Shams: Damian Lillard Returning to the Blazers on a 3-yr/$42M Deal

[Capn'O]

Lillard is basically Portland's Jeter. The whole city was crying yesterday. Like wall to wall tears of joy. It was a great move. Portland is better with Lillard in it.

And Portland's also one of the few places where having him signed for next season to bring him back the following season actually plays to their benefit of building young talent.

[DusterBuster]

Lillard is basically Portland's Jeter. The whole city was crying yesterday. Like wall to wall tears. It was a great move. Portland is better with Lillard in it.

One of the Portland sports writers was on the radio today talking about it and said that when the Blazers went officially up for sale, he talked to other league execs who had gone through team sales and they said that the team is unquestionably more valuable from a sale standpoint when you have a player like Lillard on it than if you don't. Not like adding an additional B to the sale price, but it's a noticeably difference in sale worth, even at his current age and injury just because of how many fans are going to pack the arena to even just freaking see him in street clothes.

[Capn'O]

Lillard is basically Portland's Jeter. The whole city was crying yesterday. Like wall to wall tears. It was a great move. Portland is better with Lillard in it.

One of the Portland sports writers was on the radio today talking about it and said that when the Blazers went officially up for sale, he talked to other league execs who had gone through team sales and they said that the team is unquestionably more valuable from a sale standpoint when you have a player like Lillard on it than if you don't. Not like adding an additional B to the sale price, but it's a noticeably difference in sale worth, even at his current age and injury just because of how many fans are going to pack the arena to even just freaking see him in street clothes.

Right, that's the other piece. It could even be the difference between the Blazers staying in Portland and not because an aging Lillard doesn't have the same value elsewhere.

[DusterBuster]

The only way I can see the Blazers taking a swing on Kuminga is if the Warriors take back Grant.

That's the deal I was thinking, though the Blazers likely have to add draft capital to it such as the Orlando pick. I like that deal for GS better than anything the Suns, for example, could offer. I could understand aversion to that risk but it's one I would take as I think the Blazers need to take on some risk to get to a high level.

That feels like a deal killer for the Blazers... but with some early buzz about the future upcoming drafts is pretty mediocre, so maybe they aren't that tied to that pick? I still wouldn't do it tho, I don't like Kuminga that much. Swap of Grant, sure w/e... adding a pick, bleh.

[Asianiac_24]

Lillard is basically Portland's Jeter. The whole city was crying yesterday. Like wall to wall tears. It was a great move. Portland is better with Lillard in it.

One of the Portland sports writers was on the radio today talking about it and said that when the Blazers went officially up for sale, he talked to other league execs who had gone through team sales and they said that the team is unquestionably more valuable from a sale standpoint when you have a player like Lillard on it than if you don't. Not like adding an additional B to the sale price, but it's a noticeably difference in sale worth, even at his current age and injury just because of how many fans are going to pack the arena to even just freaking see him in street clothes.

That’s great but why 3/42? Why wouldn’t Dame sign for 3/15, or 3/20 at most? He is guaranteed to be out 1 year, almost certain to be out the second year, on top of that he has a PO on his last year AND a no trade clause. If he miraculously comes back the second year and returns to all star form, he can just opt out his last year to sign a bigger contract, in which basically Portland just paid him 14m a year to rehab.

Not saying signing him back is a bad idea, but the contract details, price point, and length introduces 0 upside and all the downsides for them as a team

[DusterBuster]

Lillard is basically Portland's Jeter. The whole city was crying yesterday. Like wall to wall tears. It was a great move. Portland is better with Lillard in it.

One of the Portland sports writers was on the radio today talking about it and said that when the Blazers went officially up for sale, he talked to other league execs who had gone through team sales and they said that the team is unquestionably more valuable from a sale standpoint when you have a player like Lillard on it than if you don't. Not like adding an additional B to the sale price, but it's a noticeably difference in sale worth, even at his current age and injury just because of how many fans are going to pack the arena to even just freaking see him in street clothes.

That’s great but why 3/42? Why wouldn’t Dame sign for 3/15, or 3/20 at most? He is guaranteed to be out 1 year, almost certain to be out the second year, on top of that he has a PO on his last year AND a no trade clause. If he miraculously comes back the second year and returns to all star form, he can just opt out his last year to sign a bigger contract, in which basically Portland just paid him 14m a year to rehab.

