Re: Blazers To Aggressively Pursue Full Max Extension With Damian Lillard

[RealGM Wiretap]

The Portland Trail Blazers may go through a rebuilding period if LaMarcus Aldridge departs in free agency, but they will be aggressive regardless in trying to sign Damian Lillard to a five-year max extension in the $120 million range.

Lillard figures to be one of the first members of the 2012 NBA Draft class along with Anthony Davis to receive a full max extension.

The Blazers created an additional $4 million in potential salary cap space by trading away Nicolas Batum for Gerald Henderson and Noah Vonleh.

Via Marc Stein/ESPN

[Sam195]

Lillard's financial situation is very much tied up with what Lamarcus Aldridge decides to do. Based on the new cap projections - Lillard can sign a 5 year extension for 120M but he could get even more if he qualifies for the Rose Rule by making another all-nba team (he made it in 2014) or by winning mvp. He doesn't have the fan appeal of curry, harden, kobe or westbrook to get voted in as a starting guard in the western conference allstar team another potential qualifier for the rose rule. If Aldridge bolts from the blazers - the team likely won't make the playoffs in a stacked west and Lillard won't make an all nba team in a guard heavy league without leading his team to the postseason. So the financial barrier of lillard also leaving the blazers in free agency after his rookie deal can greatly decrease. Jimmy Butler is about to sign a short term max offer sheet after his rookie deal so he can become a ufa earlier - lillard could follow suit.

[your boy]

Lillard's financial situation is very much tied up with what Lamarcus Aldridge decides to do. Based on the new cap projections - Lillard can sign a 5 year extension for 120M but he could get even more if he qualifies for the Rose Rule by making another all-nba team (he made it in 2014) or by winning mvp. He doesn't have the fan appeal of curry, harden, kobe or westbrook to get voted in as a starting guard in the western conference allstar team another potential qualifier for the rose rule. If Aldridge bolts from the blazers - the team likely won't make the playoffs in a stacked west and Lillard won't make an all nba team in a guard heavy league without leading his team to the postseason. So the financial barrier of lillard also leaving the blazers in free agency after his rookie deal can greatly decrease. Jimmy Butler is about to sign a short term max offer sheet after his rookie deal so he can become a ufa earlier - lillard could follow suit.

I don't get why Lillard or Butler would sign an offer sheet with another team, you know the Blazers and Bulls are going to match, so just sign with them. If you don't want to play for them, then definitely don't sign an offer sheet.