Damian Lillard discusses Blazers' season, his future in Portland, trade rumors and more

[Rastapopoulos]

http://hoopshype.com/2017/01/24/dam...his-future-in-portland-trade-rumors-and-more/

 

[Nikolokolus]

There have been a number of times where people have tweeted at you saying you should leave Portland for bigger market or that you should join their favorite team, and you’ve responded and shot it down. Can you see yourself playing your entire career with the Blazers?

DL: Definitely. I like living in Portland and I like the organization. It’s a great organization and they take care of us in every way possible. I’m happy with the situation that I’m in, and my family is happy with the situation and where we’re living. It’s a place where I’d want to play my entire career. Obviously, with this being a business, people’s feelings change about players. And players’ feelings change about organizations; I don’t think mine will, though, because I really like where I am and where I live and stuff like that. But you just never know.

Pretty good answer; seems realistic about things, but doesn't come across as a kiss-ass either.

 

[barfo]

So Lillard's definitely leaving. Hope we get something this time instead of letting him walk like LMA.

barfo

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Pretty good answer; seems realistic about things, but doesn't come across as a kiss-ass either.

CJ loves Portland more.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Pretty good answer; seems realistic about things, but doesn't come across as a kiss-ass either.

It just shows how lucky we are to have an owner like Paul Allen. Sure, he may have over indulged and overpaid for some of our players last summer, but that willingness to commit to players financially makes it easy to keep the guys you want to keep, happy.

Outside of an occasional ass hat like J.R. Rider, who was never happy anywhere, the players that have actually played here during the Paul Allen era love it here. It's too bad Paul Allen can't use all those billions to invent a time machine to show prospective free agents what life would be like if they actually signed with the Blazers. I think it would make it a lot easier to lure top free agents to POR.

BNM

 

[KeepOnRollin]

CJ loves Portland more.

I think they both like it here a lot. Splitting hairs. However, I think CJ would be much more likely to jump at a chance to play for Cleveland someday then Dame would with GS.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I think they both like it here a lot. Splitting hairs. However, I think CJ would be much more likely to jump at a chance to play for Cleveland someday then Dame would with GS.

Whooosh....

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Players usually talk about the game slowing down for them as they gain NBA experience. When did that start happening for you, and do you notice things continuing to get easier?

DL: Each year that I’ve been in the league, the game has gotten slower. This season, being my fifth year, it’s the slowest it’s ever been. I think it’s just because, over time, you learn coverages, you learn NBA terminology, you learn what specific teams like to do and how they’re going to try to guard you, you learn player tendencies and things like that. Because you know those things, you’re able to make decisions quickly or see a play coming or know what’s going to be available before it actually happens. That’s what players mean by the game slowing down. You don’t feel like you have to make split-second decisions – you see everything as it develops because you’ve seen the same thing so many times before.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Whooosh....

Sorry. It shouldn't have been a quote as much as it's own separate post...But yes I get it.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Players usually talk about the game slowing down for them as they gain NBA experience. When did that start happening for you, and do you notice things continuing to get easier?

DL: Each year that I’ve been in the league, the game has gotten slower. This season, being my fifth year, it’s the slowest it’s ever been. I think it’s just because, over time, you learn coverages, you learn NBA terminology, you learn what specific teams like to do and how they’re going to try to guard you, you learn player tendencies and things like that. Because you know those things, you’re able to make decisions quickly or see a play coming or know what’s going to be available before it actually happens. That’s what players mean by the game slowing down. You don’t feel like you have to make split-second decisions – you see everything as it develops because you’ve seen the same thing so many times before.

I would love to see Meyers' answer to this question.

Each year that I've been in the league I've tried to release my 3pt shot a little slower.

 

[Trackjack]

I guess Dame don't read this forum on trade rumors.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

I think they both like it here a lot. Splitting hairs. However, I think CJ would be much more likely to jump at a chance to play for Cleveland someday then Dame would with GS.

