The Knicks are continuing to monitor Damian Lillard‘s situation in Portland, but he’s less interested in coming to New York than he was a year ago, a source tells Marc Berman of The New York Post.
The Trail Blazers plan to rebuild their roster around Lillard and turned away several teams that wanted to discuss trading for him before this week’s deadline. However, the Knicks want to be ready if something changes in Portland and Lillard does become available this summer.
New York continues to have a need at point guard, as the offseason addition of Kemba Walker hasn’t worked out. Berman states that the team tried to make deals this week involving Cam Reddish, Alec Burks and Evan Fournier, but weren’t able to move any of them.
Berman adds that the Knicks also tried to get CJ McCollum, Lillard’s longtime backcourt partner in Portland, but were outbid by the Pelicans. Although New York has all its future first-round picks and a few extra second-rounders, many of its other assets have been devalued because of a down season, Berman notes, adding that many people around the league are wondering if the franchise has enough available to make a serious offer for Lillard.
“If they’re going to be in the hunt for Lillard, they’d have to have a good lottery pick this year,’’ an unidentified NBA executive said. “Because they’d have to give up RJ Barrett. I don’t see how they get him otherwise.’’
Lillard, who would likely have influence with the Portland front office to send him to a desired location if he does request a trade, has lost some interest in joining the Knicks, according to Berman’s source. After being the fourth seed in the East last season, New York has fallen to 12th place at 25-32.
Another source tells Berman that the Knicks’ chances of trading for Lillard would have been helped by signing DeMar DeRozan, Lillard’s close friend, rather than Fournier in last year’s free agent market. General manager Scott Perry wanted to consider DeRozan, according to the source, but the idea was vetoed by William Wesley, who has become the top decision maker in the front office.
Lillard hasn’t played since undergoing abdominal surgery in mid-January and isn’t expected to return this season. He has three seasons remaining on his four-year, $196MM contract.
Knicks cant get no love! Still owned by Dolan. Still lacking any number one. Not having the cap flexibility to really bring in stars in multiple. On top of everything else what would be left of this team after putting up the ask for Lillard would be no draft assets or good players on valuable contracts. Just old guys and bad money.
Dame choses like 15 other teams before NYK…
I agree, a lot of teams will be in on Lillard in the off season. Going to take a lot of assets to get him out of Portland. His situation is worth watching this off season.
Why would we want Lillard? he’s 31 and shot 31% from 3 this year and just got abdomen surgery
I’d rather play it out with RJ. Dame has shown that building a team around him will get you … many first round exits
Yeah, I agree. I love Lillard, but he’s not getting any younger, has never won anything, and is coming off a major injury. Knicks don’t have a strong enough team to add Lillard and expect to win anything.
Especially if RJ has to be part of the deal. What’s the point for the Knicks or Dame if you don’t have a support cast around him.
And so many miles on those tires. That’s the scary part for me. At some point even ironmen tend to fall apart as they age, but it feels like that is especially true for high usage players who were the pinnacle of health for so many years. LeBron is Exhibit A.
Obviously hope that won’t be the case.
Dang, it looks like not only did the Lakers mess up by not signing Derozan, but the Knicks screwed up as well..
Thays perfectly fine by me, we Chicago Bulls’ fans are loving having him on the Bulls, and now I can’t help but wonder if there would be anyway the Bulls might be able to get Dame if he became available..
They’d basically have to offer Portland their first Rounder back, another future first rounder, Lonzo and Patrick Williams..And I still don’t think that would necessarily be enough..
Maybe the Bulls could offer up Vucevic, and use him as part of a three team deal to help sweeten the deal..idk
But Dame, Caruso, White, LaVine, Derozan, Green, and Ayo would be a quality group from which to build upon, they’d just really have to fill out their frontcourt with a few solid bigs and then maaaybe the Bulls could finally make a serious title run!?!
Also, the odds of this happening are 0.00-0.00001%, but it’d be fun to consider either way…lol
Dame is great player.but he wont fit with bulls.bulls already had 2 scorring players in zach and ddr,and both are allstar player,so bulls dont need him.if dame,zach,and ddr are our starters,our perimeter defense will crush easilly.so i dont want him.all we need is a defensive big.
