Things have gotten interesting for the Golden State Warriors this summer after former Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard suddenly hit the free-agent market. The Warriors, who are still fresh off the Jimmy Butler trade in February, have become the latest franchise to show interest in the star as teams across the league vie for his services.
“Of the many teams that reached out to Damian Lillard, the Warriors were one of those teams,” said Marc Spears on NBA Today. “This is a guy who grew up at games at Oracle Arena, sneaking in the media room, getting sodas. Grew up a Warriors fan… I know it’s very interesting to Bay Area people.”
Lillard, 34, began his career with the Portland Trail Blazers, where he spent 11 years leading them as a regular playoff team. Lillard grew up in Oakland, California, the site of the famous ‘Oracle Arena’ and the place where the Stephen Curry dynasty began. Back in Lillard’s day, the Warriors were a relatively irrelevant franchise, but by the time he made it into the league in 2012, the seeds were already in place for their rise to power.
For years, Steph and the Warriors blocked Lillard’s path to the Finals, and the Trail Blazers failed to get him the pieces he needed to finally take them down. During his lone trip to the NBA Finals in 2019, it was Steph and the Warriors who sent him home in defeat and ended his last best chance to make a run.
Now, Lillard and Curry could join forces in a move that would shock the basketball world. In his prime, Lillard was one of the best three-point shooters in the league, second only to Steph himself. With career averages of 25.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game on 43.9% shooting, Lillard is a generational talent who demands respect.
Even after tearing his Achilles tendon in April, Lillard remains a hot target across the league, and it’s believed he may be able to return at some point next season to help a team make a playoff run. Considering he’d come at the veteran’s minimum, even the Warriors can afford to bring him in, and they really have nothing to lose by offering him a spot.
Alongside Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green, Lillard could thrive with the Warriors and finish out his career on his terms. Not only would he get open looks and floor spacing from Steph, he’d enjoy extra coverage on defense from his team in the form of Butler, Draymond, and whoever else the Warriors can add this offseason.
With Lillard and Curry’s shooting, the Warriors would be unmatched offensively, comparable only to the days of Curry and Thompson during the peak of the Warriors’ run. Assuming they fill out the roster with a proper big man, Lillard’s arrival could change everything for the Warriors and put them back in a position they haven’t been in years.
In the end, only time will tell how Lillard’s future plays out, but the decision is entirely his. At this point, he has total control over his next contract, and if he wants to sign with the Warriors, that option will be available. With close ties to the city (a lot of family there) and the potential to win a championship, there are plenty of reasons why Lillard might be favorable to joining the Warriors.