Expanding on this... LeBron James just made the emphatic statement that he needs more help. He said the team needs another playermaker. Would anyone trade CJ for Kevin Love after the season? I personally wouldn't do it (I might even keep CJ over Dame - not that POR would) but I am almost positive that CLE would do this deal. Love has played A LOT better this year. And of course it would balance us more both offensively and defensively.

So even though I would turn it down, is there anyone who wouldn't?

 

[Boob-No-More]

I think they both like it here a lot. Splitting hairs. However, I think CJ would be much more likely to jump at a chance to play for Cleveland someday then Dame would with GS.

Wow, can you imagine how scary good CLE would be if they added C.J. to their current roster? He would be the perfect fit for them and I think would give them a clear advantage in a 7-game series against GSW. See LeBron's recent comments about the CLE roster being top heavy. C.J. is better at hitting open shots than anybody on the CLE roster, and outside of LeBron, better at creating his own shot. He would take a huge load off LeBron, Kyrie and Love. Too bad CLE doesn't have anything, outside of those three, even remotely worth trading for a player like C.J. We already have their 2017 first round pick, and the rest of their roster is full of a few young guys that suck and old coat tail riding ring chasers whose better days are about a decade in the rear view mirror.

Dame on GSW wouldn't have nearly as much of an impact. They already have a much better version of Dame in Curry, so he'd just take away Shaun Livingston's back up minutes.

BNM

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Wow, can you imagine how scary good CLE would be if they added C.J. to their current roster? He would be the perfect fit for them and I think would give them a clear advantage in a 7-game series against GSW. See LeBron's recent comments about the CLE roster being top heavy. C.J. is better at hitting open shots than anybody on the CLE roster, and outside of LeBron, better at creating his own shot. He would take a huge load off LeBron, Kyrie and Love. Too bad CLE doesn't have anything, outside of those three, even remotely worth trading for a player like C.J. We already have their 2017 first round pick, and the rest of their roster is full of a few young guys that suck and old coat tail riding ring chasers whose better days are about a decade in the rear view mirror.

Dame on GSW wouldn't have nearly as much of an impact. They already have a much better version of Dame in Curry, so he'd just take away Shaun Livingston's back up minutes.

BNM

They would have to give us Love for POR to even consider it. And even then I think POR would stand pat. See my post above yours....

 

[KingSpeed]

Great interview. Glad he's on our team.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Expanding on this... LeBron James just made the emphatic statement that he needs more help. He said the team needs another playermaker. Would anyone trade CJ for Kevin Love after the season? I personally wouldn't do it (I might even keep CJ over Dame - not that POR would) but I am almost positive that CLE would do this deal. Love has played A LOT better this year. And of course it would balance us more both offensively and defensively.

So even though I would turn it down, is there anyone who wouldn't?

Funny you mentioned LeBron's comments at the same time I was typing about the same thing.

No way would I do a K-Love for C.J. swap. Love is three years older and is a great third option on a win now team. He can't create his own shot and adding him as our second option would not make us any better. He would make no sense in POR. Yeah our roster would be more balanced, but also older. Getting older, as long as GSW is still GSW makes no sense. Getting better while getting younger is the only thing that makes sense for POR.

As much sense as C.J. makes in CLE, I'm not sure they do that deal either. Again they are in win now mode. So, the older Love makes sense for them. Yes, C.J. would give them another play maker that can hit open shots and create his own shot, but giving up Love leaves them without any big that can score and kills their rebounding.

Adding C.J. to LeBron, Kyrie and Love would make CLE scary good. Swapping C.J. for Love doesn't really help them. Their roster would still be top heavy, relying entirely on 3 players for scoring. LeBron wasn't asking for different 3rd option. He was asking for a reliable 4th option to take some of the load off their Big 3.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

They would have to give us Love for POR to even consider it. And even then I think POR would stand pat. See my post above yours....

