Superstar point guard Damian Lillard is one of the best players in the NBA right now, even without a Finals appearance or an NBA championship on his resume. Lillard made his 7th All-Star Team this season and is posting 32.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG, and 7.3 APG through 58 appearances with the Portland Trail Blazers. The point guard also added a 3-Point Contest title to his resume as he continues to pile on individual awards. At the same time, Damian Lillard has done everything he could to get the Portland Trail Blazers into the playoffs, but even he has to admit that his chance of playing in the postseason is probably over.
Lillard is almost 33 years old and must be realizing that he won’t have a chance to win if he stays where he is. He must want to win a championship right now and doesn’t want to bask in mediocrity any longer. Despite the point guard’s loyalty until now, there has to be widespread fear in Portland that their franchise superstar is unsettled and has major doubts about whether he should remain loyal to his team. It is obvious that Blazers fans are unsure about how Portland can build a title contender in a talented Western Conference. The Trail Blazers have tried to build a contender around Lillard with talents such as CJ McCollum, Jerami Grant, and Jusuf Nurkic, but it hasn’t worked out on both ends of the floor. More specifically, Portland struggled to get defensive stops when they needed to and relied too much on Dame to succeed.
Perhaps Lillard is too stubborn for his own good. The point guard has repeatedly made it clear that “ring culture” is not what he believes in and competing in the NBA is about more than championship banners. That is certainly eye-brow raising because how could a top-75 player of all time admit that it does not bother him when seasons go by, and he doesn’t want to win? Perhaps this is just loyalty rather than stubbornness, as the point guard has gone out to defend head coach Chauncey Billups amid a disappointing season when there were high hopes of Lillard having help in Anfernee Simons and Jerami Grant. No matter what Lillard says, it could be time to leave as the player is at risk of getting shut down for the season yet again as the team is looking too far away from competing. That simply has to hurt a player of Lillard’s superstar offensive excellence.
The only way for Lillard to win a championship right now is to leave the Portland Trail Blazers once and for all. Whether he likes it or not, multiple first-round exits and countless missed playoff seasons do not look good on the player’s resume. NBA fans are begging and pleading for Lillard to force a move away for his own sake, and it could be the perfect time to do so. There are three major destinations for the point guard to find postseason success with, and it does not have to mean he creates a completely unfair superteam as Kevin Durant did with Golden State. Here are the three best destinations for Damian Lillard to set his sights on for greener pastures.
A Big Three In Los Angeles
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Damian Lillard
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: D’Angelo Russell (Sign and Trade), Jarred Vanderbilt, 2019 First-Round Pick
By one of the best chances for Damian Lillard to make the Finals is forming a Big Three with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Lillard and Anthony Davis could be another version and recreation of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, while LeBron James is still the smartest player in the NBA. That trio makes the Lakers the best team in the West by a large margin, without the likes of a rampant Golden State Warriors side running the conference year after year. More so than in any other season we can remember, the conference is completely wide open even if Kevin Durant is on the Phoenix Suns because he has yet to stay healthy, while Chris Paul’s age and Deandre Ayton’s motor are very unconvincing.
The Lakers have been title contenders for a few seasons since their 2020 championship run, but a trade for Russell Westbrook and constant injuries to LeBron and Davis have halted their progress. If the Lakers had Lillard on the roster, there is no question the team would have made it to a top-3 seed in the West despite the injuries. At the same time, Los Angeles must realize that, but they must win now with LeBron approaching 39 years old next season, and Davis isn’t exactly getting healthier and more motivated by the year.
Damian Lillard can lead the Lakers with Anthony Davis in the future after LeBron’s retirement and has the best possible chance to make the NBA Finals next year if Portland makes a trade to bring on board D’Angelo Russell in a sign and trade, Jarred Vanderbilt, and the highly-rated 2029 first-round pick. Los Angeles loses two starters and a valuable pick, but they bring on the best point guard in the NBA right now to form an iconic Big Three. With Lillard on board, Los Angeles can sport a ferocious starting lineup with Dame, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, and Anthony Davis.
Lillard has a chance to be Los Angeles’ savior as he competes alongside The King and Davis, the latter who will have the reigns of the team when LeBron eventually retires. Lillard might be in his mid 30’s when LeBron retires, but he is the type of player to compete in a big market and stay there. The point guard can win a ring with LeBron and company and also be the face of a massive market as well.
