>Maintaining a reputation of "if you play well for us, you're
>set for life" is really the only way Portland will *ever* get
>their best draft picks to stay with them long-term. That sense
>of reputation and loyalty. It's legit the only card a small
>market team can play.

Who has that worked out well for?

>So in *that* regard, outside of the hypothetical bubble, this
>is really the only business move Portland could make. Because
>making Dame feel unappreciated and having him walk at age 31
>not only loses you maybe a couple of years of potential
>top-shelf Dame play, it probably *also* loses you future
>players down the line who may not trust that Portland would
>take care of them.

You don't let him walk at 31, you trade him for young players/draft picks.

>Dame didn't *have* to sign that max with Portland-- he
>could've tried free agency and tried places like
>LA/NY/Boston/etc-- but he did, he balled out, and now he's
>rewarded with a major contract for life in Portland. The
>agents of future stars who go to Portland note this kind of
>shit.

This is the modern NBA, that "loyalty" shit is out the window on both sides. Players want to get to where they can win and get the most money while doing it.