One signing doesnt guarantee him choosing you. Also the bulls have like nothing to trade away for a package for Lillard. Lakers and Bulls are both missing most of what they would want to give up. I mean that is of course unless you want to put Lavine on the board.
Wrong bulls have a ton of assets we just value them alot. Ayo, Pattrick Williams, White, Lonzo, Lavine, Portland pick that’s about to lose protection and they suck, after this year we will have some of our own picks to trade. Plus lower value guys like Jones J ans Vuc have positive value.
Pat Will is an asset, White is a throw in at best, Lonzo and Lavine are the players you would want to pair Lillard with not the ones you want to deal. Vuc may have closer to push value now he has been bad since the trade and is less control left.
White is shooting .475/.424/.907 for 16/3/3 since new years eve.
Ohh a 4 week sample size I guess I should just pencil him in as the new Steph for the next decade!
6 weeks, and it’s when he came back from COVID. And he had off-season shoulder surgery hence why he missed first of month of season and started off slow when he came back. Dudes a scorer man, most points NC high school history.
Cam, IQ, Obi, 2 unprotected 1sts (2022 & 2024), 2 pick swaps (2023 & 2025) & salary filler for Dame… leaves Portland with Ant Simons, Immanuel Quickley, Eric Bledsoe, Josh Hart, Keon Johnson, Cam Reddish, Justice Winslow, Nassir Little, Greg Brown, Obi Toppin, Jusuf Nurkic plus possibly 3 lottery picks in this upcoming draft… NYK gets an elite NBA player for the first time since the Melo/Woodson era & gets to keep their best players Julius, DRose, RJ, Mitch. They give up a couple of picks but will still have 2 1sts in 2023 & keep a solid group of vets (many of whom will be on expiring/tradeable contracts that should be able to help Dame out
Nope not nearly enough try again. Looking at a package similar to what it took for AD which that is not. None of Obi, IQ, or Cam are valued more than a future first right now much less center pieces of a deal for a superstar.
I worry about Dames next deal, but the cost is the cost. It would have been Simmons and more plus picks to get him to the 6ers.
Anthony Davis had just turned 26 when that trade was made. Dame will be 32 this summer. He obv still has alot of good years left but that 6yr difference is obv significant & meaningful. For you to say Cam Reddish is valued less than a future 1st is to ignore both common sense & recent history. He was literally just traded for a future 1st. IQ & Obi are recent 1st rd picks that are both obviously very talented guys that have long NBA futures ahead of them. But speaking of the Davis/Ingram trade, this is actually sorta similar in that Portland would be getting 3 talented young guys just like NOP did (BI/Hart/Lonzo) plus a few 1sts & a few swaps
I think the trade is perfectly acceptable value wise for Portland but the Knicks would be dumb as hell to make it as currently constructed –
Take all the protections off those picks and I could actually see Portland playing ball tho here
Id think they might be more receptive to 3 young cheap talents than say a deal with Minnesota with Russell coming back w Picks
-* Imagine after salary fillers it have to be 6 to 7 players traded from Knicks tho to POr…that might be hard to accommodate
If your salary filler is bad than you need to include more draft assets as well. So your either giving up all the young cost controlled guys on your roster and all the draft picks you have coming up doesnt sound like how you build a roster.
The salary filler would most likely be Fournier & Nerlens which might mean NY gives up another future 2nd but nothing crazy. NYK definitely wouldn’t be giving up all their young cost controlled guys. They’d still have Grimes, McBride & JSims. They also wouldn’t be giving up all their picks as I already explained they’d still have multiple 1sts in the 2023 draft. And the whole point of getting a 32yo elite of like Dame is to win immediately which is why they would prioritize keeping vets like Julius, Rose, Burks, Kemba who can help Dame win now. It’s definitely what the head coach would vote for & as we saw yet again today, the current squad isn’t nearly good enough
Fournier is pretty bad money at this point bet it costs a first to dump that much left on OKC doubt its only a second.
Again whats left on NYK after everything shakes out. Team isnt good now consolidating a bunch of players into one doesnt change that.
