Damian Lillard only appeared in 29 games for the Trail Blazers during the 2021/22 and posted career-worst shooting percentages of 40.2% from the floor and 32.4% on threes before undergoing abdominal surgery. However, it doesn’t appear as if Lillard’s down year will stand in the way of an opportunity to secure another substantial payday this offseason.
According to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, there’s an expectation that the Blazers will offer the six-time All-Star a two-year contract extension worth north of $100MM.
If Lillard agrees to sign that extension, he would likely exercise his $48.8MM player option for 2024/25 as part of the deal and tack two new years onto the three he still has left on his current contract. It would put him in line to earn upwards of $240MM over the next five seasons, depending on the exact value of the extension.
Here’s more on the Blazers:
- There’s a belief among league personnel that Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic will sign a four-year deal with an average annual value around $17MM to remain in Portland, Fischer reports. Nurkic’s previous four-year contract, signed in 2018, was worth $12MM per year.
- Like Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Fischer has heard that a new contract for restricted free agent guard Anfernee Simons will be in the range of $80MM over four years, plus incentives. Simons is expected to stick with the Blazers.
- Free agent forward Joe Ingles, who is recovering from a torn ACL, has been doing some of his rehab work in Portland and there’s a belief he could re-sign with the Trail Blazers despite having been acquired after he was injured, sources tell Bleacher Report. However, Fischer cautions that Ingles seems to have “plenty of interest” from other teams as well.
Ingles = Australian Kukoc…. Simons = southern Gilbert Arenas…. Nurkic = poor man’s Dan Issel…. Dame = West coast Kyrie (or) rich man’s Terry Porter
Then who is the Clyde Drexler of the team?
New Clyde is definitely DeMar Derozan
Agent 0
Nurkic should not get a raise. He’s a starting center but he’s not worth more then the 12 he was getting paid. Is there even competition for his services? Makes no sense, cuts all this salary to give more to a guy that has not helped your team advance.
But we would notice immediately If we allowed Some Other team to steal him, for a cpl more million $$
which is nothing.. ;
Nurk at his potential is a top 5 True Center, who does everything well & can Pass & hit some 3’s as well.. ;
he’s not the best ball handler, but that’s Not his role. ;
screen, block, pass, layups, rebound & open shots is. ;
$15 – $18 is a great deal for a true Big, who FILLS UP the paint & can guard AD, Embid, & other Skilled Bigs w.. equal size & strength! ;
Yeah, I’m not a fan of. Nurk, seems he gets too easily distracted. But at this point he’s the best starting C they can get and keep options open to continue building a contender. He’s definitely doing an adequate job now and hopefully he keeps improving.
Would you trade Wiseman, Kuminga and Mooses Mody for Dame Time?
Hell no.
Dame is old, doesnt play defense, gets paid too much, only cares about money and has no interest in winning.
OK. That”s an interesting perspective… dude’s got most of us fooled I guess. Unlikely tho.
Cronin should see if magic would swap Isaac for Bledsoes expiring deal especially if they are really bringing back bamba
The fact that Orlando drafted Paolo instead of Jabari shows how much they value Isaac. Bamba’s a 5, different position
Paolo is a 4
If they keep everyone they would have carter/bamba/Lopez/mo wags for the 5 paolo/Isaac/okeke for the 4 and franz/paolo/Ross to play the 3. That’s way too many guys and not nearly enough minutes
Orlando is still in the acquire talent and figure it out as you go phase of rebuilding.
Weltman has a plan, he just keeps it a secret.
His plan is to claim he has a plan but keeps it secret.
It’s a good plan for maintaining GM employment indefinitely.
That, and keep bringing in youth, which helps get high picks and a promising future that overshadows the losses.