(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
It’s been a couple of years since the Portland Trail Blazers were considered a contender.
Damian Lillard has put the team on his shoulders year in and year out, but it just hasn’t been enough in the past couple of seasons.
Lillard was one of the leading scorers in the league this season, yet his team didn’t even make the play-in tournament.
He’s entering the backend of his prime, and it seems like his championship window is closing right before his eyes, at least with him potentially being a primary contributor to a title team.
So, now that there are several rumors regarding a potential trade away from the Blazers, Lillard made it quite clear that he’s not looking to rebuild right now.
Lillard recently told The Athletic that he’s looking forward to competing for an NBA championship right now, citing that he’s not interested in adding more young players.
Damian Lillard says he’s not interested in adding anymore young talent:
“I’m just not interested in that. That’s not a secret. I want a chance to go for it. And if the route is to (draft youth), then that’s not my route.”
(Via The Athletic) pic.twitter.com/FSS5DOHVI7
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) April 10, 2023
The Blazers have gathered a somewhat decent core of young guys, and Lillard has been a vocal, willing, and positive leader and mentor.
He’s also made it clear that he wants to win in Portland and that he’s looking forward to playing his entire career with the same organization.
So, the front office will have to make a decision in the offseason.
They could trade their first-round pick and some of their young players for a star and try and make a championship run while Lillard is still in his prime, or they could pull the plug and just trade him to a contending team.
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