Damian Lillard Articles - Page 36

So much for consternation over a wholly transformative trade deadline. Instead of reeling from finally breaking up its longtime core, the Portland Trail Blazers entered the All-Star break winners of four straight games, playing with activity and intensity that had often been absent during Chauncey Billups’ inaugural season on the sidelines. The Blazers can’t count […]

Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum weren’t exactly surprised when they were finally split up. Both have clarified as much in wake of the latter’s move to the New Orleans Pelicans, with McCollum even acknowledging he had a say in his ultimate destination at the trade deadline. Just because they’d discussed the likelihood of McCollum playing […]

Anfernee Simons didn’t quite see the gravity of his breakout season coming. Entering his fourth NBA season firmly behind Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum in the Portland Trail Blazers’ backcourt, he expected to play a supporting role for a contender instead of cementing himself as a budding star with Lillard watching from the sidelines and […]

The bond between ex-Portland Trail Blazers teammates Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum runs deep. This pair spent many years together terrorizing the league as one of the most prolific scoring backcourts in all of the NBA. Their memorable run as teammates, however, came to an end a few weeks ago after the Blazers traded McCollum […]

Stephen Curry is not exactly a fan favorite in the city of Cleveland. Even before he stepped foot in Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, a handful of people felt the Warriors guard was already slighted ever so subtly by the NBA All-Star organizers. During the Clutch Challenge event on Rising Stars Friday, the spots on the court […]

The Portland Trail Blazers shockingly committed to a rebuild when they traded star guard CJ McCollum to the New Orleans Pelicans. The core of McCollum and fellow sharpshooter Damian Lillard was seemingly close to winning a title, but the elusive championship always appeared to be just out of reach. As such, Lillard has had to […]

The Portland Trail Blazers have had a tumultuous season thus far. They’ve shipped off most of their veteran talent, including Damian Lillard’s beloved backcourt partner CJ McCollum. It wouldn’t be surprising to most if the point guard would sour with his loyalty to the franchise he’s been on for a decade. However, it’s tough to […]

Mere moments after the most transformational trade deadline in franchise history, interim general manager Joe Cronin all but confirmed what the Portland Trail Blazers’ series of cost-cutting, win-later moves meant for Damian Lillard over the season’s remainder. Portland’s superstar point guard would “most likely” sit out until 2022-23, Cronin said at a post-deadline press conference, […]

It was a quiet trade deadline for the New York Knicks. They stood pat after making a trade for Cam Reddish nearly a month beforehand. New York’s failure to tinker with their roster was a huge mistake, as they now have to hope for the same band of disappointing players to get them back in […]

The 2022 NBA trade deadline brought a ton of excitement to the NBA community. Countless deals, roster shakeups, and many rumors that circulated got the fans very anxious to see what their favorite squad will do next. It was especially exciting for fans of the Nets and Sixers, two franchises that swapped stars in the […]

The Portland Trail Blazers’ abrupt recent turn in short-term priorities and team-building philosophy had already cast more doubt on the possibility of Damian Lillard returning this season. After his steam stood pat on Thursday at an otherwise wild trade deadline, the slim chances of Lillard coming back in 2021-22 effectively vanished altogether. During a post-deadline […]

It’s barely been more than 48 hours since the Portland Trail Blazers broke up the most successful, productive backcourt in franchise history. After his sorely depleted team’s stirring win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night, though, Chauncey Billups implored fans in Rip City to dream of new possibilities awaiting the Blazers with a […]

Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard knew that the day he and CJ McCollum are no longer playing on the same team would come, and he reflected on it during an interview with Casey Holdahl. When asked by Holdahl about his thoughts on the reality that he and McCollum now play for different teams, Lillard […]

The Portland Trail Blazers finally broke up the Damian Lillard-CJ McCollum duo, sending McCollum to the New Orleans Pelicans in a blockbuster deal. It ends a partnership that lasted eight-plus seasons, with plenty of great memories shared between the two guards. McCollum is now gone, but the Blazers have no plans to trade Lillard and […]

It’s officially a new era for the Portland Trail Blazers as the duo of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum has been broken up. McCollum was sent to the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday, as the Trail Blazers are now more keen on building for the future. Lillard and McCollum made the Trail Blazers perennial contenders. […]

Already the league’s most active trade partner, the Portland Trail Blazers still may not be done dealing leading up to Thursday afternoon’s deadline. Indeed, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported in the immediate wake of Portland sending C.J. McCollum to the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday that interim general manager Joe Cronin and the front office are […]

The Portland Trail Blazers sent C.J. McCollum to the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday, a move that continues their roster overhaul leading up to the trade deadline and signals the end of an era in Rip City. Larry Nance Jr. and Tony Snell are headed to New Orleans as well, with Josh Hart, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, […]

The Portland Trail Blazers appeared to be blowing up the roster following the series of trades they completed ahead of the Feb. 10 trade deadline. Having first shipped Norman Powell and Robert Covington off to the Clippers, the Blazers then turned and dealt CJ McCollum, Larry Nance, and Tony Snell to the New Orleans Pelicans. […]

The Portland Trail Blazers recently shocked the NBA world, trading Norman Powell and Robert Covington to the Los Angeles Clippers. Dealing Powell and Covington per se wasn’t shocking, but the package they received in return was. The Blazers received Eric Bledsoe, Justise Winslow, Keon Johnson, and a 2025 second round pick via the Detroit Pistons. […]

Jusuf Nurkic’s future with the Portland Trail Blazers would be in doubt even if he wasn’t the subject of frequent trade rumors leading up to the deadline. He’s a free agent this summer, and it wouldn’t shock if Portland’s new decision-making regime preferred going after a more versatile, athletic center to bringing back Nurkic on […]