I feel like you are heavily underrating Damian Lillard & Evan Fournier. I just told you what’s left on NYK. Dame/Burks/RJ/Julius/Mitch starting & Kemba/Rose/McBride/Grimes/Sims etc off pine. They’d need help inside ofc but Nurkic just dominated the current Knicks frontcourt showing exactly how much of an issue that already is. Adding a guy like Dame without giving up any starters would greatly help this team & that should be sorta obvious tbh… As far as Fournier he would technically have negative trade value but please don’t forget about how good he is. He’s not good enough to lift a team into contention as their starting 2guard but Portland obv doesn’t need that rn & Fournier, while admittedly overpaid, would be really good for them off the bench (along with IQ) as a steadying vet influence & as a really good scorer & decision maker on or off the ball
I have a very hard time imagining Dame wanting to play in Minnesota but if so Minnesota could send back talented young guys as well, Vanderbilt/Reid/McDaniels along with Russell and picks would be appealing to Portland I’m sure.. as far as the Por/NY deal I proposed,there are no protections on those picks
Or the Knicks overpaid for Cam and have hurt his value since he arrived. Nobody wanted him with him available just this week. Doesnt matter what age they are if the perception in the league is a top 10 player. Harden has been fat, bad, and is going to cost a fortune it still took a better package for him than your offering from the Knicks to get him and he has an opt out this summer FFS.
Add another lightly protected first and RJ Barrett and you might be talking.
Lol your logic is laughably twisted. You just said so many ridiculous things in that short comment it’s almost impressive. Addressing it all would be a waste of time but I have to remind you that this “fat, bad & overpaid guy you’re speaking of was just named to the all-star game… for the 10th yr in a row
Nobody else wanted Cam believe the Hawks they checked. He has been treated like a back of the bench dude since the trade and was just available at the deadline with no takers. Ben Simmons is still very valuable even if its down from its peak. Him plus Curry whos good, Drummond who is a steal on the min, and multiple firsts is what it took to get Harden, and I would take Lillard over Harden any day of the week and his aging curve will be less of a cliff than James. Still 6ers gave a far better package than yours for Lillard.
Lots of scrubs get all star nods based on old information. Do you really want the Harden we saw unable to carry the Nets at all when Durant was out for 5/280M or whatever it is? Didnt think so, and if you do I want you on the other side of every trade my team makes.
I don’t think you’ve watched Harden at all this year if you’re questioning who would want someone putting up 22.5/8/10.2. Now sure argument could be made about signing him through his mid 30s to that extension but Harden is having a great year
Empty stats bad teamate, and tough fit for most teams since he is so high usage. 6ers games are going to be such a drag just long long games where its torturously slow.
Smh.. you say nobody wanted Cam. What are you possibly basing that on? He clearly ended up getting traded. If nobody wanted him he’d be out of the league. Obv you haven’t been paying attention bc he’s been getting progressively more & more pt since the trade & has been playing better & better. Pretty much every player in the league is available at the deadline, just bc they don’t get traded doesn’t mean that nobody wanted them smh. It’s honestly fascinating that you even would think that way lol… also let’s consider the fact that you just called James Harden bad & then minutes later called Seth Curry good… I don’t know a diplomatic way to respond to that… and to answer your question yes I would love to have James Harden on my team at whatever the max is. Take a step back & consider the things that you’re saying lol. Just bc you don’t like Harden for whatever reason shouldn’t cloud you so fully to his greatness at this game. He’s an all-time great & has been dominant on numerous occasions this season. Even when everyone was saying he was struggling he was still playing pg at an elite level & helping his team maintain top2 status in the conference
Noone wanted am apart from one if the worst FO in the NBA, that’s why he’s not even playing on the team that traded for him.
Yeah and everyone said Philly was dumb for doing that. I would also take Harden over Dame, I mean Dame is more injured worse down year same old age and way less dynamic and smaller
I am more convinced that Dame can return to something closer to himself next year after the surgery and his conditioning. Harden may decline rather quickly, and doesnt play well with others historically.
@ChapmansVacuum… but even if he is fat, bad & overpaid (your words, I disagree with the first 2) Harden was, is & will always be so much better than Dame… so of course he will cost much more, right?
@Sankara… good points there, but also I would add that AD is like sooo much better than Dame, was younger & paid much less!
