On this episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Danny Marang is joined by Sean Highkin of Bleacher Report to break down the announced hiring of Chauncey Billups as the Trail Blazer's new Head Coach, the optics of the hire, the impact felt and voiced by the fanbase, what this means going forward with a lot of questions remaining to be asked at the press conference on Tuesday. Then it's Chris Haynes' tweet and proceeding article on Damian Lillard's unhappiness - and whether or not the clock has started on Lillard's remaining time in Portland, what the Blazers can do to head off a potential exit and then it's a look at Lillard in the Olympics with: Draymond Green, Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, Jayson Tatum, Bam Adebayo and others and if we could see some offseason maneuvering ahead of free agency - and if it came down to it, what could a potential offer for Damian Lillard look like? That and more on this episode!

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June 24, 2021

The Portland Trail Blazers season may be over, but Dave and Dia still have plenty to say about what's going on in the off season! Dia returns from her trip and re-joins Dave to discuss the search for a new head coach. The duo also talk about Ben Simmons and what that trade could mean. Also, our own Damian Lillard is going to the Olympics and we feel like proud parents. All of that and more on this episode of the Dave & Dia Podcast!

Podcast Music Credits

Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3

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On this week's edition of the Blazer's Edge podcast Mail Bag, host Danny Marang takes a look at a host of different questions; what does the Blazer's coaching time line look like, did Rick Carlisle of the Dallas Mavericks resigning change anything up, thoughts on a bench group next year based on internal growth from Anfernee Simons, Nas Little, Zach Collins, Derrick Jones Jr and a veteran point guard, did complacency settle in for this version of the Blazers, likelihood that the Blazers run it back with the same core group and of course whether or not Ben Simmons is available - should the Blazers go after him - and what would a trade possibly look like for both parties?

If the Blazers were able to swing a CJ plus trade for Simmons. 1. Would the Blazers have the pieces for a trade for Myles Turner from the Pacers? 2. What would that look like? 3. Would that be a good follow up move to provide shooting and spacing?

Flatcap Goalkeeper

@FlatcapGK

Has the Dallas and other coaching news affected the timeline for the Blazers coaching hire process? What is the latest they can reasonably wait until they need this sorted? #ripcity

@Ballas_Info

and @blazersedge

Any thoughts on the bench for next year? Could a group of Ant, Nas, DJJ, Collins and a new, pass-happy, up-tempo point be sneaky good?

Jeremy Krecklow

@StryfeE

If you could have your choice of the lot what is the order you put these guys in, in terms of want, fit and probability. Simmons seems the most portable now after this last series. Which is crazy to think about going to the playoffs.

Simmons

Middleton

George

Harris

Butler

Sabonis

Colin Petitt

So if Portland truly is able to pick up Simmons do you think they’d have to move Nurkic to better maximize him? Feels like a floor spacing big would be needed (I like Portis with the TPME). In this case what would Nurkic’s value be?

Bark City BBQ

@barkcitybbq

Not sure on the coach!

Free agency- get better! I don’t care who’s on the team! - just win!

Pork ribs and brisket!

Simmons is way better on defense! We can’t have two bad defenders in our backcourt!

n8 

@n8frogdog

Ben Simmons. Is his defense and distribution/facilitation enough to offset a player of that caliber not being able to be counted on in crunch time to make shots? Love the defense and length, but do we have or need to add more complimentary pieces to have everything fit?

Joel, just Joel

@mryoelius

CJ spoke about successfully reaching playoffs since being in Portland... Is there a complacency in this team?

Burnsy (he/him)

@JustinTheBurns

I don’t get Simmons as a buy-low. He may not be playing great but all the reasons you say he’s a tremendous pickup for POR is exactly why PHI keeps him AND they’re on the cusp of the eastern conference finals. What’s their motivation other that drastic overpay by POR?

wayne hughes

@readingthewater

Is there really a chance of no changes on this current roster? I hope Neil can pull of some big moves. His working around the fringes has not worked!!

Sam

@pamsierce

If we pick up Ben Simmons do we need to hunt after a Myles turner esque player to help space the floor? I feel like the Dame+Simmons pnr would be unstoppable with the floor spaced properly

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NBA expert Caitlin Cooper joins the podcast to talk about the Pacers and Blazers, former Head Coach Terry Stotts, Kevin Pritchard and Nate McMillan, possible trades, and the national perception of Portland.

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On this episode of the Blazer's Edge Podcast, Danny Marang tackles your Mail Bag questions; theory-crafting about building around Damian Lillard, David Vanterpool not being in the coaching mix, will Derrick Jones Jr opt into his deal or be traded, what would it take to get Myles Turner & TJ Warren in Portland, most likely at this point to be named the next Blazer's head coach, if you had to keep one Carmelo Anthony or Enes Kanter who do you keep, some realistic free agents, and Jusuf Nurkic's trade value. That and more on this week's show!

ashley

@baguels

a basic but also fundamental question: when thinking about trades, what player skills would be an asset to dame/the team? 

as i sadly watch the rest of the playoffs im tryina learn more from other players and envision how they'd complement dame.

David West

@dwest_70

Why aren’t we hearing David Vanterpool’s name more often in the who’s the next coach convo? 

