More than ever in search of a ring, Damian Lillard has sent a clear message to its leaders. The Blazers franchise must build a competitive team or the star will reconsider his future in Oregon.
Will Damian Lillard add a title to his list before hanging up the sneakers? At almost 33 years old, the All-Star point guard knows that he can no longer afford seasons away from the Playoffs if he wants to go into jewelry before his retirement. Problem: The Blazers just missed the postseason for the second year in a row and right now they’re far from looking like a favorite for the 2024 title.
With the approach of a capital offseason for the franchise, the local star therefore took advantage of a passage on the show The Last Stand to send a clear message to its leaders. In short, build a team that can win a title…and fast.
“I want to have an opportunity to win in Portland… We got an opportunity, asset-wise, to build a team that can compete. If we can’t do that… then it’s a separate conversation we would have to have”
Damian Lillard on the Blazers’ future
(via @SHOsports)pic.twitter.com/s7XPkZmyXQ
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) June 6, 2023
“I think I made my wishes clear. I want the opportunity to win in Portland and now we have the opportunity, in terms of assets, to build a team that can be competitive. If we can’t do it, we’re going to have to talk.
We just have to let things take their course and see where they end up. There is no guarantee to play in June, whatever the situation.
In the jargon, we call it a nice little push. Joe Cronin, the General Manager of the Blazers, will therefore have to activate to satisfy his star. This undoubtedly involves departures (Nurkic, Simons?) and the arrival of players of another caliber using all the means available, including the pick 3 of the next Draft. According to Jake Fisher of Bleacher Report, the franchise seems ready to listen to offers for everyone, except for Shaedon Sharpe and Damian Lillard of course. It remains to be seen whether the Front office will be able to bring together a team worthy of the name this summer to go all the way.
What push Dam ‘to join a contender for the title in the opposite case? Possible, but the leader does not seem convinced that the grass is always greener elsewhere. He notably cited the example of the Lakers to prove that a trade towards an ambitious destination does not always guarantee victory.
“They could trade me to a club that we would all say is a contender for victory. But how do you know if everyone will be healthy? How do you know if it will work? When Russell Westbrook joined the Lakers everyone said ‘oh Lakers’, you know what I mean? Then they kicked Russ off the bench like he wasn’t a Hall of Famer. Dude, it’s Russell Westbrook. Like what, nothing is guaranteed.”
When it comes to a potential destination, Damian Lillard also had to answer a question about his preferences. The Knicks, Nets, Celtics and Heat have been cited as potential interested teams in recent months and therefore Dame Dolla had to choose one as her “first choice”.
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) June 7, 2023
“Miami, of course. Miami is the most obvious and Bam (Adebayo) is my guy. Bam is my sure guy really. Miami is the most obvious… Brooklyn is also obvious. It’s obvious because Mikal Bridges is also my safe guy.
With the Draft and the Free Agency fast approaching, we should quickly know if Joe Cronin and his family are responding to Damian Lillard’s requests. Or if the point guard should start thinking about another jersey to wear in the future…
Source texte : The Last Stand / Showtime
2023-06-07 14:40:00
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