Damian Lillard speculated about possible trade destinations in a Showtime interview last week, but he and the Trail Blazers appear committed to continuing their partnership, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said Wednesday during an appearance on “Get Up” (video link).
Asked whether Lillard is likely to be on a different team at the start of next season, Windhorst said he doesn’t expect that to happen “as of right now.”
“They publicly haven’t sounded like they want to trade him. I can tell you privately the Blazers aren’t interested in trading him right now either,” Windhorst explained. “I have to underline ‘right now’ because we’re in a fluid situation.”
The fluidity stems from Lillard’s desire to see Portland trade its first-round pick for veteran help rather than bringing in more young talent. Some lottery luck gave the Blazers the No. 3 selection, but Lillard emphasized in an interview after the regular season ended that he doesn’t want to be part of a rebuilding project.
Lillard alluded to that statement while talking to Showtime, saying the organization has “an opportunity, asset-wise, to build a team that can compete.” But he also made it clear that his philosophy on trading the pick hasn’t changed, adding, “If we can’t do that … then it’s a separate conversation we would have to have.”
Although that sounds like a message to management that he’ll want out if the pick isn’t dealt, Windhorst said the rumor mill is currently quiet regarding a potential Lillard trade.
“I am hearing nothing,” Windhorst added. “Nothing from the Dame side. Nothing from the Blazers’ side formally that he doesn’t want to be there.”
If the Blazers keep their pick, they are expected to take either Brandon Miller or Scoot Henderson, whichever player is left on the board after Charlotte’s selection at No. 2. Although they’re high-level prospects who might be able to contribute right away, they’re both 19, which Windhorst points out is the exact situation that Lillard said he doesn’t want to be part of.
Cronin inspires no confidence, but any trade discussions for Lillard shoud be quiet at this point. I don’t think Cronin is up to trading the #3 pick, but if he does, it’s a deal that won’t come together until draft night. Nobody is acquiring #3 until they know which of Scoot or Miller is available there.
Until that plays out, there’s no reason to have any discussions about trading Lillard. Plus, if he’s really shopping #3, then there wouldn’t be any time to discuss it. The level of pre-negotiations for a draft day deal of that sort will involve multiple teams and contingencies.
They can’t trade #3 until draft day anyway. They have to make the pick before they can trade it
What would it take to trade down two spots with the Pistons? Could BB and the #5 pick get it done?
Probably, but then the blazers would still have to trade #5 for a star. I feel like it’d be easier to convince a team to trade a star for Scoot or Miller than it would be for Whitmore or one of the Thompson brothers.
Not in this Year’s draft. 1-3 all have #1 overall value. Theres a clear drop off at 4. That’s going into the draft, so the percieved value before anyone steps on the court. Once they play, someone will emerge from the teens that everyone whiffed on, always happens.
But Bojan is NOT worth going from 3 to 5.
Yup. Given their more polarizing nature you could be limiting your potential interested trade partners. The only reason to consider moving down would be if you would feel confident in being able to make a deal with a team high on one of those two guys. But even then, you’d be backing yourself into a bit of a concern in terms of losing leverage.
Draft Scoot stop the madness …..
Sign Bridges he’s a FA
Sign Grant
Trade Simons, Sharpe, 23rd pick plus picks for Siakam ………
OK ……… now we talking.
Scoot, Dame, Grant, Siakam, Nurkic
Now that’s a contender… Bridges as the sixth man. You got Thybulle, Cam, Knox. Sign Howard and Drummond. Get some vets who want a ring. It all starts with Scoot. He is the real thing man. Just take him.
Draft Scoot, trade Lillard.
Example: move him to Houston to pair up with Harden (if…), Green, and grab this years pick along with Smith and some offsetting salary. Now you’re looking at Scoot, Simmons, Amen, Smith, and Sharpe as your future, with loads of cap room that can be used to resign Grant and another player.
@Al; I like it. Makes sense. Dame still shoots lights out but the team is organized by the next generation. Sharpe is fun to watch, so talented.
I bet he’d be grateful to get back closer to home. Siakam immediately gets a chance to elevate a team to a title. There is additional upside for everyone. They have Little or Watford, too if they need to offer more to get Siakam.
Not getting Siakam unless you move the Canadian bro, you know that. You gotta think big if you are on Dames timeline
No cap for Miles
Drummys settling up with Chi next year for his player option
I like Pascal for this team but I Wonder what that + picks entails
100% agree just take Scoot if he makes it
Portland can’t trade any of their own picks. They can trade #3 after they draft someone (or agree to a trade and wait until after making the pick before official) and they can trade #23 anytime. But due to Chicago owning the rights to a protected pick, they can’t trade any future 1st until 2 years after that pick conveys.
