A possible best-case scenario for the Blazers?
I should preface all of this by saying that I can’t put myself in the head of Blazers general manager Joe Cronin. Who knows what he or the decision-makers are thinking or hoping for? However, with how all of this has progressed (or hasn’t progressed), you’d have to imagine that the Blazers are either hoping Lillard backtracks on his trade demand and he’ll play next to Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, and the rest of this young core.
That would probably be viewed as a win-win for all parties. Cronin would be applauded for his role in all this while salvaging a situation that involves a disgruntled star, the likes of which that we simply haven’t seen in a very long time.
At this point either that or getting another team to enter the bidding war for Lillard to offer significantly more than the Heat is; but we all know that isn’t happening and the longer he drags this out, the less likely that becomes. With every day that passes, Lillard’s trade value decreases.
If I had to bet, Cronin is hoping that Lillard rescinds his trade demand. And that is the only explanation for Portland holding out on negotiating with the Heat.