Damian Lillard’s Uncertain Future
Damian Lillard finished the 2022-2023 regular season as the third-leading scorer in the NBA with a 32.2-point average. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough as the Portland Trail Blazers missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season finishing with a 33-49 record.
Portland’s failure to reach the playoffs raised questions surrounding Damian Lillard’s future as the team couldn’t be considered even a fringe contender as currently constructed. It also didn’t help that Lillard recently sent a warning shot via the media with regards to the Trail Blazers potential rebuilding process.
“I don’t have much of an appetite for building with guys two and three years away and not going after it,” Lillard told reporters.
There are several ways to interpret what Lillard said but make no mistake, Lillard wants to win now. And if the Trail Blazers don’t win the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes, Lillard wants the pick traded for a player who will help him win next season and beyond.
The Clock is Ticking
This isn’t the first time Damian Lillard’s future in Portland hung in the balance. Prior to the start of this season, many believed the 7x All-Star would be traded. However a two-year contract extension scuttled rumours he could be on the move as even if the team wanted, the former 6th overall pick couldn’t be traded until July 9, 2023.
Even though Lillard hasn’t outright demanded a trade, his recent statement shows he wants no part of a rebuilding team. The most logical thing Portland could do is to build a strong team around their homegrown star.
The CJ McCollum deal yielded little in terms of immediate impact players for the Trail Blazers, so if the plan is to accumulate draft picks, it’s likely best for both parties to move on.
Lillard’s loyalty to the team that drafted him has been admired but many believe the clock is ticking for the Trail Blazers. The 32 year old is nearing the final stretch of his career. And while he is under contract until the end of the 2024-2025 season, one could argue that if there’s a parting of ways in the cards, then Portland needs to pull the trigger while his value remains high.
Trades Inevitable
Whether it’s their pick for the 2023 NBA Draft or a package of players that will land Portland a big name or two, we can expect the Trail Blazers to listen to almost any trade offers in hopes of keeping their superstar point guard.
To no one’s surprise, predictions have been raining down with big names involved in mock-up trades. Former NBA player Brandon Jennings recently called on the Miami Heat to make a move for Damian Lillard. Another NBA insider believes James Harden of the Philadelphia 76ers could be replaced by Lillard in a potential offseason deal.
There’s also the never-dying whispers of Lillard joining LeBron James in the Los Angeles Lakers, or following his inner circle connections out east to New York.
Loyalty can only take you so far in this business. If winning a championship tops Lillard’s priority list now, then the Portland Trail Blazers will have a lot of thinking to do in the offseason. It’s either they get Lillard the support he needs or they trade him while his value remains high.
It’s a star driven league. And if Brooklyn can be used as a case study, there’s only so long you can hang on before things start to come off the rails.
-Iggy Gonzales
Photo: FrenchieinPortland. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.