The Celtics Re-Tool With A Superstar Point Guard
Boston Celtics Receive: Damian Lillard
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Malcolm Brogdon, Marcus Smart, Robert Williams, 2024 First-Round Pick, 2026 First-Round Pick
The Boston Celtics might need a third star to pair with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. The Celtics struggled in the NBA Finals and were beaten by Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors in six games. Boston showed their immaturity in the Finals but also lacked a proper point guard who knows how to lead guys on the floor. Marcus Smart won Defensive Player of the Year and was a special player for them last year, but he isn’t really a point guard and does not help the turnover style of play the Celtics consistently employ.
Damian Lillard in Boston makes the Celtics the best team in the Eastern Conference, ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers. We have already seen how great Lillard would make the Celtics as a team because their firepower would simply be too strong. The Celtics Big Three could get it done on offense at the highest level, while the supporting players can provide defense. In terms of having a shot at making his first NBA Finals, Lillard fits perfectly in Boston as he can help dominate the offense while Tatum and Brown share turns as they learn to share the ball more. How could the Celtics find a way to pry Dame from Portland? By offering a package of Malcolm Brogdon, Marcus Smart, Robert Williams, a 2024 first-round pick, and a 2026 first-round pick.
Boston’s new starting lineup would feature Damian Lillard, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Al Horford. The Celtics made it to the Finals last year without a true playmaker or point guard, so imagine what they could do with a superstar who is posting over 30 PPG and over 7 APG. Considering Dame can play off the ball and is not a selfish player, he fits right into the Celtics’ system, as perhaps the players can stop turning the ball over needlessly and get more efficient offensive sets in the playoffs and especially in the Finals.
Lillard would fare better for his own sake in Boston because, for one, it is a big market for a big-time player. Next, he would have All-Star help for the first time in his career and play with guys who already have Finals experience under their belts. By placing himself in a position to be with other elite players, Lillard can quiet the noise and add an NBA title and possibly a Finals MVP to his resume.
New York Finally Has A Superstar Player
New York Knicks Receive: Damian Lillard
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin, 2024 First-Round Pick, 2025 First-Round Pick
The New York Knicks are a team that is trying its best to make a push this season as they look to be in a position to make the postseason again. The Knicks have looked quite good this year, although they currently hold an impressive 42-32 record in the Eastern Conference which is good for 5th. With plenty of decent basketball going around, thanks to Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, role players, and even head coach Tom Thibodeau, the Knicks are once again in the spotlight in terms of media and fan expectations.
Even if Julius Randle is competing at his best again by making his second All-Star Team and Jalen Brunson was a fringe All-Star posting 23.8 PPG and 6.2 APG, the Knicks need an upgrade in guard play to give Brunson and Julius Randle some perimeter help and scoring, and these players could boost the Knicks back in the playoffs soon. Damian Lillard would be the gift the Knicks need, as he is having a phenomenal season on the offensive side of the court. He is posting a career-high in PPG and is doing it at alarming efficiency. Finally, the Knicks could have a legitimate superstar and top-10 player in the world for the first time since prime Carmelo Anthony was on the team.
To nab Lillard out of Portland, the Knicks need to prepare a massive package that includes talented young players such as RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and Obi Toppin, along with the 2024 first-round pick and the 2025 first-round pick. Lillard and Jalen Brunson would be one of the best frontcourts in the league in terms of playmaking and scoring, while Randle would dominate down low with the added talents. The Portland Trail Blazers are not in a position to be winning games because they lack talent, so rebuilding with Barrett, Quickley, Toppin, and two picks makes perfect sense for them.
This deal benefits the Knicks the most because their lineup would include Jalen Brunson, Damian Lillard, Josh Hart, Julius Randle, and Mitchell Robinson. That is quite a scary lineup to compete with on both ends of the court, and the point guard already has experience competing with Hart in Portland. With three All-Star players and two defensive-minded starters, the Knicks can compete for a top-3 seed in the East next year, and that won’t be a surprise to anybody if they make the Finals. Dame can become New York’s savior, and what a story that would be if he could lead them to an NBA title.
