Good news: The Portland Trail Blazers don’t have to worry about Damian Lillard wanting to play for another team.
From HoopsHype’s Alex Kennedy:
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.
Lillard isn’t slated for free agency until 2021, so even if he was unhappy, the Blazers wouldn’t have anything to worry about. But he has, as Kennedy notes, repeatedly rebuffed those on twitter who suggest he eventually move to a different, more esteemed market—including those who call for him to inevitably end up on his “hometown” Golden State Warriors.
The Blazers aren’t winning at the moment. They are barely in the Western Conference postseason discussion. But there have been numerous stories and reports that focus on Lillard’s value to the organization as a leader behind the scenes.
Even if you think he’s overrated as an offensive weapon (he’s not), even if you’re not thrilled with his defense (totally justified), it’s hard not to see him and the Blazers franchise as a good match.
