Damian Lillard will wait to see what the Trail Blazers do during the offseason before making a decision on his future, a person close to the star guard told Jabari Young of CNBC. Lillard has stated repeatedly that he wants to stay in Portland and help the franchise win a title, but that could change if he’s not convinced that the Blazers are moving in that direction. The team’s willingness to pay the luxury tax could figure into the decision, Young adds.
Lillard is under contract for the next three seasons and Portland has no plans to trade him, but he could change the situation by requesting a deal. He is coming off the best playoff series of his career, averaging 34.5 PPG in the six-game loss to the Nuggets. It marked the fourth time in five years that Portland was eliminated in the first round, and Lillard could be pondering a move to a more legitimate title contender.
The Blazers began what could be an offseason of change Friday night when they announced that coach Terry Stotts won’t return next season. Lillard quickly made a statement about his coaching preferences, with Jason Kidd and Chauncey Billups topping the list.
Another factor will be what Portland’s management decides to do with the roster, and especially Lillard’s backcourt partner, CJ McCollum. Young notes that the Cavaliers have been mentioned as a possible destination for McCollum and the Spurs have considered him as well, although they aren’t currently considering an offer.
Young cites a Western Conference executive who believes the Clippers may try to move Paul George if they don’t make a long playoff run, adding that a deal involving McCollum and George is conceivable. The Heat could also be a destination, though they might prefer to target Lillard.
There’s more from Portland:
- The Blazers will replace their coach, but general manager Neil Olshey’s job appears to be safe, Young adds. Ownership sees him as a “solid executive” who has done as much as possible within budget limitations to build a competitive team around Lillard.
- Several teams around the league, including many in “top markets,” are keeping an eye on Portland to see if Lillard might become available, sources tell Shams Charania and Jason Quick of The Athletic.
- Stotts wrote a farewell letter thanking the organization, players and fans for his experiences during the past nine years as head coach.
I think the Blazers did their darndest to put together a good roster THIS season. Great backcourt, they’ve acquired a good starting center and excellent backup center, and they improved the wings with Covington Etc. They even made a deadline deal to bring in excellent Norman Powell. What else can they do?
Perhaps this could be the end of the line for Lillard? I guess if the Blazers trade McCollum for a Paul George is that enough to give it a go? Maybe, maybe not, in Lillard’s mind. Also, what if the Blazers don’t hire Lillard’s preferences Kidd or Chauncey? I think that might say a lot.
Going to be an interesting summer and offseason for a lot of teams.
Dame is never leaving Portland, I’m not a blazers fan and don’t care but he will never leave, he has said 1000 times he won’t, he isn’t a coward like every other nba player running to play with their daddy’s buncha cowards “make it easier on me waaahhhh” dame ain’t gonna leave though, Portland just has to trade nurkic for Karl Anthony towns and hire a coach who’s a winner so Chauncey
I’d love to see the Celtics make a play for Lillard if Portland was even to entertain a trade. Kemba would give Portland a short term replacement and potentially flip him plus helps match money. Then throw in two or 3 of the Williams’, Nesmith, Romeo, plus 3-4 firsts.
Kemba has no value. The blazers aren’t taking in an albatross salary just to make numbers match.
Well if there’s gonna be a trade going down with Dame, there’s gonna need to be an “albatross” salary most likely heading back to Portland
There’s albatross contracts that have neutral Or slightly positive value, say Chris Paul a year or two ago, and then there’s worst 2-3 contract in the Nba albatross contracts with negative value, say Kemba Walker.
There is ways to make a trade work without a contract heading back that makes no sense for Portland to take. Kemba has no value for them at all. As a substitute for Dame for a year? Kemba can’t play. That’s not a sub. Flip him? For what? For who? Another bad deal? Your offer makes no sense outside of a video game.
Not really. Paul George’s contract isn’t great but it’s not an albatross like Kemba. Portland could also try to swing McCollum to team with a big expiring contract for that guy and picks.
If the Clippers trade Paul George after signing him to a big extension and saying so many nice things about him? Outrageous. First dumping Blake, then George, after praising both to the moon and saying they want them to be lifetime Clippers? Gross.
Um that’s the way it works. Would you rather they say he is Pandemic P? Also PG and Blake got paid, and they get paid more than their worth, so win win.
I expect teams to act honestly and ethically when dealing with employees, regardless of compensation.
McCollum for PG would be an ideal trade. Portland’s suffering from having two offense-only guards as their two stars. Clippers are suffering from the overlap in skills between their two stars. After a trade Kawhi gets a more offensively dynamic running mate who doesn’t play the same position, and Dame gets a defensive anchor at the 3 and they can find a cheap shooter to play SG, or just give Simons more playing time. Perfect.
maybe
Why in the world would trade a all star for a starter? If I’m trading Paul I want dame in return
I assume you mean Paul George, not Chris Paul. CP3 is a marginal All-Star.
Wally, I know you’re hurt by all the ex-Rockets but CP3 proved himself to still be extremely valuable. You can refer to him as a marginal all star all you want but he’ll still finish top 6 in MVP voting with Jokic, Curry, Embiid, Dame, and Luka.
Dude PG is literally the laughing stock of the NBA. 1000s of Pandemic P memes, did you see how fast he took that extension without a guarantee from Lenord? He knows what he is and honestly he’s a nice player and so is CJ neither are superstars or whatever your thinking.
McCollum to Miami makes a lot of sense. I could see a package of Herro, Achiuwa, Okpala going to Portland with Dragic routed to a third team like LAL or Dallas that can send some picks/players to Portland to match salaries.
Win or lose, I doubt the Clips are trading PG13 unless KL leaves (and then it will be to do a complete rebuild, not take on Lillard).