They can trade #3 anytime if they keep #23 (or get another first-round pick). They just need to have one first-rounder in this draft — it doesn’t necessarily have to be their own.
They could also theoretically trade future first-round picks with language that states they’ll convey two years after the Bulls pick does. Their trade partner would just have to be prepared to accept the risk of those picks getting pushed back multiple years (and perhaps eventually turning into second-rounders).
Nurk will spend half season on the bench with injuries again… Bad contract
Everything has been quiet
I mean cripes the Nuggets just won the Championship the other day
Well, it’s noteworthy in the sense that, like the Wizards, the Blazers have waited way too long to trade away Lillard for a haul. People are just assuming they will finally wake up to reality any day now. Not that a deal would or should happen quickly, but merely that there’s been a change in the direction of the winds.
Lillard is the most content superstar of this generation. Just wasting away in Portland
I dont think he is a superstar, can’t be the best player on a championship contender. Nothing wrong with making $50M a year in a situation you love on the way to a hall of fame career.
Dame Lillard for Zion Williamson, Kira Lewis and the 14th overall pick
Pelicans
Dame CJ Ingram Herb Big Val
Daniel’s JRich Murphy Marshall Nance
Portland
Scoot Simons Grant Zion Nurkic
Lewis Sharpe Temple Kris Murray Lively
So…You want to once again put Dame together with the guy he didn’t win anything with in Portland? Definition of insanity…
I’m saying the Pels have a better chance at success with Dame than Zion.
Dame and CJ never had Brandon Ingram, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy and so on
Trade Simons, #3 and Sharpe (maybe add Nurkic for salary matching) to Toronto for Pascal Siakam and OG.
Win win for both teams.
Wtf, AND OG?!? I was going to say that’s not enough for just Siakam, let alone also OG. That’s laughable. You guys really don’t watch much Raptors south of the border and it shows.
Win for both teams LOL. No chance. 2 1sts plus Sharpe and Simon’s for salary matching for Siakam at a minimum. Still not sure I’d take that if I’m the Raptors.
The package you proposed is delusional lol.
Dude you’re delusional. Sharpe has all star upside and the #3 pick this year is extremely valuable in a somewhat top heavy draft.
If you think that wouldn’t be enough for Siakam alone I want some of what you’re smoking.
Most top-10 picks have all-star upside. Not many will actually reach it. So that isn’t saying much. It really depends on how the Raptors would view him personally. If they are fans that package may be somewhat tenable. If they are not it’s weak.
If I’m Portland, I’m trying to get rid of Simons 1000x before I’m willing to move Dame
Yesssss …. 100%
I trust Brian Wind-bag, and his erroneus reporting as far as I can throw his lard-butt!
Blazers will trade Lillard, and Lillard didn’t demand for Portland to trade its 2023 1st round draft picks.
He said contend, compete, and then lastly, and most recently said he wants to play in June.
None of these things are possible by trading other assets than Lillard.
Of course its quiet on most trade fronts prior to the draft, and then there is an entire off-season after… Duh!
Way to go Wind-bag, you reported nothing, and stated the obvious. Nice work!
Stop writing about Lillard and the Blazers Wind-bag. Lebron James is all you know, and you should probably stay in your lane…
Why wouldn’t that be possible? I think it would be hard to be able to move Simons b/c of his contract, but assuming health, they just need a floor spacing big, pick and roll defending, rim protecting big, and another wing shooter. I do think half court scoring is an issue though, so that is something to also consider
I think if Portland crosses every T, and dots every I, is more dilligent than any other team in the league, gets luckier than they ever have in all ways, and defies all current basketball forecasting, and simulation then they have .00000001% chance at competing for a title next season.
I have spent countless hours trying to logically configure roster options, and its a tall order for anyone to make Portland a contender with the assets they possess.
The only way Portland makes a final, or semi next season is if Nassir Little, and Sharpe, and Keon Johnson suddenly take leaps in ability that have never been seen before from a professional basketball player…
Thats a tall order. And Lillard isn’t trying to squeak into the playoffs. He said compete in June. I think its extremely optimistic to think Portland can flip Nurkic, or Simons, or Lillard for a ton of value.
Atleast value that converts them into a legitimate contender
Most of the league is 1-3 players away. Look at Denver this year. All they did was get rid of Barton, finally add a 3 and D wing in KCP in the trade, drafted a 3 and D wing, signed a defensive playmaker to replace Morris at guard, and they won off that…
Do you necessarily need value, or is the final result of the roster all that matters, despite asset management
Jeez, it’s Windy…
Wait until draft day for Blazers and then Beal or Lillard will be in the mix for trades … Nobody knows