Not saying signing him back is a bad idea, but the contract details, price point, and length introduces 0 upside and all the downsides for them as a team

I honestly don't know what to tell you other than you're probably sweating the details more than even the Blazers FO did here. They probably just told Dame, "we want you back, here's what we can give you, do you want it".

The Blazers aren't a FA destination, never have been, never will be. They don't get FAs to sign here and when they have, it's largely always something they regret like 2 months into the season. The Blazers could waste the MLE in a million different ways, none of which would bring back even a fraction of the level of excitement this is.

I'll also add, if a deal materializes at some point... lets say Dame comes back next year, shows he's got some juice left and wants to go play for a ring for half a season and they both work out something for him to do that, well, at the MLE, you've now got a trade asset that can bring back a worthwhile rotation level piece in the deal likely. If he makes too much, he's unmovable. If he makes too little, he's hard to match salaries and you have to cut him.

So again, I don't know why anyone is really handwringing or even remotely caring what he gets paid. Genuinely don't think anyone cares.

Read on Twitter

[Slimjimzv]

I absolutely love remembering that the GM of my favorite team is Sam Presti.

[old skool]

I don't think the dollars matter one bit. Nor the years. Portland's support of the Blazers will likely justify the cash outlay, as there is plenty of money in the NBA.

The real question will be about minutes and roles. The injury, surgery and recovery will leave the Blazers with a Hall of Fame player who is a shell of himself. Capable of flashes of past brilliance that can't be sustained for an entire NBA campaign. Fans and Dame himself will yearn for "Dame Time', which will more often than not be "Not This Time". The cheers and ovations will be louder during player introductions than at the end of games.

The bitter reality is that in the NBA minutes and starring roles are finite. There are only so many to go around, with fewer and fewer of both going to a diminished aging superstar.

By the time Lillard steps onto the court with the Trailblazers, he will be older than Clyde Drexler was when he retired from the NBA. That return will be joyous. But expectations should be low for a player who will have averaged only 43 games played since passing age 30 five seasons previously. Increasingly expect minutes and starring roles to go to others while Lillard watches.

[DusterBuster]

By the time Lillard steps onto the court with the Trailblazers, he will be older than Clyde Drexler was when he retired from the NBA. That return will be joyous. But expectations should be low for a player who will have averaged only 43 games played since passing age 30 five seasons previously. Increasingly expect minutes and starring roles to go to others while Lillard watches.

I think this is fair. I'll also say to those games played stats tho, his last 3 season in Portland before the Bucks trade, the Blazers largely shut him down to tank. One was a legit injury if I remember, but most were just wanting to get a high pick so don't bother coming back.

[BigGargamel]

Everybody loving this for Lillard, but every time the Nuggets lose in a game 7 of the second round of the playoffs, they're trying to force Jokic out of Denver for "rangz".

NBA fans never know what they want.

[Anticon]

[streamable][/streamable]

Lillard is basically Portland's Jeter. The whole city was crying yesterday. Like wall to wall tears of joy. It was a great move. Portland is better with Lillard in it.

And Portland's also one of the few places where having him signed for next season to bring him back the following season actually plays to their benefit of building young talent.

I assume you're there, so this is awesome to hear. Amazing when players have a bond with a city like this.

Apart from that, they basically got a full return for him, got off has large salary, and got him back on a discount relative to his previous market value. So an amazing sequence of events from that perspective as well.

[doogie_hauser]

The only way I can see the Blazers taking a swing on Kuminga is if the Warriors take back Grant.

That's the deal I was thinking, though the Blazers likely have to add draft capital to it such as the Orlando pick. I like that deal for GS better than anything the Suns, for example, could offer. I could understand aversion to that risk but it's one I would take as I think the Blazers need to take on some risk to get to a high level.

The Warriors asking price for Kuminga is a bit too much for a team in Portland's position (they want a decent first round pick and talented young player for JK, don't think the Orlando future pick and Grant would satisfy the Dubs)

Just my opinion and I don't pretend i can speak for Blazers fans here.

[DusterBuster]

The only way I can see the Blazers taking a swing on Kuminga is if the Warriors take back Grant.

That's the deal I was thinking, though the Blazers likely have to add draft capital to it such as the Orlando pick. I like that deal for GS better than anything the Suns, for example, could offer. I could understand aversion to that risk but it's one I would take as I think the Blazers need to take on some risk to get to a high level.

