Was Blazer GM Telling Dame Lillard the Truth?

 It is my belief that the Portland Trailblazer's General Mgr. Joe Cronin was lying to Damian Lillard. He had no intention of building around Lillard, That was made very clear to me when after drafting Scoot Henderson, he didn't instantly try to trade him for veteran players to help Damian achieve his goal to legitimately compete for a ring. (There are plenty of teams in desperate need of a poing guard od Scoots caliber/potential. Scoot was the only asset for which Cronin had a chance to find the value he needed to convince Damian he spoke the truth instead of speaking out of the wrong side of his mouth and waiting for Damian to realize that he was stalling. Frightened, probably to take responsibility for initiating the trade  of  one of Portland's beloved sports figures.  Lillard deserved better. Let's see if Cronin can do the right thing now and find a place for Damian on a contender. It can be done, if Cronin really cares. 

A few comments about free agency. There are a lot of new multi-millionaires today. Good for them. It's going to be interesting to see what the Rockets do now that they have VanVleet as their point guard. I was happy to see Draymond did not depart and the Warriors resigned him. He got stability with a 4 year contract, and the Warriors got a financial savings to help them avoid the punitive new CBA rules. Some folks I know who hated Draymond's "Punch" asked me why not trade him? My answer to that is it would be like a wheel trying to turn without a hub. All in all bringing in Chris Paul and moving Jordan Poole to the Wiz where he can start over is best for Jordan while Paul will be best for the Warriors. People are asking how does a pick and roll expert like Paul fit into the motion offense that the Warriors run. Don't worry. Coach Kerr is smart. Paul has a high basketball IQ. They'll figure it out much to the amazement and regret of the rest of the league. I'm also getting my head around the Warriors' two draft choices and liking the choices much better. My old team has not finished filling out their roster, so more on the Warriors to come.  

I think the Boston Celtics will regret trading Marcus Smart. I think the Grizzlies improved their team greatly by acquiring Smart. Brooks is gone and Steven Adams will be back, so now the Griz will have two adults in the room to tone down the Ja Morant weirdness when he returns. Smart is the kind of tough and honest dude who I believe might be able to influence Ja, show the kid (for truly Ja is still a kid)  how to be a real pro.

Are the Celtics a better team with Porzingis? Only if he can stay healthy and have the same year he had last year with the Wizards. If so, it's not going to be easy beating Boston in the paint.   

The Lakers helped themselves by obtaining Gabe Vincent. They better hustle and sign Reeves. There is still an AD problem to figure out, or a problem with energy and toughness AD himself needs to figure out. He's like a part of his core game is missing, but it is essential. 

What's happening with Hardin? Only the Gods know. No loyalty on his part and not on GM Morey's part either. Hardin took less money last year with the expectation he'd be rewarded this season. Not happening. Perhaps here's the opportunity for a three way trade of some kind to bring Damian Lillard to the 76ers. Just thinking. 

Does the Beale trade make sense for the Suns? Absolutely. They gave up nothing and got one heck of a basketball player with a high IQ in return. I don't like their bench, but they have the rest of the summer to figure out how to find solid vets to fill in around the core of Booker, Beale, KD and Ayton. I've heard a lot of grumbling about Ayton, but he's still young and still 7 feet and can still rim run and block shots. Does he really have to do more with the other three around? Let's all cross our fingers KD stays healthy. 

Do I really care about Kyrie? Not a wink of sleep will I lose over the fate of that Knucklehead. And as the old cliche goes, Leopards don't change their spots, I predict that Kyrie will do something stupid this coming season. I do believe that the Mavericks may have finally found their center. And I applaud them for bringing back Seth Curry. The more space they can create for Doncic the better. Seth can shoot the three.  

Denver lost Brown. They'll miss him. The Pacers will love him. Brown is a hooper. I wouldn't be surprised if Donte DiVincenzo winds up back with the Bucks. They resigned Middleton and now must,  MUST, sign  Lopez. And Giannis MUST spend all summer perfecting his mid-range jumper. 

That's all dear readers, for the moment. Lot's of trades and deals to come I'm sure. Congrats to the Warriors' nee GM, Donleavy. He's stepping into some big shoes. So with Myers on my mind, I offer a poem I wrote for him after he departed.

THE GROUT IN THE WARRIORS’ MOSAIC

              for Bob Myers, GM of the Golden State Warriors

 

It's impossible when reading this 

Not to see the function of the man as glue.
Or see that, were it not for him,
Each tile would find it’s way to waywardness.
 
I’ve been a Warrior and a Warrior fan
And know the function of each player
On a team, to a man, must stick together.
It’s how a team succeeds, how teams win.
 
It’s like the writer says, mosaic,
On their own, as a wall, or ceiling
Beaufiful as they are, can not survive
a season. They need grout applied
 
by a steady hand. The craftsman
but much more, an artisan who sees
an angle butts well against the square,
the square against the trapezoid.
 
And when fit together into a portrait
Or a landscape or in the case, less anyone,
Not recognize the subject of this poem,
Bob Myers, stands back and observes
With satisfaction of a job well done.