Portland’s not talking. The “Heat” are to make their “best offer” and Joe Cronin, the Great Sphinx of the Northwest, will get back to ya’. Reportedly, Miami offered Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson and draft picks. Reportedly, the Sphinx didn't want Tyler. But he won’t tell them who he does want. Reportedly, he wants two "quality" players plus four first round draft picks. The "Heat" have three and could get a fourth in a side deal. But if the "Heat" traded a player to another team and got a fourth pick it might be for naught for the lack of two players who meet the Sphinx' "quality" standard. The Sphinx won't define "quality". The “Heat” reportedly are “frustrated”. Understandably.
One proposed explanation for this Sphinx-like non-negotiation strategy is that Cronin is hoping DaMIAMIan changes his mind and stays in the land of algae. That would be pressing on their one pressure point hard. The thinking would be: 1) Dame is such a solid citizen that if he was forced to stay, he would play and give it his all. 2) Contrary-wise, Dame is too self-interested to sit out and forgo his $42M salary. 3) Portland wants to pay Dame the $215M left on his contract.
Maybe it’s 50-50 on No. 1. Maybe it’s 80-20 on No. 2. I would think it’s 10-90 on No. 3, though. Maybe that’s where "Blazers" (and Seattle "Seahawks") owner Jody Allen, sister of the late Paul Allen, steps in. Or maybe not. $215M isn't what it used to be!, especially since the Paul G. Allen Trust, of which Jody is chair, has got more money than God.
But why would Jody want the Sphinx to torch $215M? Cronin unmistakably is moving on from the Damian Lillard Era. His last two first round draft picks were used on players (who Jody also has to pay) who play Dame's position. They were not complimentary pieces, they were replacement pieces. And Cronin did nothing in the trade market to help the "Blazers" get better around Lillard. If Jody asked Joe, "What's the thinking here?", No.'s 1-3 above would not cut it! But the Sphinx does not talk.
