The Knicks should be at the front of the line if the Trail Blazers decide to trade Damian Lillard, contends Mike Vaccaro of The New York Post. Lillard is one of the most popular Portland players ever and has been a fixture in the city since he was drafted in 2012. But he will turn 31 in July and could bring a huge collection of assets in return if the Blazers opt to rebuild.
Lillard is owed more than $127MM over the next three seasons and has a $48.8MM player option for 2024/25. He would provide an instant solution to New York’s long-running point guard problem and would bring some star power to the franchise. He’s still as explosive as ever as a scorer, averaging 28.8 points per game this season and shooting 39.1% from three-point range.
The Knicks have the assets to make a deal work, including five first-round picks over the next three years, Vaccaro adds. They also have young talent to offer, such as rookies Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley, second-year guard RJ Barrett and third-year center Mitchell Robinson.
There’s more from New York:
- If Lillard isn’t available, the Knicks will pursue other options to upgrade their backcourt this summer, and Ian Begley of SNY.TV hears that Derrick Rose‘s performance after being acquired from the Pistons will affect their strategy. If they can re-sign Rose, the Knicks will be less likely to spend big on another veteran point guard and may turn to restricted free agents such as Devonte’ Graham, Lonzo Ball or Kendrick Nunn. New York talked to the Pelicans about a possible Ball trade before the March deadline, but there’s not a consensus on him among the front office, according to Begley.
- With their playoff run over, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau met with newly signed guard Luca Vildoza on Thursday and watched him in a workout, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post. Former Knicks guard and current Timberwolves assistant coach Pablo Prigioni believes his fellow Argentinian has a bright NBA future. “(Vildoza is) really, really good,’’ Prigioni said. “I really like him. Very talented, got a great shot and knows how to pass. I’m really excited to see Luca next season with the Knicks. Tom’s going to like him.’’
- Thibodeau held a long meeting with his players on Thursday and decided to delay the traditional player evaluation conferences for about two weeks, Berman adds in a separate story. A source said Berman wants his players to unwind from the stress that COVID-19 brought to the season.
Rumors
Lillard, Chris Paul and Lowry could join both teams – Knicks and Lakers
In other words, Knicks have Lillard, Lakers have Lillard too
Any trade idea proposed by Knicks and Lakers will be undefeated？
If the reporters are talking about money
Blazers owners have more money than Knicks and Lakers owners combined
And will probably be sold.
Even if Harrell opts out the Lakers will have about $2M in cap space.
So about the only way they can get an expensive player is with a sign and trade involving Schroder and they’re not getting any of those 3 guys for him.
I see the Paul to the Lakers rumors but the pay cut he would have to take to play there is massive and he’s already on a better overall team. Not sure why he would do that.
Maybe he’d go to the Knicks? I don’t think it will happen, but it’s more likely than him going to the Lakers.
I hope the Knicks don’t trade RJ Barrett.
Ditto.
Blazers aren’t letting Dame go anywhere.
They will acquiesce to all of his demands for better or worse, as they should.
But that likely means CJ McCollum will be traded, they need more size at the two.
Lonzo Ball to the Knicks makes sense, Pelicans won’t match, they need to save the cap room for Zion’s future monster contract and they were basically playing him as a SG, bc Ingram and Bledsoe were the main ball handlers. He has improved drastically and if you’re NY, signing him gives you a chance that his brother follows suit in a few years.
You’re right, but who makes a big push for McCollum?
A team that doesn’t need him to handle the ball at the PG spot.
Sixers? They have a lot of good young guards and Ben Simmons runs the point.
OKC is a possibility, especially if they win the lottery and select Cade. Both he and Shai can handle the ball, McCollum becomes the off ball guard.
Pacers? (Stotts is heading there)
Raptors? Losing Lowry
To expand Jason’s point… If someone has to be traded… it is Lillard who has trade value, so he will go.
It doesn’t matter if he is best so should stay. Not the point.
If change is to happen, Lillard is the one to go, or the Blazers get de-talented in the trade and be farther away from the finals.
It is probably Lillard’s call. I hope Stotts points this out some day… but he may be kept in the dark also by credit-seeking Olshey.
Am I going to be the only poster correct on this?
Trading Damian Lillard would have the same fan reaction as the Red Sox trading Mookie Betts. It won’t go over well.. even though it will net the most Assets in return. A team like Portland keeps the face of the franchise around forever. It’ll be CJ that’ll get traded, among others. Lillard’s going nowhere.
