Can we please stop acting like the Blazers owe Damian Lillard the world?

If Damian Lillard by no means performs any other sport for the Portland Trail Blazers, he has a powerful case as the very best participant in franchise historical past. It’s both him or Clyde Drexler. The guy has been a no-headache, Hall of Fame participant and arguably a good higher ambassador for each the Blazers and the league as an entire. Nobody is suggesting another way. Damian Lillard is, and has been, freaking nice. 

But can we please stop acting like the Blazers owe Lillard the global? They’ve paid the man greater than $233 million in occupation money. And have signed as much as pay him simply shy of part one thousand million — sure, part a billion — will have to he make a decision to stick via his present totally assured contract this is set to line his wallet with $45.6M, $48.8M, $58.5M and $63.2M over the subsequent 4 seasons, respectively. 

No subject the place he finishes this contract, Lillard is assured to be one in every of the highest-earning gamers in NBA historical past. I believe the Blazers are sufficiently sq.. 

And but, this perception persists that the Blazers stay indebted, that they owe it to Lillard to take some fifty-cents-on-the-dollar deal so he can cross to his “preferred destination.” Seriously. A large number of other people in point of fact imagine this. I’m now not making this up. 

These other people, they make it like Lillard has been doing charity paintings for the previous 11 seasons, and now it is time to in any case give the guy his due. I’ll repeat: Damian Lillard has made more cash than as regards to any participant who is ever laced up a couple of footwear in the NBA. 

Yes, Lillard earned that cash. The Blazers did not give anything else to him. But you realize who did give Lillard, and each different participant with an NBA contract, that cash? The lovers. You know, the individuals who can not manage to pay for to take their children to video games as a result of it is so rattling dear however do it anyway? The other people paying out the nostril for cable applications, which interprets to what some await can be a $75 billion tv deal in a few years? 

Yeah, the ones other people. They are the explanation why Damian Lillard goes to make smartly over part one thousand million bucks, in wage on my own, through the time his occupation is finished, and they’d be the ones getting screwed if Portland says no matter and sends Dame anyplace he needs to move for a go back that may not put them any nearer to a identify inside of the subsequent technology of Blazers basketball than they ever had been with Lillard in the first position. 

Need I remind you, Lillard, in his 11 seasons, has led the Blazers to all of 1 convention finals berth, or even that used to be a matchup-friendly fluke. We’re now not speaking about Stephen Curry with the Warriors or Kobe Bryant with the Lakers and even Giannis Antetokounmpo with the Bucks or Nikola Jokic with Denver. We’re kind of speaking a few longer-tenured Joel Embiid with the Sixers. 

After all, Embiid has been dependable. Embiid has gained MVP, one thing Lillard hasn’t ever achieved. He’s going to move down as one in every of the very best gamers in Sixers franchise historical past if he remains even a couple of extra years. If the Sixers had been abruptly in the marketplace to commerce Embiid, would they owe it to him to cripple their long run so Embiid can cross are living out his elder years in the Miami solar? 

This could be other if Lillard had been in the ultimate yr of his contract. The Blazers don’t have a lot leverage in opposition to the danger of Lillard leaving in loose company for not anything. But he isn’t in the ultimate yr of his deal. In truth, after signing a two-year, $122M extension LAST SUMMER, he is contractually dedicated to the Portland for the subsequent 4 seasons. 

That’s proper. Lillard agreed to play basketball for the subsequent 4 seasons for the Blazers, who in flip agreed to pay the newest $122M installment on his occupation income, and but a yr later, Lillard needs to play for the Heat, and the Blazers are simply meant to ship him there for Tyler Herro and no matter crumbs Pat Riley reveals underneath his sofa? 

And oh, through the manner, do not sing me this music that loose company is not a viable trail to relocation for big name gamers anymore. If you wish to have to face on that hill, you should recognize that this used to be partially one in every of the causes Lillard has been so dependable some of these years. I do know we need to make Lillard out to be a saint and all, however there is some exhausting trade being achieved on his finish as smartly. Portland may just pay him. Not many different groups may just. 

But positive, it is true, there generally don’t seem to be numerous groups with the cap house to pay a man like Lillard, or even fewer with the exact championship-level roster Lillard seeks. You know what we name that once you wish to have to make an excessive amount of cash for a staff with the intention to manage to pay for underneath the present wage cap and tax laws? The breaks. 

And tricky breaks, they’re. Poor man would possibly have to stick in Portland, the place he supposedly completely loves dwelling, or worse, cross to a couple different staff that is not close to South Beach to chase his ring, all so the lovers that pay his large wage in the first position can raise his identify of their water-cooler legacy communicate. 

I do know. It’s a tragedy. 

And but, tragedy used to be one way or the other have shyed away from when Jimmy Butler discovered his approach to the Heat, additionally his most popular vacation spot after they had no cap house in the summer time of 2019. Do you know the way that came about? The Sixers were given skinned in a sign-and-trade, and they have been feeling the ache of that one-sided choice, in a technique or any other, ever since. But howdy, Jimmy were given to move the place he sought after to move. Hope it used to be value it. 

Anyone opposing my considering will unquestionably argue that Lillard and Butler are two other gamers. You know what? You’re right kind. Butler has taken his groups manner farther than Lillard ever has. Butler used to be additionally a loose agent when he left for Miami, which left Philly with out a leverage and able to take no matter it might get except it sought after to lose Butler for not anything. 

The Blazers should not have to try this. And why is that once more? Say it with me, elegance: Because Damian Lillard signed an extension to stick with the Blazers via 2026. HE IS UNDER CONTRACT FOR FOUR MORE YEARS. 

So used to be Kevin Durant when the Nets traded him, you are saying? That’s proper. And you realize what the Nets were given in go back for Durant? An enormous freaking haul headlined through Mikal Bridges. When Tyler Herro becomes Mikal Bridges, or when a 3rd staff will get concerned that may sweeten Portland’s go back, give me a choice. Until then, stop acting like the Blazers owe Lillard no matter he needs, regardless of the value to their lovers and franchise.