What Should The Blazers Do With Damian Lillard?
This one hits closer to home than the Ben Simmons ordeal. As a Blazers fan, you of course want Damian Lillard, perhaps your best player in franchise history to stay in Portland for life. But no matter how many times Dame says that he wants to stay, is it really the best idea to keep him but continue to fail to build a title contender around him?
The Blazers have been more disappointing in the playoffs than most teams and they’ve never been close to winning a title. The teams around Lillard have been lees than ideal with only a few good pieces. After another disappointing playoff exit to the short-handed Denver Nuggets this past season, Dame trade rumors were hotter than ever.
So this begs the question, what should my Blazers do with our franchise superstar.
How Did We Get Here?
Before we go into what the Blazers should do with Dame, let’s see how we got here first. We’ll start this off by going back the 2015-16 season and going year-by-year to present day. The 2016 season was the first season when Dame was the #1 guy in Portland, so that’s why we’re starting there.
These next few paragraphs are going to hurt, so let’s just get this over with.
2015-16 Season
This was the follow-up season after basically the whole team left in free agency. The roster wasn’t good outside of Dame and CJ McCollum, who was the Most Improved Player this season. Only 4 double-digit scorers on the team and Dame was 10th in All-Star voting while averaging 25 points and 6 assists.
Somehow won 44 games and ended up being the 5th seed in the West. After going down 0-2, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin went down with injury and the Blazers won the series in 6 games. This roster somehow won a playoff series, so I guess that’s a miracle in itself.
2016-17 Season
Basically the same roster from the year prior, except for adding Jusuf Nurkic from Denver near the end of the year. Finished 41-41 due to poor defense and a meh offense. Dame was snubbed from the All-Star game again. The offense was basically just Dame and CJ.
Got swept in the first round to the eventual champion Warriors as the 8th seed. Throwaway season.
2017-18 Season
First real year of disappointment. First year with Dame-CJ-Nurkic as a trio and things went well. Defense was good again as Nurkic was great down low. Dame was finally an All-Star and that trio was excellent.
Won 13 games in a row in late February-March and eventually won 49 games. Ended up as the 3rd seed and took on the New Orleans Pelicans. We all know what happened next.
Dame was swarmed by Jrue Holiday and the Pelicans defense, essentially rendered useless. The help was nonexistent as Anthony Davis was utterly dominant. Swept in the first round by the Pelicans, the biggest disappointment in the Dame era. Stotts should have been fired after this season, but he stayed on nonetheless.
Dame has since said that he and the team weren’t ready for this series and that they kind of got ahead of themselves. A big waste of a season during the start of Dame’s prime.
2018-19 Season
Finally some roster moves. Added Seth Curry in free agency, traded for Rodney Hood and signed Enes Kanter midseason. Dame was an All-Star, CJ was a consistent 2nd option, and Nurkic was having a career season. Offense was elite and smooth sailing all season long.
But near the end of the year, a devastating leg injury to Jusuf Nurkic took Portland out of contention. This would be the start of Nurkic’s unfortunate injury battles over the next few seasons.
Still finished as the 3rd season and went on a unlikely playoff run. Dame dominated the first round against OKC, completely dominating his one-sided beef with Westbrook. 37-foot, buzzer-beating game winner in Game 5 won series, capped off 50-point game in Game 5.
The 2nd round was another scrappy series against the upstart Nuggets. Portland won Game 3 in 4OT but they still trailed 3-2 in the series and by 17 points on the road for the decisive Game 7. But a huge 2nd half comeback and 37 points from CJ McCollum propelled the Blazers to their first Western Conference title since 2000.
In the conference finals, they held a double-digit lead in all 4 games against the Warriors. Lost all 4 games, but without Jusuf Nurkic and a hobbled Enes Kanter starting? Certainly not the worst outcome, but the closest the Blazers would come to winning a title in the Dame era (so far).
2019-20 Season
2020 was weird as injuries hit the team hard. Nurkic was still recovering from his injury, Rodney Hood tore his achilles in December. Seth Curry left in free agency. Dame had some incredible stretches of scoring, but the team couldn’t stay afloat due to their poor defense and lack of depth.
Portland signed Carmelo Anthony mid-season, but when the season was suspended in March due to Covid, the playoffs seemed unlikely. But the Blazers went 6-2 in the bubble when their team was kind of healthy. The defense was awful, but the offense was scorching hot.
