(Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
Now that Damian Lillard is gone, fans are judging the performance of Portland Trail Blazers GM Joe Cronin during the entire trade process.
Some people feel that he didn’t do well enough while others believe that he did his best in a bad situation.
Adrian Wojnarowski, via ClutchPoints, has revealed the message that Cronin told himself during the lengthy saga to trade Lillard.
“Eliminate the emotion, the frustration, the fatigue. And most of all, Cronin implored himself: Don’t settle. Don’t let yourself settle,” was apparently the mantra that Cronin repeated since July.
Blazers GM Joe Cronin’s message to himself during the Damian Lillard trade negotiations:
“Eliminate the emotion, the frustration, the fatigue. And most of all, Cronin implored himself: Don’t settle. Don’t let yourself settle.”
(via @wojespn) pic.twitter.com/vOIWevromj
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 30, 2023
That’s sound advice considering emotions were surely very high in the beginning.
Lillard was the most important part of the Blazers for the last 11 years and losing him was a major blow to the heart and soul of the team.
On top of what he did for the team’s chemistry and culture, he was also the best player.
To many, he is one of the top-ten guards in the league.
Therefore, Cronin wanted to get a lot in return for Lillard and he wouldn’t settle for anything that didn’t set the Blazers up for success in the future.
To do this, he would have to separate himself from emotions, both good and bad.
He couldn’t go out of his way to give Lillard a bad deal because he was hurt but he also couldn’t accept something unfavorable for his team just to give Lillard what he wanted.
There are still some who say Cronin was too emotional during the trading process.
They claim he should have taken a deal with the Miami Heat in the beginning.
It was a tricky spot for him.
He was attempting to walk a very thin line and do what was right for his team.
The post Insider Reveals Blazers GM’s Approach To Damian Lillard Trade appeared first on The Cold Wire.