Close with Dame, from what I read league execs think he’s ready, 

and if we’d really choose Billups then previous head coaching experience isn’t actually necessary.

Bruce Ceaser-Bennett

@cease25

Will we trade DJJ or let the new coach figure out his role?

Joel, just Joel

@mryoelius

May have missed the boat here. 

Would you say height on the front court is important to address this off season?

CDM81

@CDM811

How much would it take to pull TJ warren and Miles Turner to Portland?

Nason

@TheNason

Did you have any idea before hand that the last Blazers Outsiders 

was going to be the last one, and any chance of the show, 

or one remarkably similar, migrates to that lesser network?

Triple Dog

@EricJAlso

Of those on the coach lists: do you have a ranking 

of most likely to happen and who you would like to be hired

Jesus Gomez

@pianomaster00

If you had to keep one, who would you keep: Melo or Enes?

 And, who would you pair them with (either an existing player on the roster, a trade, or a signing).

harry

@whiteguilt48

Best possible, and, most importantly, realistic, free agent signings?

creedence

@creedence26

What is nurk's trade value?

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June 9, 2021

It's been a busy week for the Portland Trail Blazers, although busy doesn't always equal good. The team made an early exit in game 6 of the first round against the Denver Nuggets, and it's felt a little bit like chaos since. Coach Stotts has been fired, players are upset, and then there was that Neil Olshey press conference. Dave and Dia talk about all of that, plus the rumors surrounding the Head Coach position. Then Dia gets very personal and candid about how her own life experience affects the way she looks at the rumored potential coaches and Dave adds his perspective as well.

Podcast Music Credits

Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3

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On a rapid reaction version of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Danny Marang takes a look at the late breaking news that Terry Stotts has been fired as Head Coach of the Portland Trail Blazers. Soon thereafter a chain of leaked reports to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes laid the groundwork for a public discussion as to who would step into Stotts' vacated place heading into the 2021-22 NBA season. The original list supplied by Woj, Chauncey Billups, Mike D'Antoni, Jeff Van Gundy and Juwan Howard conflicted slightly with the a statement tied directly to Damian Lillard from Haynes indicating that Jason Kidd was his first choice only to be followed by another report, this time from Jason Quick and Shams Charania that Lillard would prefer either Kidd or Billups and well that was only a few hours into the evening... with what is shaping up to be a very different offseason than any other in the Lillard era, we dive into the initial reports - the who, what, when, where and why - and why not's associated with these breaking reports.

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June 2, 2021

The Trail Blazers are 5 games into the first round of the playoffs and the Nuggets lead the series 3-2. The team has had ups and downs, and the Blazers just keep fighting. Dave and Dia talk about game 5 and Damian Lillard almost single-handedly taking the team into double overtime. They chat about Dame's newest broken records and the completely out of control fans that have seemingly taken over. All of this and more in episode 29.

Podcast Music Credits

Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3

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On this week’s episode of the Blazer’s Edge pod, host Danny Marang answers your questions as Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers get ready to take on Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets in an all important Game 5 match up. Should the Blazers fear Lebron James and the Los Angeles Lakers more than Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns? How important is Jusuf Nurkic? Will the bench rotation look different? Will Michael Porter Jr be able to “impose his will”? Did the Blazers make the right adjustments or was it just on game? That and more on this week’s episode!

Tye Forshee

@tyefor

It seems like every outcome has been based on how Nurk plays defensively and how long he can stay on the floor. Also seems like the Blazers need to find more stability off the bench vs Nuggets bench in order to win the series. With RHJ and Cov, the offense dropped significantly.

Grant

@grantmoen0

If Nurkic fouls out or in any other small ball situation, do you think there is/should be any debate between Rondae and DJ?

Ryan Behnke

@wakethomas13

Why don’t DJJ and Nassir get at least a little bit of run? Running the starters this many minutes cannot equate to a long playoff run. They’ll be gassed in round 2 if they advance

mylogos

@loganakio

How was it that our guards seemed completely competent on D in game 4? 

Was it effort or a scheme change?

Portland Hoops

@pnwsports503

What do you make of Dame’s having a playoff best overall RAPTOR and RAPTOR WAR? How are his defensive numbers so high? Don’t say small sample size!

TheRealDanMan

@Real_DanMan

Is Nurk the only Blazer who can efficiently guard Jokic? Also, without Jamal Murray do you think Jokic will tire out too quickly to win the series?

D 

@paint_sign_play

Were the game 4 adjustments THE answer or just enough of a boost to get one game?

Slater Smith

@slaterjsmith

Getting a bit ahead of myself... but if we make it out of this round, do we prefer a matchup against the Suns or the Lakers?

Jason -AP & GbyePlanetPat

@NoochIsBest

I guess reference how MPJ said he’ll “Impose his will” on next game.

Kjironman1

@kjironman1

Dan get an update on Zach if you can.

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May 26, 2021

The Trail Blazers are two games into round one of the playoffs against the Denver Nuggets. Currently each team has won one game, and the series continues in Portland at the Moda Center. Dave and Dia talk about the first two games-- one win and one loss. They break down what worked and what didn't, and looked forward to game three. They also discussed Moda Center welcoming more fans, Terry Stott's facial expressions, out of control Nuggets fans and more!

Podcast Music Credits

Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3

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