Damian Lillard’s future in the NBA is unarguably one of the hottest topics out there right now. Dame has given 11 seasons to the organization but is yet to even play in the NBA Finals once.
Keeping that in mind, there are rumors that Lillard may demand a trade if the Trail Blazers once again fail to build a competent roster around him. On that note, Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report recently suggested a blockbuster trade between the Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Clippers, and New York Knicks.
Los Angeles Clippers Receive: Damian Lillard
New York Knicks Receive: Paul George
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin, Jericho Sims, Evan Fournier, 2025 First-Round Pick (Top-Four Protected, From MIL Via NYK), 2027 First-Round Pick (Via NYK), And 2029 First-Round Pick (Via NYK)
“George would immediately address New York’s spacing concerns in a major way, while stepping into the featured role on offense,” Buckley wrote. “He isn’t so ball-dominant that he would limit Randle or Brunson’s chances to create, though. If coach Tom Thibodeau could strike the optimal balance of touches between them, the hope is that each would make the others more efficient.”
Paul George averaged 23.8 PPG, 6.1 RPG, and 5.1 APG last season. But availability has been a major issue for George over the last few seasons. In four seasons with the Clippers, he has played a grand total of 189 games (48 in 2019-20, 54 in 2020-21, 31 in 2021-22, 56 in 2022-23).
“The LA Clippers, meanwhile, could use an impact point guard, but their options of landing one are limited,” Buckley explained why the Clippers would benefit from the trade. “They have a good chunk of mid-sized salaries, but they lack the sweeteners needed to snag a star. So, rather than sacrificing depth for a solid-but-not-elite player, they’d give up George to bet on the championship chances of a Damian Lillard-Kawhi Leonard tandem.
Lillard averaged 32.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG, and 7.3 APG in the 2022-23 season. Despite his best efforts, the Trail Blazers ended up missing the playoffs and finished the 13th seed in the Western Conference. Playing for the Clippers would give him a legitimate chance to compete for an NBA Championship. He will play alongside Kawhi Leonard, who has already won two NBA titles (2014, 2019) in his career.
“As for the Portland Trail Blazers, this feels like the right time to split from Lillard, even if neither side wants to admit it. Portland already has a young core brewing with Anferee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe, and whomever it gets with the No. 3 pick. It would enhance that collection here with RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin, and Jericho Sims all looming as realistic long-term keepers.”
If the Trail Blazers trade Lillard, they will embrace a rebuilding process. The franchise already owns the third overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and could use it to draft a talented player like Scoot Henderson or Brandon Miller.
Will Damian Lillard Leave The Trail Blazers?
Damian Lillard will turn 33 years old later this year. So, it’s obvious that Dame’s window to win an NBA Championship is closing faster than ever.
A move away from Portland would be best to maximize his chances of winning a title. However, Lillard is reportedly recruiting free agents to the Trail Blazers even amidst rampant trade rumors. It just goes to prove that Lillard won’t demand a trade unless every chance of winning with Portland is exhausted.
The organization understands that and is apparently hoping to use their third overall draft pick in a trade to surround Dame with talent. But will they succeed in doing so? Only time will tell.
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