Like I said, it will never happen. CLE isn't breaking up their Big 3 and have nothing else to offer us. As I posted, I actually don't think either team would do a Love for C.J. swap.

BNM

 

[KeepOnRollin]

I love how there is one team out there with a really really really good 4th option so every other team now thinks they deserve or should get one. Not how it works unfortunately.

 

[Boob-No-More]

I love how there is one team out there with a really really really good 4th option so every other team now thinks they deserve or should get one. Not how it works unfortunately.

Well not every team, most are still looking for a really good second or third option. A few are still trying to find a viable first option.

BNM

 

[Trackjack]

Every time Lebron see his team start going down he wants more great players so he can win championship. Some how gets his way because some team like us helps him to achieve that goal. Know I don't think we are going trade CJ to Cleveland. Lebron right now don't think they can beat Golden St in a 7 game series. That why he asking for more.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Well not every team, most are still looking for a really good second or third option. A few are still trying to find a viable first option.

BNM

Yep. Went over this in that Local Media are assholes or whatever thread.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I actually don't think the Cavs would want CJ AND Kyrie. They'd be in the same boat we're in with CJ and Lillard. One or the other.

Oddly, I think the player of ours they might be able to use would be Evan Turner. They want a playmaker and a good defender. I bet they'd consider this:
http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=haau488

 

[KingSpeed]

I actually don't think the Cavs would want CJ AND Kyrie. They'd be in the same boat we're in with CJ and Lillard. One or the other.

Oddly, I think the player of ours they might be able to use would be Evan Turner. They want a playmaker and a good defender. I bet they'd consider this:
http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=haau488

I don't like that idea for either team. Frye has been such a great fit for them. Not sure why they'd want to trade him. LeBron is most effective when surrounded by great three point shooters. Miller, Battier, etc. Turner doesn't fit certainly not at the cost of Frye.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

I actually don't think the Cavs would want CJ AND Kyrie. They'd be in the same boat we're in with CJ and Lillard. One or the other.

Oddly, I think the player of ours they might be able to use would be Evan Turner. They want a playmaker and a good defender. I bet they'd consider this:
http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=haau488

Shump is such garbage. Even compared to Evan. I would much rather trade Crabbe and/or Leonard before Turner. I still think he will work well for us long-term. He has already come a long way in a short amount of time.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I don't like that idea for either team. Frye has been such a great fit for them. Not sure why they'd want to trade him. LeBron is most effective when surrounded by great three point shooters. Miller, Battier, etc. Turner doesn't fit certainly not at the cost of Frye.

You're probably right. I'd rather give Turner a bit more of a chance. If they threw in a first rounder (I think we already have theirs, though) it might be better. And I'd like Frye to come back to his fave city. But yes, he's probably more use to them than to us.

It was more just finding matching salaries. If you think OUR guys are overpaid...

 

[Minstrel]

Turner is the least objectionable of Over-The-Market Gang. Sadly, that also means he's probably the only minimally tradeable one.

 

[KingSpeed]

I don't know why people want to trade Turner lately. He's been playing very well for us lately.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Every time Lebron see his team start going down he wants more great players so he can win championship. Some how gets his way because some team like us helps him to achieve that goal. Know I don't think we are going trade CJ to Cleveland. Lebron right now don't think they can beat Golden St in a 7 game series. That why he asking for more.

LeBron doesn't want to be on a team where all they do is build from the draft and develop players like the Blazers.

 

[Trackjack]

LeBron doesn't want to be on a team where all they do is build from the draft and develop players like the Blazers.

I understand that but he needs not so vocal about oh we are losing so I need different players to compete for another championship. He need to play not try to run the organization. What is he going to bolt again and go to golden st so I can another championship. Hey he 34 years old he sign yearly contract so continue to make more money than anyone but so of later his age going catch up and he won't be worth that amount.

 

[1eyejack]

Pretty good answer; seems realistic about things, but doesn't come across as a kiss-ass either.

Better answer would have been CTC