The episode around Neil Olshey, the now ex-GM who has just been laid off, is just one more difficult moment in the complicated months that the Blazers are going through. Damian Lillard has indeed hesitated for a long time (and was courted by LeBron James) to leave during the offseason and the very poor start to the season is not likely to reassure him.
The atmosphere is heavy in Portland, and the point guard, currently in the infirmary, would not be happy with the style of play imposed by Chauncey Billups, according to The Athletic. Notably because he plays less pick-and-roll than in the past.
In addition, the All-Star expected change during the summer to strengthen the team, still eliminated in the first round (for the fourth time in five years) from the playoffs last season. We can not say that the leaders have brought out the heavy artillery while Damian Lillard has a prestigious name in mind.
Ben Simmons vs. CJ McCollum?
Because always according to our colleagues, the Portland star would like to play with Ben Simmons, who would be more complementary to his game on the back lines, and who could especially relieve him more defensively. With Neil Olshey in charge, the Blazers would have offered CJ McCollum, a first round of Draft and a young player (Nassir Little or Anfernee Simons) to the Sixers in exchange for the triple All-Star.
The latter refused and would have asked for CJ McCollum and several choices and “swaps” of Draft. This time, it is the leaders of Portland who would have refused the offer.
Now that Neil Oshley is no longer there and the group is not taking off despite complaints from Chauncey Billups, will the Blazers contact the Sixers again to start negotiations around Ben Simmons again?
| Damian Lillard | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Tirs | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Until | Pd | Fte | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2012-13 | BY | 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 | BY | 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 | BY | 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 | BY | 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 | BY | 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 | BY | 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 | BY | 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 | BY | 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 | BY | 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 |
| 2021-22 | BY | 20 | 36 | 39.7 | 30.2 | 91.1 | 0.4 | 3.6 | 4.0 | 7.8 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 21.5 |
| Total | 702 | 36 | 43.7 | 37.3 | 89.4 | 0.6 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 6.7 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 24.6 | |
