Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard intends to seek a maximum contract extension from the team this offseason, Shams Charania of RealGM reports. The 6’3″ point guard is looking to secure a five year deal with the team, Charania adds. According to Charania’s sources, Lillard has no plans to consider agreeing to an extension for less than the designated maximum, and would have no inclination to do so considering the anticipated rise in the salary cap in 2016.
In his exit interview earlier today, Lillard told reporters he’s confident that he and the team would be able to come to terms on an extension, and that he has no desire to leave Portland any time soon, Charania adds. “For me, this is where I want to be,” Lillard said. “So whatever we need to do to make that happen and figure that out, then that’s what I’m going to do,” Mike Tokito of The Oregonian relays. The team intends to first focus its efforts on re-signing unrestricted free agents LaMarcus Aldridge and Wesley Matthews, the RealGM scribe notes, but Portland is expected to begin talks with Lillard shortly after those players’ situations are resolved.
Lillard, 24, was the No. 6 overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft. He has appeared in a total of 246 games for Portland since entering the league, all as a starter. Lillard’s career averages are 20.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 6.2 assists. His career shooting percentages are .429/.368/.861. The former Weber State star has been remarkably healthy thus far in his career, having never missed a game since entering the league.