Also it looks like Dame probably is in his way down & owed $147MM for the next 3 years!!!
I can’t imagine how desperate a team must be to even think about him, & sadly whoever gets him (someone will) it will be a failure of epic proportions!
Are you Dame’s mother? A package equal to AD? That’s laughable.
Dame is coming off his worst year since his rookie season. If he comes back next year and tears it up the price goes up. But as of now….
The “price” for Dame isn’t something that’s gonna be fluctuating wildly lol. He’s extremely great & everybody knows it. Slight struggles don’t mean anything for a guy of his caliber. Unless he suffers a major injury it’s gonna take a haul to get him
You’re misguided, per usual. So if Dame comes back next season and shoots 30% from 3 you’d have your “next dynasty” Hawks give up a haul for him?
Not even you are that myopic. Value fluctuates wildly in the NBA – it’s the nature of max contracts and being in your 30s. Please note examples: John Wall, Russell Westbrook. I rest my case.
I’m a Bulls fan, not a NYK fan and I think that could work. Damn is like 31 injured and on a bad year. He isn’t worth anything else. Especially being an undersized guard that is only elite on offense.
That is definitely enough to get Lillard. You’re getting a trio of young, intriguing talent and two unprotected picks from the *Knicks*. They’re already careening towards a top ten, maybe even top five pick in 2022. You may get another one in 2024. Two 1sts in general might not be enough, but we’re talking about the Knicks. You can almost guarantee that they’ll be top 10 picks.
How do the blazers plan on building around Lillard?
They will have cash for FA but who are they planning to get?
Colin Sexton, Miles Bridges, TJ Warren, Marvin Bagley, Jalen Smith, Lonnie Walker??
Simons and Nurkic both need new deals
I just can’t see it.
It’s a weak FA class, your not going to need guards with Dame, Simons, Hart and Johnson. With Nurkic at centre it leaves them going for forwards. Miles Bridges likely gets the max from the hornets. TJ Warren is coming off back to back to back injuries and has missed most of the last two seasons. Bagley could be a option if you want to out pay the Pistons. Jalen Smith could be an option but at what cost?
It’s fine to say your going to do something but there isn’t a clear cut plan. When they trade McCollum they should’ve brought back some of the Pelicans young players like a Trey Murphy or Jaxson Hayes. They could’ve tried to get Eric Paschall from the Jazz in the Joe Ingles deal.
Dame isn’t going to want to hang around for all this crap. Yes it’s exciting and these young guys can play but it’s not going to get you playoff wins. Which vet do they trade for?
Julius Randle would be a good option but I can’t see it happening. Besides that it’s all just meh
Yeah this isnt the year to make cap space, pretty much anyone interesting is an RFA unless Beal just becomes and UFA.
Don’t forget Lavine or Irving. They haven’t signed anything yet. The Nets already pulled Kyrie’s extension offer.
Pretty sure Lavine is resigning. Not sure if any team would offer much to Irving with all his baggage so I highly doubt he turns down the option instead of trying to hit FA after another year where he rebuilds value, and hopes the pandemic ends.
You don’t leave the Bulls for less mkney in Portland lol
LaVine ain’t leaving either and neither is Kyrie. Plus if Portland has Dame why would they want Kyrie
That backcourt would give up like 140 ppg
You’re forgetting about Dillon Brooks who went to college at U of O. Also TJ Warren would be a great pickup for them
Brooks still signed for next year
TJ Warren fully fit could be but he hasn’t played bugger all in the last two seasons
There’s no way Portland rebuilds around Dame. Unless they get a top 3 pick and flip it for …. idk Bradley Beal? Towns?
But even then is that a contender? Probably not. Best to flip Lillard while he still has some value and build around Simons
I’m fairly confident Portland has no idea which direction they want to go in 5 months and that’s the biggest problem
– If the plan was to re-boot then there was no need to move long term money so quickly for so little, time was their friend .
