It was yet another disappointing and early playoff exit for Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers. The Denver Nuggets booted the Blazers from round one in just six games on Thursday night, and it became the fourth time in the last five years that Portland hasn't been able to make it out of round one.

The “disgruntled star trade” has been one that has become more prevalent in the NBA. Most recently was James Harden sitting out until the Rockets traded him midseason to the Brooklyn Nets. Could Damian Lillard be next? Who knows.

Lillard is under contract with the Blazers through the 2024-25 season. Let's preface by starting with that and following up with mentioning at this point, it's a hard-pressed thought to envision Portland parting ways with the All-Star. What doesn't help matters is the seemingly cryptic Instagram post Dame produced following the loss to the Nuggets.

That's not exactly going to make Blazers fans feel comfortable. So let's take it a step further. Here are the two likely destinations if a trade were to happen.

Los Angeles Lakers

Blazers fans aren't going to like it but when you have a team with LeBron James. Also, with a franchise like the Lakers, they're always going to be star hunting or at least in the conversation.

It would take a massive return for the Blazers to deal Damian Lillard in any trade, and perhaps even more to a team like the Lakers.

One thing is certain; LA won't be kicking their feet up this offseason after being kicked out by the Phoenix Suns in round one.

A potential package for Lillard would almost have to include NBA-ready talent like Kyle Kuzma and Talen Horton-Tucker along with at least three future first-round picks and perhaps some pick swaps as well. It sounds like a ton and it is, but go back and look at what the Rockets got for Harden.

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The Houston Rockets invested heavily into Fred VanVleet during the 2023 offseason. Houston gave the point guard a three-year, $128 million deal in a move that was meant to turn the Rockets from a rebuilding team into a championship contending one. The signing did just that, as the Rockets finished the 2024-25 regular season as the two-seed in a stacked Western Conference. VanVleet was the veteran presence and 3-point shooter that the team desperately needed, and he still might have a role with the Rockets going forward. Houston has a team option on his contract for next year, and they very well may pick it up. The Wichita State product reportedly wants to stay in Houston, but the point guard would be set to make over $44 million next season under his current contract. The Rockets and their guard recently pushed back the deadline on Houston's decision with VanVleet, and although reports suggest that they are interested in writing up a new, long-term deal, it isn't necessarily a guarantee that VanVleet will be playing for Houston next year. The Rockets blew him away with an offer he couldn't refuse back in 2023, and another team could so the same when/if he hits the open market this offseason. If VanVleet does become an unrestricted free agent, which teams outside of Houston would make the most sense for him to sign with? 1. Orlando Magic Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner recently signed big deals with the Orlando Magic, and Paolo Banchero will be getting a mega contract extension here soon. Because of that, the Magic no longer have money to blow like they have had in recent years. That will make a deal for another big ticket free agent hard to pull off, especially considering the team signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope last year. If Orlando can make the money work, though, then Fred VanVleet would be a great fit with the Magic. The Magic finished dead last in 3-point shooting this season, and VanVleet has made at least 2.5 deep balls per game in every season since 2018-19. VanVleet can hit shots form behind the arc off of the bounce or in catch-and-shoot situations. The Rockets were heavily reliant on his shooting expertise, so the guard would have plenty of familiarity getting up deep shots with high volume if he signed with the Magic. While undersized, VanVleet is a pesky defender, so he'd fit right in with a Magic team that has one of the best defensive units in the league. VanVleet could play alongside Suggs and give opposing teams fits. Ultimately, though, the Magic just need more shooting to get to the next level, and VanVleet is arguably the best shooter who could be available on the open market this offseason. 2. Brooklyn Nets A more realistic option for a VanVleet destination would be the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets are set up to have the most cap space this offseason, and they have a major need at point guard. With D'Angelo Russell and De'Anthony Melton hitting free agency this offseason, the Nets don't have a true point guard under contract for next season. Brooklyn needs to spend big this offseason, and they'd be smart to offer VanVleet a contract big enough that he'd have no choice but to leave Houston. VanVleet averaged 14.1 points per game last season, which was his lowest mark since 2018-19. He is trending the wrong way, but he still has enough left in the tank to give the Nets a few good seasons. 3. Portland Trail Blazers In the same way that the Rockets were looking to take the next step in 2023, the Portland Trail Blazers could use VanVleet's presence to get over the hump. The Trail Blazers have plenty of big man depth, as centers Deandre Ayton, Donovan Clingan, Robert Williams, and Duop Death are all under contract next season. Portland also has a lot of wing depth. Deni Advija started to look like a star late this past season, Toumani Camara is an elite defender, Shaedon Sharpe is a freakish athlete, and Jerami Grant is a proven scorer. The team is thinner in the backcourt, though. Anfernee Simons is a solid scorer, but Scoot Henderson has looked like a fringe draft bust since being drafted third overall. Portland shouldn't give up on Henderson completely, but there wouldn't be any harm in signing another guard. Like the Magic, the Blazers were one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the NBA. VanVleet would improve that weakness, and in a stacked Western Conference, Portland needs all of the help they can get if they are to compete for a playoff spot.
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New York Knicks

Ah, yes. The photoshops have already begun.

The New York Knicks exceeded everyone's expectations this year in winning 41 games and clinching the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference. Like the Lakers though, New York won't be kicking its feet up this offseason either.

While in the past, superstar talk has seemed wildly unrealistic for the Knicks, but now, it seems more plausible.

There is structure in place with team president Leon Rose and head coach Tom Thibodeau. There are proven results from this year; a playoff appearance, and what appears to be legitimate, young talent on the team. Maybe now they go star hunting for a guy like Lillard.

The Knicks have plenty of assets and a trade for Damian Lillard could look something like: Obi Toppin, Frank Ntilikina and four future first-round picks. It would be interesting to see if the Blazers would try and pull RJ Barrett or Mitchell Robinson in a trade as well and how the Knicks would respond. They'd be getting Lillard, so it would be hard to say no.

It seems unlikely now, but things are always changing in the landscape of the NBA. There will be a disgruntled star who wants out of their current situation this summer, that is usually a guarantee. Whether or not that name is Lillard or not is yet to be seen. There's no need to panic yet, Blazers nation.