And yet the trade was made. The reality of the situation is Dame is 31 and Denver, Utah, Dallas and Phoenix have all passed Portland by. While I get the whole “Face of the Franchise” reasoning for keeping him, it would serve no other purpose than sinking the franchise for the next decade.
I’m with you. Trading CJ ultimately changes nothing for Portland. They’ll either tread water or a take a step back by getting future assets
Which begs the question: if you can’t get better, then why not trade Dame for a bundle of future assets while he’s at peak value?
Lillard is definitely not getting traded. He’s there best player, only all star. Has pledged his loyalty to the team and the city multiple times.
It’ll be CJ and Nurkic who leave possibly even Covington and wouldn’t be surprised with Powell or Jones Jr either.
Like I’ve said Ingram would be my biggest target.
CJ, Nurkic, Little, 2 first round picks for Ingram, Adams and 2 second round picks.
I’d somehow love for Cole Anthony to come to Portland. He’s born in Portland, his father Greg Anthony played for the Blazers. He would be great coming off the bench, learning from Dame. Long term wise Cole and Ingram would be really nice.
After that Powell and DJJ, not to fazed. Ideally keep Powell and DJJ don’t care, going to need to rebuild the bench anyways.
Then just make some good decisions in FA, Jeff Teague, Jamychal Green, Avery Bradley, Nic Batum would be some targets.
1. Lillard. Teague. Nix
2. Powell. Simons. Elleby
3. Ingram. Batum
4. Covington. Melo. RHJ
5. Adams. Kanter. Bassey
Something like this with Jason Kidd as coach, Ime Idoka as an assistant. Some fresh ideas and fresh looking team. Some vets than really want to win, some young kids eager to play a role. Finally a Portland team that’ll play both ends of the floor
Good point on ColeA.
Lillard’s ties to the city could become a yoke in older age and losing records. Does he think CJM will take the heat?
Yes and in the first round is over. Covington and Adams in the front court is terrible.
What do you mean?
Defensively Adams is a beast, Covington can guard either forward spot and most guards, Ingram guards wings well and can handle guards. Adams defensively would offer a completely different style of defence to what Nurkic offered. Nurkic got blocks but didn’t contest as many shots as Adams. Adams allows less points in the paint but Nurkic gets more steals and tipped passes. Nurkic offers more all round protection but isn’t as consistent, whereas Adams will give you consistent hard nosed defence in the paint and protect the rim very well. That’s all you need him to do with Ingram and Covington trying to stop the perimeter game.
Rebounding wise Adams numbers aren’t amazing but his box outs are great for letting others get the ball. Kanter off the bench gets loads of boards also. In fact when Adams and Kanter played together in OKC they were the best rebounding team in the league for two straight years. (However they obviously also had Russ and other good rebounders). Covington doesn’t rebound that well but Ingram getting boards over McCollum is a huge upgrade.
Offensively Adams doesn’t give you much in scoring terms but he sets some of the best screens in the league which would be great for Dame and Ingram. And open up more space for corner shooters or cutters in Covington. However when Adams does choose to put the ball in the rim, his career FG% is the 6th best of all time.
Off the court he’s one of the best locker room players in the league. He helps the young players get better, he’s really good mates with Enes Kanter who he used to play with, he’s also played with Melo aswell. He doesn’t have an ego, doesn’t need touches, isn’t to vocal about issues. He just puts his head down and works hard, does all the little things that no appreciates and occasionally has a laugh with the media.
What’s not to like
You have a monster rebound duo. But playoffs are a game of chess. Both are slow and easily attackable. No mobility. You always have Doncic-Zubac situations, just without defensive guards. (Powell is ok). Ingram is not a go to guy player. He plays 3 good quarters and in 4 he has shooting problems.Covington is a strong wing defender, but power forward? And who scored in the zone? Will the team win vs. Denver? Or the Suns?
Dame owns the fourth quarter anyways. He could teach Ingram a thing or two.
His numbers consistently get better, he’s currently averaging 24-5-5 that’s sharing the ball with two point guards and Zion. I think with hell from Dame and boxing out from Adams he would average closer to 27-5-7 in Portland.
Covington is a strong wing defender and that’s all you need when you have Adams in the paint. Before Adams joined the Pelicans they ranked 25th in points allowed in the paint, this season they finished 10th. Covington doesn’t exactly muscle up at PF but he blocks passing lanes really well. He was second last year in deflections, he also is a good on ball defender. Ingram also interrupts passing lanes with his long frame and can guard on ball well. Norman Powell also holds his own too.
