Five years after the resounding transfer of Kawhi Leonard, will Masai Ujiri shake up the NBA once again? According to Marc J. Spearsthe ESPN insider and AndScape, the franchise of Toronto would now be best placed in the league to convince the management of the Blazers to transfer Damian Lillard.
This information is not necessarily surprising since it confirms what we have already known for several days, namely that the Raptors were, at the very least, interested in the idea of recruiting “Dame”. This interest is now largely confirmed by our colleague, who explains that the two camps have discussed well in recent hours, while specifying however that an agreement is still far from being found at present.
The best counterpart for the Blazers?
It therefore remains to be defined which offer could convince Portland. On this subject, Marc J. Spears adds that the management of the Blazers would particularly appreciate the shooting profile of rookie Gradey Dick, who could then be included in any “package” with Toronto. Pascal Siakam, who did not extend with Toronto, would not be untouchable and Masai Ujiri could also include OG Anunoby or Scottie Barnes in the equation, or even both. And it is perhaps on this point that the discussions get stuck, when we know the Canadian club’s attachment to the second. We must indeed remember that the best rookie of the 2021/22 campaign was declared untouchable last year, when Kevin Durant asked to leave Brooklyn and the Raptors management inquired. And nothing suggests that the latter will change its position in the coming days…
Boston and Milwaukee interested?
In any case, it seems that Toronto, whether Scottie Barnes is included in the deal or not, is in a position to offer a better deal than Miami, Damian Lillard’s preferred destination. On this point, our colleague also specifies that the only offer made to date by the Heat to the Blazers would be a “package” composed of Tyler Herro and two first rounds of the Draft. An offer that the Raptors can undoubtedly easily surpass by offering a base composed of OG Anunoby, Gradey Dick and several Draft choices…
Finally, we note that ESPN reports that the Bucks and the Celtics have inquired about Lillard, and the two candidates for the title have the assets to convince Lillard to join them, but also and above all to make the Blazers give in.
| Damian Lillard | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2012-13 | POR | 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 | POR | 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 | POR | 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 | POR | 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 | POR | 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 | POR | 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 | POR | 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 | POR | 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 | POR | 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 | POR | 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 | POR | 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 = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
