While he is currently with the American selection in Las Vegas, in the heart of a very complicated preparation, Damian Lillard must also manage the rumors about his future in Portland.
Since the elimination in the first round of the playoffs against the Nuggets, then with the controversy following the appointment of Chauncey Billups as “head coach”, we feel the leader annoyed and frustrated. Henry Abbott, of Truehoop, announced a few hours ago that Damian Lillard would request his transfer “In the coming days”.
“I woke up to these rumors, and a lot of people contacting me, but it’s not true”, he replied at first. “I’ll start by saying that’s not true. Much is said. It doesn’t come from me. I haven’t made any firm decisions about my future. “
It is therefore a half-denial, because if Damian Lillard assures that he has not made the decision to request a transfer, we feel that he is not far from it, while Chauncey Billups and Neil Olshey come in Las Vegas talk to him.
“If you look at our group as it is, I do not see how we can say that it is a workforce that can win the title, with just a new coach”
“The best way to put it is that there is an urgent need. On our next step and how we are going to move forward. We’ve made the playoffs all these years. We are not a bad team, we are a good team. There are a lot of positives. But we have reached the point where it is not enough. “
Damian Lillard has therefore yet to request a trade, and he may not have plans to do so in the next few days, but he is clearly putting pressure on his leadership to improve the squad this summer.
While his GM, Neil Olshey, had explained that the workforce was not the problem, the point guard replied: “I agree that maybe Chauncey can improve the team. But if you look at our group as it is, I don’t see how we can say that it is a squad that can win the title, with just a new coach. “
For Portland, the message is clear: if the workforce does not move, Damian Lillard will undoubtedly want to leave.
“My intention, supported by my heart, is to wear the Trail Blazers jersey my entire career. But over time, we want to win. And we have to make progress to get there ”, he concludes.
| Damian Lillard | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Tirs | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Until | Pd | Fte | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2012-13 | FOR | 82 | 39 | 42.9 | 36.8 | 84.4 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 6.5 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 3.0 | 0.2 | 19.1 |
| 2013-14 | FOR | 82 | 36 | 42.4 | 39.4 | 87.1 | 0.4 | 3.1 | 3.5 | 5.6 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 20.7 |
| 2014-15 | FOR | 82 | 36 | 43.4 | 34.3 | 86.4 | 0.6 | 4.0 | 4.6 | 6.2 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 21.0 |
| 2015-16 | FOR | 75 | 36 | 41.9 | 37.5 | 89.2 | 0.6 | 3.4 | 4.0 | 6.8 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 0.4 | 25.1 |
| 2016-17 | FOR | 75 | 36 | 44.4 | 37.0 | 89.5 | 0.6 | 4.3 | 4.9 | 5.9 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 27.0 |
| 2017-18 | FOR | 73 | 37 | 43.9 | 36.1 | 91.6 | 0.9 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 6.6 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 26.9 |
| 2018-19 | FOR | 80 | 36 | 44.4 | 36.9 | 91.2 | 0.9 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 6.9 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 25.8 |
| 2019-20 | FOR | 66 | 38 | 46.3 | 40.1 | 88.8 | 0.5 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 8.0 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 2.9 | 0.3 | 30.0 |
| 2020-21 | FOR | 67 | 36 | 45.1 | 39.1 | 92.8 | 0.5 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 7.5 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 3.0 | 0.3 | 28.8 |
| Total | 682 | 36 | 43.9 | 37.5 | 89.3 | 0.6 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 6.6 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 24.7 | |