It makes the past trade deadline look even worse, if that’s even possible
-If the plan was to impress Dame to stay, well……
-If they are playing middle ground they are just playing with fire and potentially losing value daily for not much upside
My guess, I don’t think he ever plays another game in a Blazer jersey again
NYK should distance themselves as far away from this as they can unless somehow the price drops so low they have to pull the trigger (this would have to coincide with a Dame desire to be in NYK as well )
That would mean sitting back and silently observing, the opposite of what this twit Berman is doing for clicks
They don’t fair well in return value relative to the league but they can offer Cronin his “cap flexibility” in spades during the offseason that he so covets
100% agreed
Berman has got to be the least respected of all NY sports journalists. And that is impressive when you consider that guys like Joel Sherman and Mike Lupica are part of that group.
Mates… This just in…. The day after Saturday, is Sunday.
Knicks still want to trade for XYZ superstar because they have 0 superstars on the roster and are desperate for a superstar? Shocked, utterly shocked.
In all seriousness, if Ben Simmons and draft assets wasn’t good enough for Portland, what is? No one on the Knicks roster is even as good as Ben Simmons. They need to set the sights lower and change their definition of superstar… like Westbrick. Totally get-able.
Is Ben Simmons on a max more valuable than RJ on a rookie?
I’m not so sure. Either way I want no part of Dame as a Knicks fan. We’ve seen what Dame + stuff equals already. Just first round exits.
If RJ isn’t worth extending a max contract then he really isnt more valuable than Ben Simmons. Unless you’re hoping the takes a cheaper deal and outplays it.
I’m happy that Berman just confirmed that the Knicks have no interest in Lillard. I suspected they wouldn’t, since it would make no sense, but now it’s certain.
He’s POR’s problem, unless they can find a team that thinks they’re a player away from a championship team and willing to deal with the 50 mm + a year he’ll demand into his late 30’s. Ain’t us.
Knicks should go after Zion
Knicks: Zion Williamson, DeVonte Graham and Larry Nance and Kira Lewis
Pelicans: Julius Randle, Kemba Walker, Mitchell Robinson, Immanuel Quickly, Obi Toppin and a first round pick.
Knicks
1. Graham. DRose. Lewis
2. Fouriner. Burks. Grimes/McBride
3. Barrett. Reddish
4. Zion. Nance
5. Noel. Gibson
Pelicans
1. Walker. Alvarado. Lewis
2. CJ. Quickly. Murphy
3. Ingram. Jones. Marshall
4. Randle. Toppin. Hernagomez
5. Big V. Robinson. Hayes
Knicks get the Duke big 3 and a legitimate superstar generational talent in Zion. They need to keep him fit and healthy tho. However they have a solid team, especially that second unit.
Would have a really bright future in NY if done right.
Pelicans give up on Zion who has issues with weight, injuries and personality. Instead of him demanding out or causing issues they move off him quickly and get a great return. Walker and CJ form a solid veteran backcourt that can score at will and space the floor. Ingram and Randle the old Lakers duo. Both developed into all star talents, they lead this team now. Big V is a solid centre. Then off the bench so much youth and potential.
If I’m the Pelicans I then try the Magic for Jalen Suggs.
Pelicans: Jalen Suggs
Magic: Jaxson Hayes, Trey Murphy and Kira Lewis
Leaving the Pelicans
1. Suggs. Walker. Alvarado
2. CJ. Quickly. Temple
3. Ingram. Jones. Marshall
4. Randle. Toppin
5. Big V. Robinson. Hernagomez
Pelicans would be an easy playoff team. Great future ahead too. Lots of shooting, playmaking, defence, athleticism, they got it all.
This happens if the Pels GM smokes crack before the trade. That is the only world where this deal exists.
That might work in NBA 2K GM mode
lol, if I’m the Knicks, I do that trade in a second. No idea why NO would do that, though. They’ve already had their fill of Randle.
Zion sucks. He’s missed more games than played games. He a fat and unprofessional and give it a season or two he will leave NO.
I’d rather have Randle, Walker, Suggs, Robinson, Toppin and Quickly. Randle gives you 80% of what Zion does and plays twice as many games.
Saying “Zion sucks” instantly invalidates your opinion. He’s got his issues but when he’s on the court, he’s incredible.
You also traded Kira Lewis away 2 times. Knicks are not that smart to make this trade anyway
It’s too late for Lilliard at this point. He’s not young enough and he’s not a two way player that’s going to push us over the top. Unless we give up only draft capital and add him to this exact roster. Then maybe we become contenders. I’m still holding out hope that Donovan Mitchell wants out of Utah and requests to come here. Does his family still live in NY? Is his dad still with the Mets? I tried to look it up, but couldn’t find a definitive answer.
