Damian Lillard, the Portland Trail Blazers and what lies ahead for a franchise in turmoil
The Portland Trail Blazers are a franchise immersed in turmoil.
Once a model of stability with president of basketball operations and general manager Neil Olshey and coach Terry Stotts in charge for nearly a decade, both are out. Olshey dismissed Stotts after last season and then the Blazers fired Olshey last week following an investigation into workplace conduct. And longtime president Chris McGowan recently left the franchise.
The roster Olshey constructed and the coach he hired (Chauncey Billups) amid a PR debacle in the summer have yielded an underwhelming 11-15 record — 11th place in the Western Conference and on the fringe of not making even the play-in game.
With Olshey gone and the Blazers struggling, focus is on Damian Lillard. Lillard is at the heart of the Blazers' future. His frustration eased after offseason conversation with Billups but a sub-.500 record, individual struggles and an injury have re-kindled the concern.
Let’s take a look at what the Blazers face:
Who is running the Blazers?
Jody Allen is the chair of the Blazers and Seattle Seahawks. She is the sister of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who died in 2018, and keeps a low profile. Bert Kolde is the vice chair of the Blazers and Seahawks and executive vice president of sports strategy and operations at Vulcan Inc. Together, they will search for a permanent GM.
In the meantime, Joe Cronin is the interim GM. He joined the team in 2006 as an intern, was named pro scout/salary cap analyst in 2010 and promoted to director of player personnel in 2014. He will be considered for the permanent job.
The next front office executive will have franchise-impacting decisions to make with a roster that requires upgrades.
What’s going on with Lillard now?
Lillard is averaging 21.5 points (seven less than last season), with shooting percentages and free throw attempts lower than last season – some of which can be attributed to new rules governing perimeter fouls and an abdomen injury that has sidelined him for the past five games.
What is Lillard’s future with the team?
His preference, as he has said on the record, is to remain with the Blazers on a team that can compete for a championship. He re-iterated that Wednesday.
"I’m trying to be a part this solution," Lillard said at Portland’s shootaround. "I’m not trying to be a part of the gossip and the story. I just want to be at peace and do my job to the best of my ability and do the things I care about and am passionate about, that’s what I’m trying to do."
Lillard, who was drafted by the Blazers in 2012 and developed into a six-time All-NBA performer, is in the first year of a four-year, $176.2 million contract and can begin negotiating a two-year extension that would pay him more than $50 million a season in 2025-26 and 2026-27.
As of now — and certainly subject to change in an ever-changing league — Lillard wants a GM who can make the Blazers a competitor in the West and it appears Lillard will still be a Blazer after the Feb. 10 deadline, according to a person familiar with situation. The person requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about Portland’s plans.
Are there other moves on the horizon?
CJ McCollum, who is out indefinitely with a collapsed right lung, is the logical candidate to trade that could return players and assets to improve the Blazers. There has been talk for years of breaking up the Lillard-McCollum combo. Is this finally the season?
It’s a complicated situation, but one thing is certain: Lillard is not advocating the Blazers trade his close friend.
Where do the Sixers fit in this equation?
Ever since Philadelphia’s Ben Simmons asked for a trade, the Sixers have maintained patience. Surveying the landscape and waiting to see who will be a seller is the prudent move — especially when the Sixers want so much in return, including multiple draft picks on top of a player who can help them win now.
However you want to view it — Philadelphia’s asking price (did someone say four first rounders?) is too high or Portland’s won’t offer enough — the two teams don’t see eye to eye on a deal for McCollum.
Regardless, the Sixers and Blazers are two teams that could be active — together, separately or part of a multi-team deal — as the calendar moves closer to the February trade deadline.
What happened to the independent report?
The Blazers said they won't release the independent report out of respect for those who spoke with investigators even though there have been efforts inside and outside the organization to release it with redacted names, a person familiar with the situation told Paste BN Sports. The person requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the Blazers' operations.