07-07-2021, 02:32 PM
(07-07-2021, 02:24 PM)mvossman Wrote: Dame can't force a trade to Dallas. He has 4 years left. Other teams will pay bigger packages for him than Dallas can and will not be concerned about his "demand". Toronto traded for one year of Kawhi when he clearly did not want to go there. I can't think of any scenario where Dame goes to Dallas.
Given how agent relationships with front offices drive a lot of the movement in the league, I think Dame absolutely can force a trade to wherever he wants to go.
If he said to POR, "listen I'm done here. I only want to go play with Luka (and Kawhi) please make it happen", odds are Portland will do everything they can to get the best deal from the Mavs and honor Dame's wishes.
Because if they didn't do that, then I can almost assure you Dame's agent will go to Olshey and say "if you don't honor this request, I will make sure none of my current or future clients will ever consider Portland as a destination in the future"
Further, the team that does try and trade for Dame who isn't on his list will be getting a disgruntled star that doesn't want to be there anyways. And isn't that the exact same situation POR is in right now? Why would any team want to take the risk and gut their assets for a guy that might force his way out as soon as he arrives?
Obviously all of this is contingent on Dame saying "trade me to the Mavs I only want to go there". I don't think he'll do that. But if he really wants to play with Luka (which is a very real possibility), then POR doesn't really have many options.
14x All-Star, 12x all-NBA, 1x MVP, 1x Finals MVP, 1 NBA Championship: Dirk Nowitzki, the man, the myth, the legend.