At this point, everyone who follows the NBA is well aware of the drama surrounding Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers. After 11 seasons, Lillard finally asked to be traded, specifically to the Miami Heat, but the Blazers instead traded him to other teams. What followed was a series of conflicting reports about where he would end up, with at least four teams tied to Lillard so far.
Given that he has at least three years left on his contract plus a player option he’s unlikely to turn down, teams that might not have gotten into the fray with Lillard could be emboldened to do so. After all, he’ll be 34 this summer, and with up to four years left on his deal, his next team could be his last. With so many potential offers to choose from, the Blazers will have to prioritize several things if they want to move quickly from the Lillard era.
For starters, by moving on from their best player, they will have cleared his ugly contract, which will pay him N$60 million when he’s 36. They could also look at including starting center Jusuf Nurkic and his senior contract in a deal for Lillard, allowing them to by pressing the reset button on their privilege. The Blazers will also likely prioritize receiving young players and picks in exchange for them, but what is the best possible trade deal for Lillard? lets take alook.