Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports argued in an opinion column on Friday that the Trail Blazers‘ front office ought to be taking a more aggressive approach in trying to acquire a second star to pair with Damian Lillard, taking advantage of the perennial All-Star’s prime years before the team’s window of contention closes.
Asked on Friday night about that piece, Lillard acknowledged that some things Haynes wrote were true, including the fact that this has been his most frustrating season, in large part due to a series of nagging injuries. However, he made it clear that it doesn’t mean he shares all the views conveyed in the column (video link via Casey Holdahl).
“I took it for what it was,” Lillard said. “That’s his thoughts.”
As I noted yesterday, Haynes and Lillard have a long-standing relationship, which added an extra level of intrigue to the story. It was fair to wonder – given the connection between the two – if Haynes’ comments questioning Portland’s moves and suggesting that Lillard’s loyalty wasn’t being rewarded were things the Blazers’ star was feeling. But Lillard wanted to shut down that line of thinking.
“I was kind of — what word should I use — not irritated with him because he’s a writer, that’s what he does, so I can’t expect him to not do his job,” Lillard said. “But I know because of our relationship that people would assume that I was tied to the story. So I think that was the only thing that bothered me about it.”
While Lillard attempted to distance himself from the story, the fact that he didn’t denounce it in stronger terms may fuel speculation about his future in Portland. But he’s under contract through at least 2024 and has long conveyed a desire to finish his career with the franchise, so he’s almost certainly not going anywhere anytime soon.
Still, the Blazers’ front office will likely feel a little added pressure to make organizational changes this offseason, perhaps to both the roster and the coaching staff, especially if the team experiences an early playoff exit.
Whether or not Lillard actively pushes for changes to the roster, it’s a safe bet that team president of basketball operations Neil Olshey will get his star guard’s two cents before doing anything drastic.
“I lean on the fact that me and Neil, if we have a conversation, I know that I can go into his office and tell him whatever I think,” Lillard told reporters on Friday. “And we’ve had those conversations. Same with (head coach) Terry (Stotts).”
Lol the time to worry about actually contending and Lillards window was 10 years ago. At this point they are just a rebuilding team that happens to have Damian Lillard.
Dame was still in college 10 years ago.
Rebuilding? If this team is 100% healthy they are competing in the West, but unfortunately I don’t know that they will ever be able to stay healthy
You don’t get a trophy for competing though.
Lillard is only 30. He works out and super active athlete. If curry can do it at 33 Lillard still has a 5 years left as a top player. If they are healthy they are a top team in the NBA.
Curry had teammates who were also good.
Lillard is excellent. The problem is no one else on the team is. And it will take them years to fix that.
Blazers have a solid team, problem is the West is stacked with powerhouses like Clippers/Lakers and Utah/Suns/Denver made some small moves but its gotten them better in a short time
Absolutely, his window to take Weber State deep in the tourney was 10 years ago. And sadly that has closed.
No way, Lillard was a late bloomer. He’s under the radar been a top 10 player in the league for a few years, one of the few guys who can pretty much single-handedly guarantee a playoff spot in the West by himself.
Barring injury I’d say he has anywhere from 2-5 more prime seasons. Part of the issue is Lillard hasn’t played the “game” of recruiting/texting/frolicking with other star players and creating so-called super-teams. Maybe this is a sign that he’s willing to give in and team up with another superstar (no offense to McCollum).
But if Portland could turn Nurkic/McCollum/stuff into a legit second guy there’s no reason Lillard couldn’t get a ring before 2025 as the main guy.
move Stotts first then CJ
Trade the coach, always a great idea…..
What is Lillard supposed to say here? He’s a professional.
Dame for Middleton, DiVincenzo, and whatever draft capital MIL has left.
Haha
Ok…throw in Coach Bud as well.
Like the idea but I think MIL lost the chance when they sent all their picks to NO. If they still had those picks that would be an interesting offer tho.
I just don’t understand why they didn’t keep the same team that made it to the WCF(in 2019).
Three team deal:
Portland: Brandon Ingram, Steven Adams and Josh Hart.
Pelicans: CJ McCollum, Jusuf Nurkic, Derrick Jones Jr and a first round pick
Portland build for the future, get Dame an all star sidekick and heavily improve the defence.
New Orleans upgrade its two weakest areas at SG and C while clearing Steven Adams contract.
Portland line up
Dame Powell Ingram Covington Adams
Simons Hart little Melo Kanter
New Orleans line up
Lonzo McCollum DJJ Zion Nurkic
Bledsloe NAW Iwundu Johnson Hayes
Lewis Hernagomez
Portland would be hard to match up against win Dame on the outside, Ingram with his size and skill, Powell is a shooter, Covington spacing and Adams setting hard screens. Defensively Ingram Covington and Adams would do well. Adams and Kanter would be tough on the inside. Josh Hart would be nice off the bench as would Melo offensively.
Doesn’t a three team team usually have…you know…three teams in it?
Well that was the original idea but he has fallen out of practice.
Don’t you get it man?—Silli is writing from a contiguous universe where Portland exists in two independent dimensions at once.
Can’t wait to see if they can win back to back rings in the same season with this lineup.
Why would Pelicans say yes? Trade an all star to get Steven Adams off the books?
And if Ingram is already unhappy being 2nd in charge why would he go to the same situation with Dame? Not a good trade.
Pelicans get fleeced. CJ might be a bit better than Ingram, but Adams is better than Nurkic and Hart > Jones, and they lose a pick?!
Seems like that previous article was a call to trade Mccollum, not Lilliard. But Lilliard was asked (albeit during a presser). Seems like another slap at Mccollum. His comments would be more interesting… that could still appear soon.
Reminds me I used to be all over CJM getting himself out of there… but he got offered a huge contract and so essentially pinned himself down there, ironically like KLove & CLE, whom often got mentioned for a trade.
CJ & Dame have struck me for a while as two players who would be best served in separate lineups. Portland’s been making these marginal moves for a few seasons now, without addressing the elephant in the room.
It will be interesting to see—if this is a call to trade CJM—if Portland will be able to get a return that actually catapults them into contention. And if they don’t think they can get that offer does Lillard then get put on the block?
(Can already hear Marty with a sweet “Oubre, Wiseman, and a 2024 second for Dame” offer.)
Lillard as your best player will never win a title, common knowledge
Most people would like to see the list to choose from! Interesting, I had to “bing” it (and found Dave Bing #25 on one list):
In order #12-#1… all retirees because it is too early to count out active players:
link to nba.com
Wilkins, ReggieMiller, Mcgrady(?), Maravich, Stockton, Iverson, Gervin, Nash, Barkley, Ewing, Baylor, Malone.
A BleacherReport article replaced Mcgrady (writer’s bias) with Bellamy (played during Celtic’s run, as did Maravich & Baylor).
ChrisPaul, Harden & Westbrook may end up there somewhere too.
If Lillard started hoisting from deep a few years earlier, so to have invented that, he would be in a position to crack that list IMO.
Such a bad, bad take, supported by nothing and only allowed because of the online world we live in. You should be embarrassed. Good luck being better going forward.