The Portland Trail Blazers traded two key pieces on Friday in Norman Powell and Robert Covington. That could just be the start, though. CJ McCollum has seen his name being involved in trade talks over the last week and there is reportedly a firm belief amongst league executives that Portland will move him either by […]

The Portland Trail Blazers tipped off trade season in stunning fashion on Friday, moving Norman Powell and Robert Covington to the LA Clippers in exchange for Eric Bledsoe, Keon Johnson, Justise Winslow and a future second-round pick, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Here’s why interim general manager Joe Cronin and the Blazers’ front office agreed […]

So much for the Portland Trail Blazers’ midseason momentum amid Damian Lillard’s indefinite absence. After going 7-4 once the eight-time All-Star was sidelined come the New Year, the Blazers have lost five of their last six games, trudging toward next week’s trade deadline in just as disappointing a position as they were a month ago. […]

The Portland Trail Blazers just missed out on the first winning month of 2021-22, finishing January an even 8-8 after losing back-to-back games to the Chicago Bulls and Oklahoma City Thunder earlier this week. Unfortunately, the reinforcements needed for Portland to finish above .500 in at least one of the season’s last three months don’t […]

The Toronto Raptors have won four of their last five games thanks in large part to a scorching hot Gary Trent Jr. It hasn’t just been an ordinary hot streak for the Raptors shooting guard. GTJ has joined some elite company thanks to five consecutive games with 30+ points and 5+ three-pointers made. That feat […]

Damian Lillard has been out of commission for a while now as he nurses a serious abdominal injury. But that hasn’t kept the Portland Trail Blazers point guard away from trade rumors. On the contrary, another down season for the Blazers undoubtedly has had Philadelphia 76ers Daryl Morey salivating in trying to make a deal […]

The move the Portland Trail Blazers are more likely to make than any other at the trade deadline won’t address their most obvious, big-picture need. But shedding just over $3 million worth of salary by February 10th to duck the luxury tax and receive part of the most lucrative distribution from taxpaying teams in league […]

The Portland Trail Blazers used isolation basketball to pull away from the worst team in the Western Conference on Friday night. After the Houston Rockets suddenly pulled within six as the game clocked ticked below five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, C.J. McCollum and Anfernee Simons mercilessly matchup-hunted for Garrison Mathews in pick-and-roll, clearing […]

When Damian Lillard was announced to be out for a significant portion of the season, Portland Trail Blazers fans looked to Anfernee Simons. The young guard would need to step up big time for the team without their lead guard. He had some big shoes to fill, but they needed to be filled for them […]

Damian Lillard isn’t going anywhere. But as the February 10th trade deadline fast approaches, the prevailing assumption had been that the Portland Trail Blazers would actively seek deals for pretty much any other player on the roster—especially the veterans that have long comprised this team’s core. Don’t tell that to Jusuf Nurkic, though. In a […]

The Portland Trail Blazers’ surprising recent surge sans Damian Lillard, thankfully, may not prevent them from making a major deal at the trade deadline after all. According to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, the New Orleans Pelicans have shown interest in acquiring C.J. McCollum leading up to February 10th. Portland would reportedly receive a package […]

The trade deadline is less than three weeks away, and the Portland Trail Blazers’ stunning recent turnaround doesn’t change what’s been obvious since Neil Olshey was dismissed in early December. Even with Damian Lillard fully re-committed to Rip City, interim general manager Joe Cronin and the Blazers are poised to be among the most active […]

The Portland Trail Blazers are back home to face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night at Moda Center. Chauncey Billups’ team is coming off a six-game road trip in which it went a stunning 4-2, despite Damian Lillard’s absence. Will Portland’s superstar point guard be back on the floor against Minnesota? Is Damian Lillard playing […]

The Portland Trail Blazers beat the Toronto Raptors 114-105 at Scotiabank Arena on Sunday, closing out a long, arduous road trip by building a 30-point lead and almost squandering it before the final buzzer. The victory moves the Blazers 20-26 on the season, including a stunning 4-2 since they last took the floor in Rip […]

The Portland Trail Blazers close out a six-game road trip on Sunday with a matchup against the Toronto Raptors. Damian Lillard hasn’t played in his team’s last 10, a stretch in which Portland has gone a stunning 6-4. Will the Blazers’ superstar point guard be back on the floor up north? Is Damian Lillard playing […]

Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard didn’t hold back his thoughts on talks that the Rip City squad could take a tanking approach amid his absence due to injury. Lillard recently underwent surgery to address his abdominal issue, and he is expected to be evaluated after six to eight weeks. That means the Blazers star […]

The injury that forced Damian Lillard to go under the knife is one he’s been battling for years. The Portland Trail Blazers superstar admitted as much just a couple weeks after the 2021-22 season tipped off amid the worst struggles of his career. Just over two months and multiple stints on the sideline later, Lillard […]

The Portland Trail Blazers continue a six-game road trip on Friday with a matchup against the Boston Celtics. Damian Lillard hasn’t played in his team’s last nine games, a stretch in which Portland has gone a surprising 5-4. Will the Blazers’ superstar point guard be back on the floor in Boston? Is Damian Lillard playing […]

The Portland Trail Blazers continue a six-game road trip on Wednesday with a matchup against the Miami Heat. Damian Lillard hasn’t played in his team’s last eight games, a stretch in which Portland has gone a surprising 5-3. Will the Blazers’ superstar point guard be back on the floor in South Beach? Is Damian Lillard […]