Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard isn’t traveling with the team on its upcoming six-game road trip, which will begin on Thursday in Denver, head coach Chauncey Billups said on Sunday. As Sean Highkin of Bleacher Report tweets, the plan is for Lillard to meet with a specialist to determine the next steps to treat his lower abdominal tendinopathy.
In a full article for Bleacher Report, Highkin says not to be surprised if the Trail Blazers decide to shut down Lillard for an extended period, perhaps even the rest of the season.
As Highkin explains, that would be a logical route to take for a 15-24 Portland team that hasn’t met expectations in the first half of the season. Lillard’s long-term health is the most important factor in the Trail Blazers’ future, so taking the time to get him back to 100% makes sense — and could put the Blazers in position to secure a lottery pick in 2022. Portland owes its 2022 first-rounder to Chicago, but only if it lands outside of the top 14.
Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer explores the subject in his latest article as well, contending that it’s time for the Trail Blazers to reset. In O’Connor’s view, it would be in the team’s best interests to hang onto Lillard and youngsters Anfernee Simons and Nassir Little while shopping Jusuf Nurkic, Robert Covington, and even CJ McCollum.
Here’s more from around the Northwest:
- Danuel House, who is on a 10-day contract with the Jazz, made a case on Friday for a longer-term deal with the team, scoring 13 points and handing out four assists, as Sarah Todd of The Deseret News details. Utah has two openings on its 15-man roster, so there’s an opportunity for House if he can take advantage of it. He went scoreless in 13 minutes during his second game with Utah on Saturday.
- The Jazz got forward Joe Ingles back from out of the NBA’s health and safety protocols today, tweets Tony Jones of The Athletic. However, rookie Jared Butler and big man Udoka Azubuike have both entered the protocols, per Eric Walden of The Salt Lake Tribune (Twitter links), so Utah now has five players affected.
- Nuggets forward Jeff Green is thrilled to still be playing in the NBA 10 years after he underwent open-heart surgery in 2012, writes Mike Singer of The Denver Post. “A lot of GMs, a lot of teams told me I wouldn’t even make it past five (years in the NBA),” Green told Singer. “To be here (at) 10, I’m just blessed, man. I’m thankful … and I’m glad they told me that.”
- Karl-Anthony Towns has liked what he’s seen from this year’s Timberwolves, who are currently in a play-in spot with a 20-20 record. “You’re seeing a maturation of a young team finding their own,” Towns said on Sunday, per Chris Hine of The Star Tribune (Twitter link). “I think everyone in the NBA is seeing an identity being built in Minnesota, something I think has been lacking in this organization for a long, long time.”
Trade Lilliard before it’s too late!
No chance. Win a title with Lillard before it’s too late. He is the mvp when it comes to clutch scoring. This team is finally out from under multiple awful contracts. There are a bunch of solid role players to work with or trade. This team is one all-star talent away from being truly competitive. They should have the assets to pull in a big star.
Lol they’re not “one piece’ away from being a championship team. Lillard is 31 and his championship window decreases as he gets older. He ‘s such a “clutch” scorer that he has never even reached the finals lol. This team has gone as far as they can with the current roster. They need to make many changes for them to be even considered as championship contenders. They probably won’t even make the playoffs this year.
Lilliard isn’t winning a ring with Portland.
agree. this story has been going on for years now. Blazers are not accomplishing anything without a rebuild, and by then it will be too late for Dame. you can’t draw blood from a stone.
Sun rises in the west. Lillard traded yesterday. All the shocking headlines you NEED to have.
What is ridiculous about anything you said here is that Lillard will not be traded.. he is one of the most desireable athletes to have in the NBA. Very humble. Capable of being a champion. And despite whatever acrobatics this organization has to make to keep him in and put him in position to take this team to a championship, they will do it.
So you saying to trade Dame is gibberish. And you scream gibberish with so much confidence.
…. So back to the conversation in the real world,which acrobatics will happen next…
CJ has to go. Great guy. Great basketball player. But the Dame-CJ combo has proven to be too little to be competitive. With Powell on a cheaper contract, it is time to let go of CJ, get a decent return on draft picks from a contender, and shop those to a rebuilding team for comparable level player at the Center position. Then put Norm at the SG position and find a reliable 3&D guy like Otto Porter Jr. Then bank on Little to emerge as a starting PF.
the amount of things that need to happen in your scenario for the Blazers to sniff a playoff run is just more evidence that it’s not happening for Portland in the next 2, 3 years.
Either blow it up, or resolve yourselves to the fact that Dames true role is “basketball ambassador” as he hangs around Moda center signing autographs to help sell tickets for the next 10, 20 years
Okie.dokie. not much to respond to here :)
Powell signed a big time contract this past offseason & He is 6’3″ the exact same height as McCollum
Right, so they would keep only 1 of the 6’3 guys on the lower contract, get a 6’8 SF, and upgrade the front court. Maybe they can bring Sabonis.
Lillard, Powell, Little, Sabonas, Nurkic. Try to keep McLemore, Nance jr, and Simons if possible and add a guy like Otto Porter jr or Thaddeus Young.
KAT is sooo right, good to see MIN in the play in at least this year, with a chance of playoffs, real good for KAT, he truly deserves it after years dominating the league!
Dame needs to be shutdown until the can figure out why he continues to have issues with an abdominal injury that occurred a couple years ago & the aggravation of the injury while he was playing for the U S National Team last summer.
Blazers should shut down Dame for the season and make as many moves as possible to get future assets and young players. Even in a good year this Portland team maxes out at 45-48 wins and a second round playoff exit.
RoCo has had a rough season, but he’s still going to have value as a 3 and D that can guard multiple positions. There will be more than a few teams that will think a fresh start for him is all that’s needed.
Nurkic’s market won’t be as hot, but a quality offensive center on an expiring deal will still be attractive to some teams.
CJ will be the hardest to move, but there are playoff hopefuls like the Knicks who need a go to scorer and volume 3PT shooter. NY could offer long term financial flexibility, or a borderline All-Star like Randle to go along with younger players and picks. A deal with the Pacers involving Turner and other pieces from both sides would be another deal that could work for both teams.
JR ain’t a borderline All-Star… he is an All-Star & All-NBA!