After the Denver Nuggets eliminated them from the 2021 NBA playoffs, the Portland Trail Blazers started a new season in the league. This time, they will have to find answers to a lot of questions raised during the season.
The biggest one of all involves Damian Lillard and his continuity with the team. The point guard has been urged to ‘escape’ that situation in Portland and he posted a cryptic message on Instagram that set the alarms for his team and the rest of the NBA.
Even though Dame hasn’t stated that he wants to be traded, it seems like teams around the association are waiting for him to request a trade in the offseason. According to Jason Quick and Shams Charania of The Athletic, several teams, including top-market franchises, are keeping tabs on Dame this offseason.
Sources say several NBA teams — including those in the top markets — are already intensely monitoring this situation in Portland and how it develops to look for an opening to make trade offers.
Four destinations could fit Lillard very well. Still, it’s hard to imagine that this guy will give up on his team to team up with another superstar on another team. The thing is that the Trail Blazers owe him a lot, and Dame needs to be surrounded by the right talent if he wants to win a championship.
They reached the Western Conference Finals two years ago, and that looked like the peak for this team. Now, they are looking for a new head coach after parting ways with Terry Stotts.
More significant changes need to take place this summer if they don’t want to waste Dame’s best year in a team that can only aspire to be above average.