Somehow made it to the playoffs where after winning Game 1, were completely dominated by the eventual champion LA Lakers. Still, making the playoffs was a miracle in of itself, so not a total waste.
2020-21 Season
Another incredibly disappointing season. Acquired defense stopper Robert Covington that offseason, hoping for better defense. But injuries reared their ugly head once again.
CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic missed extensive time due to injuries shortly after the season started. Another incredible Damian Lillard run, including signature games against the Bulls and Pelicans kept Portland afloat with limited help. The defense was terrible, but the amazing offense kept things afloat.
Traded for Norman Powell at the deadline but things went south with a poor stretch in April. Strong end to the season with a healthy roster, still finished as the 6th seed in the West with 42 wins in a shortened season.
Denver would be a tough opponent, but their guard rotation was decimated by injuries, as 3 of their main guards would miss the entire series, including their 2nd best player in Jamal Murray. This seemed like a very winnable series but Portland just found ways to lose games.
In Game 3 at home with the series tied 1-1, Portland lost thanks to 16 points from Austin Rivers in the 4th quarter. In Game 5, with the series tied 2-2, Damian Lillard had an all-time playoff performance. The Blazers trailed by 20 in the first half, but Dame willed them back in it.
He scored 55 points, a playoff career high, along with an NBA playoff record 12 3-pointers. A game tying 3 at the end of regulation forced overtime #1. At the end of OT1, he hit another mystifying 3-pointer to force double OT. But Dame couldn’t get the help he needed and Portland lost game 4 and the series.
Stotts was finally fired after the series disappointment, but the era of disappointment had continued.
And now we’re in present day. The Blazers have continually failed Dame in trying to get help. 2018 and 2021 are two incredibly disappointing seasons and now, for once, Dame trade talks are the talk of the town. Lillard has remained unwaveringly loyal to the Blazers, even when people suggested that he leave town.
But Dame’s cryptic messages this offseason suggest that even he might want to change things in the near future. The team hasn’t been aggressive enough, trying to get good talent around Dame. As much as Ben Simmons would fit perfectly around Dame, I doubt our front office is going to be doing anything.
So years of disappointment have led us here. My Blazers have never been a championship team, thanks to a lack of aggressiveness from management and a lack of coaching. The 2021-22 season might be Portland’s last chance to try and get Dame to stay before he gets out of town, so things aren’t exactly in the best place with their franchise megastar.
But now it’s time for the question, what do the Blazers do with Damian Lillard?
What Would A Lillard Trade Look Like?
So we know how we got here. Years of a poorly managed roster, terrible coaching, a lot of disappointment have led a incredibly loyal Damian Lillard to show his first signs of wanting to leave. So if the Blazers wanted to trade Lillard, what could they get back?
Lillard is still in his prime and hasn’t shown any signs of injuries/slowing down just yet. He’s a great 3 level scorer than puts so much pressure on the defense the moment he steps over halfcourt. Another great thing about Dame is that he has 3 seasons left on his deal and could potentially be 4 if he accepts his player option in 2025.
So Lillard is still one of the best point guards in the league, a top-12 player or so, he’s healthy, and he’s got contract security. If you’re Portland, you can certainly stretch out that value.
Option #1: Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers have wanted Damian Lillard badly, as it seems that for Ben Simmons, they want a superstar in return. So while CJ for Simmons might be out of the question, they will certainly do a Lillard for Simmons trade, but Portland could certainly get a lot more than just an All-NBA quality defender like Simmons.
Blazers Receive: Ben Simmons – Matisse Thybulle – Tyrese Maxey – Jaden Springer – 2 FRP
76ers Receive: Damian Lillard
The Blazers would get a lot of out this deal. Ben Simmons is an All-Star in desperate need of a fresh start. Matisse Thybulle is a incredibly talented, young, All-NBA level defender. Tyrese Maxey is a solid scorer, also young. Jaden Springer was a first round pick this year. Plus two first round picks? That’s a lot of ammo for the start to a rebuild.
The 76ers are gutting themselves a bit, but a duo of Embiid + Lillard? That sounds lethal and he would make them a lot better if they were to do this.
And I know some people’s reaction to this trade would be, the Blazers are asking for too much. But you’d much rather ask for too much than for too little, you know. You definitely don’t want to undersell Dame and I think this is a pretty fair deal, all things considered.
The 76ers want Dame and I don’t know if they want him this much, but if Portland wants Ben Simmons, this is the type of trade that would happen.
