While wallowing in 13th place in the Western Conference, the Portland Trailblazers have officially shut down Damian Lillard for the remainder of the season.
Lillard will turn 33 in July, and since 2012, when he was drafted as the No. 6 overall pick, he has given the Trailblazers 11 seasons, eight playoff appearances, 830 games, 20,945 points, 5,531 assists, and 3,528 rebounds. That’s a first-ballot Hall-of-Fame career. And in return, the Trailblazers have failed to surround him with a single MVP, Sixth Man of the Year, Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie, All-Star, All-NBA team member, Defensive Player of the Year, or Coach of the Year winner since 2015.
Only in Lillard’s first two years did he play next to another All-Star in LaMarcus Aldridge, who the franchise failed to re-sign and lost in free agency in 2015.
The Trailblazers have had more than a decade to prove to Lillard they can build a contender in Portland. During that time, Lillard had given them everything he’s got. The time has come for Lillard to put himself first and find a team worthy of his sacrifice and output. With speculation swirling that Lillard could finally be moved this summer, we’ve pinpointed the five teams that make the most sense and give him the best shot at an elusive championship.
Miami Heat
For the last four seasons, the Miami Heat have been one piece away from winning it all. Damian Lillard embodies the dawg mentality and win-at-all-costs hubris the Heat franchise is built upon.
After this summer, the Heat own all their first-round picks moving forward. And since they would presumably want to keep the core of Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo intact while unable to move bloated contracts like Duncan Robinson and Kyle Lowry, the trade would likely be centered around Tyler Herro, draft picks, and filler.
The Heat have struggled to score all season, as they rank 30th in points per game. Lillard would inject his 32.2 PPG into the starting point guard position, and elevate the Heat into a dangerous inside/out team, pairing with Butler for a dangerous crunch-time duo capable of hitting big shots with the game on the line. Perhaps no other team needs Lillard’s scoring more, or his clutch shooting, than the offensively anemic Heat.
Denver Nuggets
While the Nuggets have been a contender, organically built through the draft and filled with as much talent as any top team, they have lacked a true second superstar next to Nikola Jokic.
The Joker is at the top of the competition for his third straight MVP award. And the supporting cast around him seems ready, finally, to win it all this year. But, of their two best players, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., neither has superstar potential. Acquiring Damian Lillard, in a swap for Murray and picks, would pair Jokic with the shoot-first guard capable of breaking down any defensive scheme, allowing him to focus on being the lead facilitator from the center position.
It might take more than Murray and draft picks; perhaps Bruce Brown Jr. can be thrown in as well. But whatever the cost, this is the all-in move the Nuggets need to monitor, and go for, if and when the opportunity presents itself. It would guarantee an NBA Finals appearance and give Jokic his best running mate who complements his skill set.