The Warriors asking price for Kuminga is a bit too much for a team in Portland's position (they want a decent first round pick and talented young player for JK, don't think the Orlando future pick and Grant would satisfy the Dubs)

Just my opinion and I don't pretend i can speak for Blazers fans here.

I'm just not impressed at all with JK, so yeah, if they don't want to take Grant back in a deal, than the Warriors can find another spot for him with another team more motivated to sign him.

I also don't know anyone that's giving up that much for JK tbh. Who's gonna give back a pick and a young player for the privilege of overpaying a fairly unimpressive Kuminga?

[doogie_hauser]

That's the deal I was thinking, though the Blazers likely have to add draft capital to it such as the Orlando pick. I like that deal for GS better than anything the Suns, for example, could offer. I could understand aversion to that risk but it's one I would take as I think the Blazers need to take on some risk to get to a high level.

The Warriors asking price for Kuminga is a bit too much for a team in Portland's position (they want a decent first round pick and talented young player for JK, don't think the Orlando future pick and Grant would satisfy the Dubs)

Just my opinion and I don't pretend i can speak for Blazers fans here.

I'm just not impressed at all with JK, so yeah, if they don't want to take Grant back in a deal, than the Warriors can find another spot for him with another team more motivated to sign him.

I also don't know anyone that's giving up that much for JK tbh. Who's gonna give back a pick and a young player for the privilege of overpaying a fairly unimpressive Kuminga?

Miami walked away from trading for Kuminga after the Dubs asking price.

The Warriors are being a pain in the ass to trade with

[DusterBuster]

The Warriors asking price for Kuminga is a bit too much for a team in Portland's position (they want a decent first round pick and talented young player for JK, don't think the Orlando future pick and Grant would satisfy the Dubs)

Just my opinion and I don't pretend i can speak for Blazers fans here.

I'm just not impressed at all with JK, so yeah, if they don't want to take Grant back in a deal, than the Warriors can find another spot for him with another team more motivated to sign him.

I also don't know anyone that's giving up that much for JK tbh. Who's gonna give back a pick and a young player for the privilege of overpaying a fairly unimpressive Kuminga?

Miami walked away from trading for Kuminga after the Dubs asking price.

The Warriors are being a pain in the ass to trade with

Yeah, they've clearly overvalued Kuminga for awhile. You can't be opening having a player on the block and taking him in and out of a rotation because the coach is frustrated, than expect to get 10 bucks back for a dollar.

[flranger]

Sorry, no respect here. Dame was a bi_ch his last couple years in Portland.

I remember dawg....you signed your super max then wanted out. All about the money, bet this is too.....

[Capn'O]

I'm just not impressed at all with JK, so yeah, if they don't want to take Grant back in a deal, than the Warriors can find another spot for him with another team more motivated to sign him.

I also don't know anyone that's giving up that much for JK tbh. Who's gonna give back a pick and a young player for the privilege of overpaying a fairly unimpressive Kuminga?

Miami walked away from trading for Kuminga after the Dubs asking price.

The Warriors are being a pain in the ass to trade with

Yeah, they've clearly overvalued Kuminga for awhile. You can't be opening having a player on the block and taking him in and out of a rotation because the coach is frustrated, than expect to get 10 bucks back for a dollar.

Speaking of teams not picking a lane.

If that's the case they're being really unreasonable, including to Kuminga.

[BadMofoPimp]

I take this as the Blazers ensuring they are a bottom team for the next few years.

[doogie_hauser]

Miami walked away from trading for Kuminga after the Dubs asking price.

The Warriors are being a pain in the ass to trade with

Yeah, they've clearly overvalued Kuminga for awhile. You can't be opening having a player on the block and taking him in and out of a rotation because the coach is frustrated, than expect to get 10 bucks back for a dollar.

Speaking of teams not picking a lane.

If that's the case they're being really unreasonable, including to Kuminga.

Its not a seller's market right now for players like Kuminga. The Kings have been trying to move on Malik Monk all off season and not getting any bites.

This is partly of a result of the new CBA and team's looking to save cap space and try retain draft picks.

Golden State don't want to give him an extension yet demand a premium in trade return is absolute gaga logic from The Dubs as Duster Buster says.....

[SpreeS]

Please someone explain me how this Lillard contract will effect Bucks salary cap?