Will Damian Lillard one day leave the Portland Trail Blazers to join either of the two biggest NBA franchises, namely the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks?
Lillard has not expressed any interest in leaving Portland, a team he’s clearly smitten with, but ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith believes that the point guard is not discounting the idea of cutting ties with the Blazers if it meant a chance to play for the Lakers or the Knicks).
Stephen A. Smith says on First Take that Damian Lillard would want to go to the #Knicks or #Lakers. Would go on to say he would take NY over LA. #NBA pic.twitter.com/PPsz4oxN9b
— Joe Pantorno (@JoePantorno) August 16, 2018
“Who’s coming to Portland, as a free agent on their own free will? What star do you know is going to say, ‘You know what, I’m going to roll with Portland and join my man Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum in Portland. They are not trying to do that which is why Damian Lillard, even though he loves Portland, wouldn’t mind being in L.A. with even more so would not mind being in New York.”
Obviously, Stephen A. Smith does not believe that Portland is capable of attracting stars to come and team up with Lillard and McCollum. The Blazers are not known as a prime destination for elite free agents after all, and the team’s stars (Lillard and McCollum) were drafted instead of signed via free agency. Although the Blazers have been a fixture in the playoffs over the past number of years, they are not generally viewed as a title contender, as they seem to lack the pieces to keep in step with the likes of the Houston Rockets and the Golden State Warriors.
Lillard is under contract with Portland until 20201 after signing a five-year max rookie extension in 2015, so the Blazers shouldn’t have to worry about the three-time All-Star guard leaving anytime soon.
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