 2024 and onward anyways. If Golden State wants to shoot their shot now, let them. Give me Jalen Green or Evan Mobley, give me another high pick next season, then give me an off-season like Atlanta had, and I'll be ready to ride.

 

Lillard is really old now -- bro is on the wrong side of thirty.

 

I am unclear what "conclusion" you think I was drawing that was not based on "facts". Nor am I sure that anecdotal account from your college days adds to the situation.

I did read your article. I would point out that it's making comparisons of injury detection using modern, highly expensive techniques, that are much more likely to detect small injuries than what was available and in use back in 1997. I stand by my statement that, in my experience with many sexual assault cases over a long period of time, the actual detection of injuries has historically been rare.

That said, I don't disagree that the presence of injury only shows that injury occurred - it doesn't speak to whether the sexual act was consensual. That's true in standard assault cases too - the fact that the victim has an injury shows that they have an injury, not who caused it, or whether it was self-defense. In this case, the victim's injuries to her throat, cervix, rectum, and back were reported to be consistent with her story. It doesn't prove she was telling the truth, but it is at least corroborative. If she lacked those injuries, it would have cast doubt on the story.

 

You said you were drawing a conclusion from the facts available and I am saying those facts don't tell the complete story.

The story from my college days gives another way this incident could have went down and she might have consented with Billups but not the other guys.

Again my point is we don't have plenty of details yet you were ok in forming an opinion on just the things you read like the injuries.