At this point, everyone who follows the NBA is well aware of the drama surrounding Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers. After 11 seasons, Lillard finally asked to be traded, specifically to the Miami Heat, but the Blazers have instead shopped him to other teams. What has followed is a series of conflicting reports about where he will end up, with at least four teams being linked to Lillard thus far.
Considering that he has at least three years remaining on his contract plus a player option that he is unlikely to turn down, teams that might otherwise not have entered the fray for Lillard could be emboldened to do so. After all, he will turn 34 this summer, and with up to four years remaining on his deal, his next team may be his last team. With so many potential offers to choose from, the Blazers will have to prioritize several things if they want to quickly move on from the Lillard era.
For starters, by moving on from their best player, they would be clearing off his ugly contract, which would pay him north of $60 million when he is 36. They could also look to include starting center Jusuf Nurkic and his large contract in a deal for Lillard, allowing them to hit the reset button on their franchise. The Blazers will also likely prioritize receiving young players and picks in return for them, but what would be the best possible trade package for Lillard? Let’s take a look.