Damian Lamonte Ollie Lillard Sr. is an American professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association. He played college basketball for the Weber State Wildcats and earned third-team All-American honors in 2012.
Damian Lillard: Injury| To cavs| Extension| Injury update| Trades
Injury:
The Portland Trail Blazers have been without their best player for the last week. On Dec. 1, the Blazers announced that an MRI confirmed All-Star guard Damian Lillard has lower abdominal tendinopathy.
Lillard was initially expected to miss at least 10 days, but after a cortisone injection to his abdomen, he could return as soon as Sunday according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.
To Cavs:
In Lillard’s absence, Anfernee Simons has slid into the starting point guard spot for Portland, while Dennis Smith Jr. has seen an uptick in minutes. With CJ McCollum sidelined as well with a collapsed lung, the Blazers will need all of the ball-handling they can get.
The Blazers currently sit 10th in the Western Conference with an 11-14 record, and now they’ve started December 0-3 without Lillard. Portland hosts Golden State on Wednesday night as Stephen Curry eyes Ray Allen’s 3-point record.
Extension:
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Tuesday that Lillard wants to sign a two-year extension worth $107 million with the Trail Blazers, keeping him in Portland through 2026-27.
But multiple GM candidates aren’t interested in paying the six-time All-Star big money into his mid-30s.
|
Year
|
Team
|
GP
|
Min
|
Pts
|
FG%
|
Reb
|
Ast
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2021
|
20
|
35.7
|
21.4
|
39.7
|
4.0
|
7.8
|
|
|
2020
|
67
|
35.8
|
28.8
|
45.1
|
4.2
|
7.5
|
|
|
2019
|
66
|
37.5
|
30.0
|
46.3
|
4.3
|
8.0
|
Injury Update:
The sheer number of injured players would be difficult for any team to overcome, but that’s especially true for a team struggling to play with consistent effort while also being ranked dead last in defensive efficiency under first year head coach Chauncey Billups.
But that’s just what’s happening on the court. Off the court, the decision-makers on both the basketball and business sides of the Portland Trail Blazers have changed in the last month.
Trades:
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Tuesday that at least three teams won’t reach out to the Blazers about a trade until the six-time All-Star makes a formal demand:
“If Lillard asks out, they know the Blazers will lose some leverage in the asking price—and are waiting on it. Philadelphia made an offer, but New York never did, league sources said.
