Damian Lillard has developed a reputation as a superstar during his time with the Portland Trail Blazers. Over the course of the 2020-21 season, he averaged 28.8 PPG while shooting 45.1% from the field and 39.1% from beyond the arc.
However, during the 2021-22 season, Damian Lillard has struggled. Lillard is currently averaging 22.0 PPG while shooting 38.4% from the field and then 30.5% from 3PT range. It is clear that Damian Lillard has been playing far below his standards, but to be fair to him, he’s suffered from an abdominal injury this season.
When a player plays as Damian Lillard has this year, there will always be a debate on whether the poor stretch/shooting slump or whether the player has actually declined. This is particularly important for teams that want to trade for Lillard, such as the Philadelphia 76ers. An NBA agent who spoke to Zach Lowe of ESPN believes that teams who want to trade for Damian Lillard should be concerned about his play this year.
You said the D-word Dame… I will say I was talking to an agent yesterday, and I just sort of posed a question. At what point is this not a slump, and something to actually start worrying about? And more to the point, at what point are some of the teams that have been circling Dame going to start worrying that this is not a slump, that this is something more.
The response was: now. The point is now, where you have to start having that conversation… I think Philly less so than some other teams, they’re just in such win immediately mode.
There is no question that there is a certain risk to trading for Damian Lillard based on strictly this season. However, Damian Lillard has a proven track record as a top-tier point guard, and it is quite possible that he will break out of this slump if he gets fully healthy.
We’ll see if Damian Lillard’s performances deter suitors for him in the event of a trade, but it seems as though there would definitely be some teams like the 76ers that would still be interested in acquiring a player of his caliber.