Playoffs are always hard for traditional type centres. All I would say to avoid Doncic-Zubac moments is try play more zone defence and less man defence. For example box and 1, or 3 high-2 low, both allow you three guys on the perimeter which can negate pick and rolls a lot and 3-2 if your good you could wind up having your PF (Covington) on Doncic more often than not. But on the other end you’d have Adams constant setting very strong screens for Doncic and him having to match up with either Powell, Lillard or Ingram which he would struggle with all three aswell as getting beaten up by screens.
As for how they stack up against completion. I mean they won twice against the Nuggets this year, I think it would be close. Covington vs Gordon, Ingram vs MPJ those are good match ups, then it’s just about Lillard vs Jokic, who is more unstoppable.
As for other teams I think they would match up well against the Jazz, Suns, Lakers and Grizzlies. Clippers would be a tough match up you try avoid tho. Kawhi and PG vs Ingram and Covington, plus Kawhi locking up Dame and PG taking Ingram doesn’t leave much.
Overall I think it would make them a better team. Something fresh and different too. For so long they have played two small ball handling shooting guards with some average forwards and then had issues at centre. Depth has always come and gone too, they need to get a right mix of vets and youth. Injuries have been a problem for a few years also, Nurkic has had a few, Collins has aswell, before then Rodney Hood, before him Wesley Mathews and before him Greg Oden and Brandon Roy.
Ingram has injury concerns but Adams is as tough as they come.
Adams is swiss cheese in PnR, that’s the issue. A team with Melo, Kanter, Adams, and Dame is doomed to repeat Portland’s history.
Ingram’s defensive prowess is questionable. He’s an upgrade over CJ but not sure that would be enough.
You realize Cole Anthony grew up in NY, went to Archbishop Malloy for high-school, and the family still resides in NY…as does he.
CJ should be traded for a wing, Powell signed to partner Dame, Nurkic traded for a younger and less injury prone big. And definitely no Jason Kidd as coach
Don’t see Lillard going anywhere. Tough to win in the west with so many good teams
KNICKS needs to spend this offseason, and spend well.
I don’t see them having the same success next season, running it back with the same core – just because a proper offseason will benefit the CELTICS, HEAT & PACERS. The HAWKS & BULLS will get more work on their new core, WIZ might get some of their injured rotation guys e.g. Bryant, Deni.
Spend away, Mr. Rose.
Not having Collins hurt Blazers. Health is always a big impact on teams. I said Lakers were arrogant thinking they can just show up for playoffs. Best move Blazers can make is moving CJ. And kind of redo team a bit. I don’t see them moving Dame now. Unless he wants out now. He’s not going to that.
Knicks don’t want Dame. Why after one yr of success we are suppose to shoot for the moon. Is asinine at best. We have three of top 32 picks in this draft. Many say, experts not fans. The deepest draft ever. We have 60 mill in cap space. We can build this team the right way. There are FAs available this yr we can sign. Get smart NYK, there are no quick fixes after 20 yrs of futility. Dinwiddie is my first choice for PG. Rose, Quickly backing him is a formidable backcourt. Fournier is a shooter scorer as good as Bogdanovic. And you saw what he did to us. Another guy I wanted to trade for. The only move I’m good with. Is moving up the draft for a player. Kuminga (SF starter), Mitchell (PG starter), (Giddey future PG). Only three I would trade up for. And Giddey could fall to us. You draft Giddey you sign Dinwiddie. Let’s do this the right way. Rebuilding is not done in ONE yr. We trade Toppin and pick for #5 Kuminga. And with Mitch healthy we are a much better team than 4th seed. Bullock backing Kuminga. Come on Now wake up. Sign Dinwiddie
You’d prefer Dinwiddie coming off an ACL on a long term deal than trading picks and Obi or Quick for Dame, who’s been a top 10 player in the league the last 3 years?
I don’t think we need to rush into anything either. But if Dame is available — I mean unless you think Kawhi or Luka are coming to town instead, I don’t see how NY doesn’t make a strong offer.
If you know who Prigioni was. Then you have to believe Luca can be a solid traditional PG. More so than Quickly who is more a scorer shooter. So next question is does this make Quickly available. This gives Knicks options to move Quickly, Toppin, Knox, Nttilikina. Noel, Payton, Rose, Burkes, Bullock, Gibson are all FAs. Knicks can sign n trade Noel. For instance to Hornets for Scary Terry. Burkes, Rose, Bullock, Gibson will be kept. I’m sure Knicks will explore trades. Makes no sense to go for Dillard now.