Option #2: Golden State Warriors
Now, I would like to preface this. There is no way in hell that the Blazers would do this. Not only are the Warriors the reason for multiple playoff exits over the past few seasons, they’re in the same conference. I can only imagine that we’d trade Dame to the East and not have to see him 4 times per year.
So I don’t think this will happen, but the Warriors certainly have the assets to make this move happen.
Blazers Receive: Andrew Wiggins – Jonathan Kuminga – Two Future FRP
Warriors Receive: Damian Lillard
Heck, I’m not even sure the Warriors want to do this. I’m guessing they want Kuminga long-term and maybe they have changed their mind on Wiseman and want to keep him around longer than just one season. And even if the Warriors wanted to do this, I would be incredibly disappointed if my Blazers did this.
But Curry and Lillard on the same team? The two best range shooters in the league and two of the best shooters ever? That would be fun, but unfortunately it’s unlikely to happen.
Option #3: New York Knicks
The Knicks are on the rise in the Eastern Conference, for once. Their defense was elite last year and while they added guys like Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker this offseason, Damian Lillard would make them elite. Lillard would finally get to play in a big market, with good coaching and teammates around him.
And Stephen A. Smith said that Dame wanted to go to New York, so it must be true. The Knicks do have some good assets, so here’s what a Dame trade could look like.
Blazers Receive: Mitchell Robinson – Obi Toppin – Immanuel Quickley – 3 FRP
Knicks Receive: Damian Lillard
The Blazers are getting a lot. Along with 3 future first round picks, you’re getting 3 great young pieces. Mitchell Robinson is a great young shot-blocker who could be your franchise center down low with Jusuf Nurkic’s contract expiring. Obi Toppin has shown promise as a hyper athletic wing. Immanuel Quickley is a natural scorer.
That’s a pretty good package back and if the Knicks really want to go all in, they could do something like this. However, with them getting Kemba Walker, it does seem like, for now, they are content with what they have. But after this season, if Walker doesn’t seem like the answer, then the Knicks could certainly pull the trigger on this trade and get Dame.
Again, Stephen A. Smith said this would happen, therefore it is 100% going to happen.
(totally not sarcasm)
Option #4: New Orleans Pelicans
Would the Pelicans do this? Probably not. Do I want to see Zion and Dame on the same team? Yes, yes, yes, and more yes. This is more for me than it would be for either team. Not that the Pelicans don’t have the assets for a trade like this and how they desperately need to get Zion the help he needs to win.
I doubt this happens, but hey, it’s fun.
Blazers Receive: Brandon Ingram – Nickeil Alexander-Walker – Kira Lewis Jr. – 4 Future FRP (via Lakers & Bucks)
Pelicans Receive: Damian Lillard
The Blazers are getting a lot. Brandon Ingram is an All-Star caliber wing who can score well at all 3 levels. He also has contract stability. Lewis and Walker are two really talented guards who haven’t really gotten a chance to shine yet. Now, 4 future first round picks sounds like a lot. But remember this.
With the Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday trades, the Pelicans got a lot of draft picks from both the Lakers and Bucks. In this trade, all 4 of those picks aren’t actually their own picks. First round picks in 2022 and 2023, both from the Lakers. First rounders in 2024 and 2025, both from the Bucks.
So the Pelicans can give up picks for a star, while still keeping their own picks. Which is why I think this trade isn’t that realistic. Maybe the Pelicans want to keep Ingram, but you want spacing around Zion? What about one of the best shooters of this generation? That doesn’t sound too bad to me.
Final Verdict
So, what do the Blazers do with Damian Lillard? For years, the team around the homegrown superstar hasn’t been enough to win a title. The current team heading in 2022 is at best a 2nd round team, but more than likely another first round exit.
Dame is still a great player and I get that you want to keep him, but maybe it’s time to move on. The goal should always be to win and Portland has never really come close to that. Dame still has peak value and while I don’t think he’s going to be traded this season, maybe next offseason?
Obviously, if you trade Dame, everybody has to go. Nurkic and Covington are on the last year of their deals. You can get pretty good value for CJ and maybe even Norman Powell. If you trade Dame, then everybody has to go. Which is why I think this is going to be such a hard decision to make.
Portland has been a perennial playoff team and taking Dame away makes us bad, so might as well have a fire sale. I’m glad my Blazers haven’t traded Dame yet, but I think after this season, barring a championship, maybe it’s time to pull the plug. No real shame in that.
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