Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard acknowledged this week that he considered the possibility of leaving Portland this offseason after a disappointing playoff loss to Denver in the spring, writes Jason Quick of The Athletic. However, after deciding not to ask for a trade, Lillard remains committed to the franchise and has no intention of wavering even if the team gets off to a slow start this season.
“Everybody is saying what they think I’m thinking, and what they think I’m going to do, but like, I’m not leaving Portland, you know?” Lillard said.
As Quick details, a series of conversations over the summer with new head coach Chauncey Billups helped renew Lillard’s enthusiasm for remaining with the Blazers. Besides discussing basketball strategies and philosophies, the two men also talked about “family, life after basketball, and the qualities found in a winner,” according to Quick.
“I think a big part of (my change in mindset) was me and Chauncey’s conversations, and where we see things the same,” Lillard told The Athletic. “I’m not going to share details of our conversations, but it’s not often when I speak to people that they see what I see. Watching a game, observing people … there’s not many people who see what I see. But a lot of what I see, he sees. So that was very important to me. Like, that was a big deal.”
When Billups was hired by the team in June, he was aware Lillard was frustrated by how the 2020/21 season was played out and was weighing whether he wanted to remain in Portland for the long term. However, the first-time head coach didn’t feel pressure to push the six-time All-Star to stay with the team.
“I’ve never told Dame, or asked him, to stay. Nothing. I’ve never done that,” Billups said. “I felt like the biggest thing I wanted to do was share the things that were important to me. This is what I am. This is what I’m about. Then, it’s on him to decide: Is it worth it? Or should I punt?
“… It was all organic,” he added. “It wasn’t me putting pressure, not me asking this or that. It was a lot about family, about life, and about life after hoop was done. It was more than basketball. We have a great connection, and those healthy conversations are the type that allow one to make a conscious decision.”
Lillard has three more guaranteed years left on his contract with the Blazers, plus a player option for 2024/25, so it’s possible he’ll have a change of heart at some point before that deal expires. However, it sounds like the teams hoping he’ll ask for a trade shouldn’t count on that happening anytime soon. Lillard has bought into Billups’ vision for the franchise and is comfortable sticking with Portland for the foreseeable future.
“I don’t expect all times to be great times. Adversity is going to hit. There’s going to be some tough times,” Lillard said. “So if (this season) starts off rocky, or if it starts off in a struggle, I wouldn’t be happy about it. Nobody would. But I’m not going to jump ship or bail out when that happens. That’s an easy thing and popular thing to say, but it’s not going to happen.”
The best thing that can happen for Lillard and the blazers is fast start. A poor start and other 6-7 seed in west and the media will be talking about it(Lillard leaving or wanting out)
I disagree. The best thing that can happen is to win enough games to qualify for the playoffs. Then, after that, win enough games to advance through a few rounds of the playoffs. That would be especially positive for Lillard and the Blazers.
If they come out the gate 7-13 Lillard will be asked often “do u plan to stay”. It’s coming. A fast start would quiet the media.
I disagree as well. Dame seems committed to Portland, at least for this season. He’s even come and said that the Blazers getting off to a poor start changes nothing when it comes to his stance of staying in Portland.
It’s nice to see a superstar being committed to his team. I’d love to see him get a ring with Portland. I feel like they’re only a couple of pieces away from having a chance. There’s only a small handful of players id rather have with the ball in his hands with the game on the line.
They are definitely more than a few pieces away. CJ isn’t it, unless you’re talking about a wine connoisseur. Nurkic can’t stay healthy, and I’m not in love with his game either. They lack real depth, and real prospects/trade pieces to acquire said depth.
Lilliard never ever had any intention of leaving. He is treated like a loyalty, gets to make all personnel decisions, makes mega max salary on and off the court, and really has no pressure to win it all. Life is great for Lilliard and he is in his comfort zone. Maybe he will chase ring in his final year of his career ala Mailman but I doubt even that will happen.
@Michol
You’ve said these things before and it seems that you equate being loyal to a team with being content to the status quo because he’s not ring chasing. How about a guy believing in the organization and being willing to accept the challenge of bringing a chip to the franchise? We just saw Giannis do it. And there are several examples of guys that have switched teams 2 or 3 times and ate still without chips (Kyrie post Cleveland, Westbrook, Harden)
I like one franchise type of players as long as they themselves take ownership of not winning, and not always blamings ownership or teammates. Lilliard is a great player and he is developing from year to year, but he still has a lot of room for improvement especially mentally. LJ didnt learn to win until he went to Miami.
@Michol
He hasn’t “blamed” thr franchise for anything but CLEARLY, in the day of big 3s, the team is missing additional talent. But give him credit for doing everything he CAN do without making it seem he’s complacent with mediocrity.
First and foremost, he needs to play better especially in postseason. He will play 1 or 2 great series, then he disappears.
Interesting b/c Billups has been terrible so far with his rotation decisions. Hopefully that changes soon. I had them a lot higher going into training camp, but now I backpedaled from that
Preseason mean little when the main guys play little . You see real
Rotations when the games mean something
Portland bench is pretty pretty bad
6th man Norman Powell
Need 7th man like Portis or Ja Green
So far I haven’t seen anything from Chauncey Billups that says he is qualified to be an NBA Head Coach & he has a ton to show before he shows whether or not he’s qualified to be a Head Coach
40 plus million a year and don’t play defense. Yeah flamethrower on offense defense not so much. Here’s the deal trade Dame to Philly for Ben and Curry.