The umpteenth pressure from Damian Lillard on his club logically revived the rumors around the leader.
The All-Star, however, repeats that he wants to continue in Portland, despite the last two seasons without the playoffs, but at almost 33, he also repeats that he needs a competitive team by his side.
“I have made my wishes clear: I want to be able to win in Portland and now we have the opportunity, in terms of elements, to build a team that can be competitive. If we can’t do it, we’ll have to discuss it. You just have to let things happen and see if they succeed. »
The “elements” that can allow the Blazers to become competitive again are, for example, the 3rd choice of the next Draft, as well as Anfernee Simons, both of which can be used in an exchange. According to The Ringerthe leaders of Portland thus continue to explore their options with the other teams with these “assets”.
“Portland could trade me to a club that everyone sees as a title contender. But what will it cost to send me there? What is it going to cost the team we say is a title contender to bring me in? »
The ideal for Portland would be to successfully use the draft pick and the young “combo guard” to get their hands on Jaylen Brown, Pascal Siakam Or Mikal Bridges by the Draft. Even though nothing has materialized yet.
The option is not new, but recent statements by Damian Lillard put even more pressure on GM Joe Cronin, who would have every intention of building around the playmaker. The superstar’s “trade” would be a sign of a total rebuild, while “Dame” is also well aware that his salary ($45 million next year and over $63 million in 2026/27) makes a transfer extremely complicated to set up. Especially if he wants to join a candidate for the title…
“Portland could trade me to a club that everyone sees as a title contender. But what will it cost to send me there? » he also asked during his passage on “The Last Stand”. “What is it going to cost the team that we say is a title contender to bring me in? And how is that a guarantee that we will play in June when I get there? How do you know if everyone will be healthy? How do you know if it will work? »
If the exchange indeed implies for the new franchise of Damian Lillard to give up a large part of the players who made this club a candidate for the title, the interest of the leader is indeed null. That’s why the best option for the All-Star and his team is to keep building around him. In Oregon.
| Damian Lillard | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2012-13 | ORP | 82 | 39 | 42.9 | 36.8 | 84.4 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 6.5 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 3.0 | 0.2 | 19.1 |
| 2013-14 | ORP | 82 | 36 | 42.4 | 39.4 | 87.1 | 0.4 | 3.1 | 3.5 | 5.6 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 20.7 |
| 2014-15 | ORP | 82 | 36 | 43.4 | 34.3 | 86.4 | 0.6 | 4.0 | 4.6 | 6.2 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 21.0 |
| 2015-16 | ORP | 75 | 36 | 41.9 | 37.5 | 89.2 | 0.6 | 3.4 | 4.0 | 6.8 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 0.4 | 25.1 |
| 2016-17 | ORP | 75 | 36 | 44.4 | 37.0 | 89.5 | 0.6 | 4.3 | 4.9 | 5.9 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 27.0 |
| 2017-18 | ORP | 73 | 37 | 43.9 | 36.1 | 91.6 | 0.9 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 6.6 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 26.9 |
| 2018-19 | ORP | 80 | 36 | 44.4 | 36.9 | 91.2 | 0.9 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 6.9 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 25.8 |
| 2019-20 | ORP | 66 | 38 | 46.3 | 40.1 | 88.8 | 0.5 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 8.0 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 2.9 | 0.3 | 30.0 |
| 2020-21 | ORP | 67 | 36 | 45.1 | 39.1 | 92.8 | 0.5 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 7.5 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 3.0 | 0.3 | 28.8 |
| 2021-22 | ORP | 29 | 36 | 40.2 | 32.4 | 87.8 | 0.5 | 3.7 | 4.1 | 7.3 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 2.9 | 0.4 | 24.0 |
| 2022-23 | ORP | 58 | 36 | 46.3 | 37.1 | 91.4 | 0.8 | 4.0 | 4.8 | 7.3 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 3.3 | 0.3 | 32.2 |
| Total | 769 | 36 | 43.9 | 37.2 | 89.5 | 0.6 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 6.7 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 25.2 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
