While Damian Lillard‘s 2019 playoff run came to an end on Monday night, his contract with the Trail Blazers is expected to be extended this offseason, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. Haynes reports that Lillard and the Blazers will likely agree to terms on a super-max extension this summer after the point guard becomes eligible.
Lillard would gain eligibility for a Designated Veteran Extension – known colloquially as the super-max – if he earns a spot on one of the All-NBA teams for the 2018/19 season, which is viewed as a lock.
Portland’s All-Star point guard still has two years left on his contract, but a super-max extension could tack on four more years to that deal, locking him up through the 2024/25 season.
Lillard is owed $29.8MM in 2019/10 and $31.6MM in 2020/21, and those figures would remain unchanged if the two sides reach a new agreement. The extension, which would have a starting salary worth 35% of the cap, would begin in 2021/22. While the exact value of that four-year deal isn’t yet known, the current estimate based on the league’s future cap projections is about $191MM, as Haynes notes.
Since Lillard will turn 29 this July, his four-year extension would cover his age 31-to-34 seasons. As we’ve seen with the Wizards and John Wall, it would be a risk for the Blazers to make such a significant investment two years before the deal goes into effect. But the team appears ready to make that commitment to one of the best players in franchise history.
Citing rival executives, Haynes writes that there’s a belief Lillard will get a player option on his new extension, which he bypassed last time he negotiated a new contract with the Blazers.
A seven-year veteran, Lillard is coming off one of his best seasons as a pro, having averaged 25.8 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and a career-high 6.9 APG in 80 games for Portland. He also produced one of the most memorable moments in the postseason, when he eliminated the Thunder from the first round with a 37-foot buzzer beater, then waved goodbye to their bench after the shot dropped.
Doesn’t seem like the smartest move. Not saying he’s not worth it but, why not take the wait and see approach to make sure he doesn’t suffer a Derrick Rose or John Wall type injury. Just doesn’t seem to make a whole lot of financial sense right now.
Agreed.
Hes also no either of those type of players….have you even seen him play? Uses p and rs relys on footwork to create space to shoot over defense. He doesnt blow by people for monster dunks
I understand Portland doing it but there’s too much risk and I wouldn’t. He’s a great player that could bring numerous assets and that’s the path I would pursue. Cap flexibility and young assets/picks. JMHO
Why would you trade a all nba guard that has continually said he wants to stay with your franchise and just got you to the conference finals?
Lillard has sweepinitis every playoff run, if they are going to keep him sign Carmelo Anthony at least. He would give them a legitimate 3rd scoring option.
Um, no. Carmelo is a negative player now.
If anything you dump cj mccolum for assets, guy is a terrible defender. Having both of them makes the team defense have to be top notch for them to win. They need a stretch big like an embiid to space floor, maybe cj for embiid?
Embiid is the franchise player in Philadelphia so they wouldn’t do that. However it wouldn’t be worth it for Portland anyway, guy plays like half the games at best.
That kind of $$ to ANY one Palmer is insane. Pro sports is out of control.
True. Since Arnold Palmer passed away and Carson Palmer retired, none of the rest have been worth much at all.
Don’t forget Jim Palmer too
Big mistake, just blow it up and let Anfernee Simons take over.
The super max was intended to prevent players like Lillard from leaving. But this is the reality. Guys who would have gladly re-upped at the regular max (since he’s happy there and they could still pay him more for longer than any other team) are getting even more and even longer. Guys who want to leave, still leave. It was proposed and fought for by the small market owners, of all people.
We saw glimpses of Lillard’s future self in the playoffs, as he was hurt and not quite at 100%. That guy – the guy who played good but not great – isn’t a supermax player.
These contracts are going to wreak havoc on the league, unless the cap continues to grow quickly. There isn’t one supermax deal that will be worth paying in the last two seasons. All that “supermax”means is that good young players get less so former all-stars can get more.
Teams can always go over the cap to retain their own good young players.
With a stretched out budget that holds them hostage. The super max is a bust, it isn’t effective at keeping super stars in small markets if they want to leave, so delete that cap abusing rule right away.
Good grief pass on that, at least for now.
I assume the readiness to sign for that long a term is to lock up a key asset to encourage a buyer for the franchise. But it’s not a good basketball move.
And yes he is to blame for the sweep. If his shot is off let Mccollum or Hood shoot. Jeff Vangundy kept advising to go Mccollum during their typical hero-ball finale, so it’s not just me. Lillard was not up to it. Where was HC Stotts.