The Trail Blazers held onto their draft picks instead of trading them for veteran help like Damian Lillard preferred, but Shams Charania of The Athletic (video link) said the star guard doesn’t plan to make any snap judgments about his future with the team (hat tip to Real GM).
“I’m told the timeline for when the future will land with Damian Lillard likely extends now between tonight and the start of free agency and into free agency,” Charania said on Stadium’s draft show.
Portland used the No. 3 selection to take G League Ignite star Scoot Henderson, who was considered a definitive top-three pick. The Blazers received trade overtures from several teams, including the Pelicans, Charania states. However, he didn’t specify if New Orleans was willing to include Zion Williamson or Brandon Ingram in its offer.
Lillard stated after the end of the regular season that he wasn’t interested in playing another year with a young, rebuilding franchise. He hasn’t asked for a trade, but teams throughout the league are reportedly monitoring the situation and preparing offers in case he does ask to leave.
There’s more on Lillard and the Blazers:
- Lillard appears to be in control of his future in Portland, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who said on the network’s draft coverage that the Blazers will only consider moving Lillard if he asks for a trade (hat tip to Real GM). “Damian Lillard has a decision to make,” Wojnarowski said. “… If he decides he wants a trade, I think the organization will accommodate him. But they don’t want to trade him.” Woj adds that the Blazers front office believes Henderson is more valuable than any return they could have gotten through a trade.
- General manager Joe Cronin said he had a “long talk” with Lillard on Tuesday about ways to improve the team, tweets Sean Highkin of Rose Garden Report. Cronin said Henderson “has a chance to be a transcendent player” and stated that he doesn’t believe Lillard is closer to leaving because of the team’s draft decisions. “He’s probably being more vocal than ever, but I don’t look at that as a negative,” Cronin said (Twitter link).
- Sources tell Chris Haynes of TNT and Bleacher Report that Lillard hasn’t been in touch with Blazers officials recently regarding the draft, free agency or his future with the team (Twitter link).
Dame & Scoot is one hell of a potential back court. If Sharpe takes a leap and they resign Grant, Portland has as good of a team as any in the West, IMO.
You’re off your lithium
Definitely as good as any 8 seed. Don’t overrate the impact a 19 year old rookie has in the nba. Portland is not that good as the last few years have shown.
Problem with Portland is they play 0 defense. I will never understand why they didn’t try to keep that team(in 2019) that went to the WCF.
Right, they need role players that can play 30+ minutes and do all the little things that don’t show up on a the stat sheet like they had with Harkless and Aminu. Besides a big vet They need to go after Royce O’Neale, Herbert Jones, Caldwell-Pope or a similar type player
Especially a 19 year old rookie who shot 27% from behind the arc over the past two years. How many points are Dame and Scoot gonna give up to opponents??
Dame Lillard to Miami is already done. This is all to make it seem like it is such a hard decision because of his relationship with the Portland fans.
Beal to Phoenix was already done as soon as the waive Chris Paul story floated. Beal’s agent is Mark Bartelstein. Phoenix Suns CEO is his 30 year old son Josh Bartelstein. Phoenix knew Beal was on the move as soon as Josh took over as CEO. Mark loves his kid, and wants him to succeed.
Top coaches have been fired, yet Billups still remains.
How about getting Bud for this team.
Sad we didn’t get Monty when he was available..
It’d be better for Portland if Dame moved on and they got picks/younger talent for him. However I get what he’s meant to that city. I just don’t see him winning there with that group of players. 2-3 round exit from the playoffs is about the ceiling before he gets too old and won’t be worth much. Denver isn’t going away. GS will still be good for another 3-4 years. Clips are up and coming and the possible future dynasties in OKC and Houston are in better shape than Portland.
Dame for frontcourt upgrade makes the most sense. Especially on the C need younger/less injury prone. Hoping we can get Claxton (and Royce along in that package)
Portland needs to try find a good return for Dame.
You’ve got 3 good young backcourt pieces in Scoot Simons and Sharpe.
Try add some young forwards now.
Dame for Jaylen Brown and a first round pick or two??
Scoot Simons Brown Grant Nurkic would be a decent team.
Boston don’t have to worry about offering Brown the super max or whatever.
Dame Tatum KP new big 3, White at SG and Rob Will for C. Brogdan and Horford off the bench
This is probably not a deal that would work without other teams involved, but I know the Nets and the Heat were two of the teams mentioned where he could go. With the Nets, any way they slice it, they’d have to send about three first rounders Portland’s way. The closest way for it to work monetarily would be Lillard and Knox for Simmons, Claxton and the picks. I doubt they could move Simmons anywhere and they don’t really want to move Claxton now. I’m sure they have PTSD from all of their moves involving stars, but it’s hard for them to make any headway in the East without some.
You think Boston would be giving up a younger Jaylen Brown on a cheaper deal, would need to give up 1 maybe 2 1st round picks for 2 years of Dame?
DL can take all the time in the world. It should be clear at this point even to him (it was prior to most) that POR hasn’t been straight with him; they’ve been rebuilding (in all but name) since the 2022 trade deadline, all while telling DL their real goal is to put a contending team around him.
I think POR is right to rebuild, and they certainly don’t owe him a cashing out of their future assets to give him a better chance at contention near term, but they do owe him honesty. If he’s gotten it, then he’s not being straight (which I doubt). Anyway, he should know what’s up now and decide accordingly. It seems like he doesn’t want to leave, and is looking for a reason to stay. In which event, I’m sure he can find one.
Yeah it seems like Dame will have to move on. Heat are perfect for him. I just don’t think they have enough. Nets imo would have to give up too much. Then what would be left ???? Nets should just stay on course.
Not sure if he fits Knicks either. That would be a small backcourt. There aren’t many options for Dame ……..
Then if Dame leaves. I can’t see Grant coming back. That’s who I would like on Knicks.
This headline is the understatement of the year lol
Any Dame trade to the HEAT can’t be made now, as Herro’s contract extension only kicks in next month.
Dame just be chillin’ now, teasing everyone with an IG live feed with “Miami” playing in the background.
Or he’s just trolling.
NO or OKC
Henderson, Sharpe, Simons, Nurkic , little, Watford and picks for either Ingram, CJ McCollum, Jonas or OKC for SGA and Dort ( keep Nurkic)