Damian Lillard’s future on the Portland Path Blazers turns into some extent of hypothesis each offseason. The story often performs out like this: followers and media members beg Dame to request a commerce from the one workforce he’s ever performed for, Lillard seems to toy with the concept early in the summertime earlier than ultimately coming to the identical conclusion: he’s not “operating from the grind.”
May the story have a unique ending this offseason? The Blazers are coming off a 33-49 season, and personal the No. 3 total decide within the 2023 NBA Draft. Lillard, who turns 33 years outdated this summer season, is coming off arguably one of the best season of his profession. Lillard is beneath contract for the following 4 years at a whopping $216 million. Can Portland flip right into a contender whereas Dame remains to be taking part in at his peak?
Lillard joined The Final Stand podcast with Brian Custer this week, and one among his solutions is certain to spark a brand new spherical of hypothesizing about his future. Custer requested Dame about commerce eventualities to 4 Japanese Convention groups: the New York Knicks Knicks, Miami Warmth, Boston Celtics, and Brooklyn Nets. Right here’s what Lillard stated about his most well-liked vacation spot.
“Miami, clearly,” Lillard stated. “Miami is the plain one. Bam (Adebayo) is my canine for actual.”
The Warmth are at present tied 1-1 within the 2023 NBA Finals with a historic run as a No. 8 seed. Now think about how harmful they might be after including Lillard — so long as the commerce package deal doesn’t embody Adebayo.
Damian Lillard’s future may very well be decided by 2023 NBA Draft
Lillard made his intentions clear in his exit interview after the season:
Damian Lillard: “I haven’t got a lot of an urge for food for constructing with guys 2 and three years away and not likely go after it.”
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) April 9, 2023
If Lillard had it his manner, the Blazers received’t be selecting one other 19- or 20-year-old with the No. 3 total decide within the draft. They’d commerce that decide for a longtime star like Mikal Bridges, Jaylen Brown, Zach LaVine, or Pascal Siakam.
Are Dame and the Portland entrance workplace on the identical web page? The Blazers drafted an 18-year-old in Shaedon Sharpe final season, who had a powerful rookie 12 months and is bursting with long-term upside, however is probably going nonetheless just a few years away from with the ability to contribute meaningfully to profitable basketball. Many individuals thought Portland would commerce that decide for a veteran final 12 months, and it didn’t occur.
The massive problem with the Blazers proper now’s that they aren’t one transfer away from being a contender. Even when Portland trades the No. 3 decide for Bridges or Brown, it feels just like the workforce would nonetheless want a greater massive man than Jusuf Nurkic to actually compete within the West. Does it actually make sense to cross up on an incredible younger prospect like Scoot Henderson or Amen Thompson to appease a 33-year-old level guard?
If the Blazers hold the decide and choice Henderson or Thompson — each level guards — it isn’t laborious to examine a situation the place Lillard asks for a commerce late on this offseason. Personally, it doesn’t look like Miami has the belongings to drag off a commerce like that until Adebayo is included, however I’d by no means rely out Pat Riley. One factor is for certain: that is going to be one other wild NBA summer season.