The Mitchell connection is still there and IMHO would be the perfect fit for the Knicks and RJ. I just wish they had drafted him when they had the chance. Same with Haliburton.
Lillard for RJ, Robinson, Quickley and picks. Blazers have to move on from Dame. They now have Simons, Little, Hart…
Yeah slow news day. Seriously it’s Berman flaming again. Why would Knicks add Dame. They can’t even beat the Blazers now. Without Dame playing. Why would Dame come to this team.
You know what’s bad about last nights gm. They are up 20. So they play the 4th Q like it’s over. Then when Blazers make their run. They panic cause there is no leadership. No PG to close out game. And then Thibs panics too.
This teams success last yr. Has given them false hope. They may have added more offense this yr. But they are a worse team. For me this is not about Randle. But he needs to go. To continue the rebuild. And Thibs needs to stop thinking there are shortcuts to winning. Rebuilding is about long term success. That’s what we need from this team and FO.
You promised us the Knicks were going to be great this year with their great off-season and all star Randle who now needs to go lol
I never said that lol. My best prediction is they would compete for 4th seed. And hopefully win a first rd series. That’s a fan hoping the signings and another yr go forward. And I was never a big Randle guy. I support him and respect what he did last yr.
But again you only see and read what you want. Randle has made himself into a better player. He’s got last yr to prove that simpleton. I’m about the rebuild and always have been. Clowns like you don’t even know why we drafted Obi in first place. So you can’t have an intelligent debate. This yr has shown to me why go forward with Randle and his ego. When we can get value for him if he ends yr right. And just bring in youth and picks for the rebuild.
Clowns discuss Dame a 33 yr old fading star. They even mention CP3. When the best thing a rebuilding team can do is. Get assets and picks. Land in the Lottery. And trade up with the assets to secure a real future talent. It’s what I was hoping to do last yr for Kuminga. Especially when he fell a little. That’s what you do with assets. Not give them away and more for a fading star. That’s Mello all over again. Get knowledge stop flaming. Cause I got plenty of Gasolina …..
I don’t get why the Knicks gave up a 1st for Reddish, don’t play him, and then tried to salary dump him at the deadline. It is such a Knicks in the 21st century move. Don’t want to mess up the rotation?! You mean the one that has the club outside of the play-in tournament right now? I get if they were ten games over .500 and you added Reddish for depth, but that’s not what’s happening.
I’ve said it a hundred times now, the Knicks made every decision this past offseason based on a twenty game stretch to finish last regular season. They didn’t even consider the playoff series against Atlanta where a red flag should have gone up about Randle’s warts.
Knicks fans did the same thing
At this point, let Randle do whatever he wants the rest of the season. Take the ball up, go one on one, whatever. Let him post massive numbers, the garden will start to chant “MVP” again and just maybe he will regain some value. The Knicks will get pulverized in the first round but maybe we can trade him and some other assets to get the rebuild started the right way again. Even if we somehow get Donovan Mitchell, the rest of the team that remained after the trade wouldn’t be good enough to compete and the Salary cap would be trashed. If we don’t change the approach, we’re going to be stuck in mediocre land.
Why do you guys think Dame wants to go to the Knicks? He’s from Oakland and has a wife and kids on the west coast where he’s been for 10 years.
Cause most of them don’t know ball. And just swallow what ever they are fed. Better question is why would Knicks want a 33yr old Dame. If they Dame gets moved. He should go to a contender. Not a pretender.
Knicks are rebuilding ….. stop with the noise.
Maybe his family wants good bagels and pizza after all those years living without them
Seriously why would any knowledgeable fan. Think Dame is a good idea. Then why would you think he would want to come here. Stop being tools. Knicks would be better off getting a lottery pick. Then trading up for a shot at a future star. That’s how you move the needle. Not by gutting your team for a name. The whole point of this new FO is to see the rebuild thru. How may times must you be told. It’s Thibs second yr. A rebuild doesn’t happen in two yrs. This is RJs team not Randles. RJ a 21 yr old OK.