Can we please cease performing just like the Blazers owe Damian Lillard the world?

If Damian Lillard by no means performs one other recreation for the Portland Path Blazers, he has a powerful case as one of the best participant in franchise historical past. It is both him or Clyde Drexler. The person has been a no-headache, Corridor of Fame participant and arguably a fair higher ambassador for each the Blazers and the league as a complete. No person is suggesting in any other case. Damian Lillard is, and has been, freaking nice. 

However can we please cease performing just like the Blazers owe Lillard the world? They’ve paid the man greater than $233 million in profession money. And have signed as much as pay him simply shy of half a billion — sure, half a billion — ought to he resolve to remain via his present totally assured contract that’s set to line his pockets with $45.6M, $48.8M, $58.5M and $63.2M over the subsequent 4 seasons, respectively. 

Regardless of the place he finishes this contract, Lillard is assured to be one of many highest-earning gamers in NBA historical past. I feel the Blazers are sufficiently sq.. 

And but, this notion persists that the Blazers stay indebted, that they owe it to Lillard to take some fifty-cents-on-the-dollar deal so he can go to his “most popular vacation spot.” Severely. Lots of people actually consider this. I am not making this up. 

These individuals, they make it like Lillard has been doing charity work for the previous 11 seasons, and now it is time to lastly give the person his due. I will repeat: Damian Lillard has made more cash than simply about any participant who’s ever laced up a pair of sneakers within the NBA. 

Sure, Lillard earned that cash. The Blazers did not give something to him. However who did give Lillard, and each different participant with an NBA contract, that cash? The followers. You recognize, the individuals who cannot afford to take their children to video games as a result of it is so rattling costly however do it anyway? The individuals paying out the nostril for cable packages, which interprets to what some anticipate might be a $75 billion tv deal in a few years? 

Yeah, these individuals. They’re the explanation Damian Lillard goes to make effectively over half a billion {dollars}, in wage alone, by the point his profession is finished, and they’d be those getting screwed if Portland says no matter and sends Dame wherever he needs to go for a return that will not put them any nearer to a title throughout the subsequent period of Blazers basketball than they ever have been with Lillard within the first place. 

Want I remind you, Lillard, in his 11 seasons, has led the Blazers to all of 1 convention finals berth, and even that was a matchup-friendly fluke. We’re not speaking about Stephen Curry with the Warriors or Kobe Bryant with the Lakers and even Giannis Antetokounmpo with the Bucks or Nikola Jokic with Denver. We’re roughly speaking a couple of longer-tenured Joel Embiid with the Sixers. 

In spite of everything, Embiid has been loyal. Embiid has gained MVP, one thing Lillard has by no means executed. He’ll go down as the most effective gamers in Sixers franchise historical past if he stays even just a few extra years. If the Sixers have been all of the sudden out there to commerce Embiid, would they owe it to him to cripple their future so Embiid can go reside out his elder years within the Miami solar? 

This could be completely different if Lillard have been within the final yr of his contract. The Blazers would not have a lot leverage towards the specter of Lillard leaving in free company for nothing. However he isn’t within the final yr of his deal. Actually, after signing a two-year, $122M extension LAST SUMMER, he is contractually dedicated to the Portland for the subsequent 4 seasons. 

That is proper. Lillard agreed to play basketball for the subsequent 4 seasons for the Blazers, who in flip agreed to pay the most recent $122M installment on his profession earnings, and but a yr later, Lillard needs to play for the Warmth, and the Blazers are simply alleged to ship him there for Tyler Herro and no matter crumbs Pat Riley finds underneath his sofa? 

And oh, by the way in which, do not sing me this music that free company is not a viable path to relocation for star gamers anymore. If you wish to stand on that hill, you will need to acknowledge that this was partly one of many causes Lillard has been so loyal all these years. I do know we wish to make Lillard out to be a saint and all, however there’s some exhausting enterprise being executed on his finish as effectively. Portland may pay him. Not many different groups may. 

However certain, it is true, there usually aren’t quite a lot of groups with the cap house to pay a man like Lillard, and even fewer with the precise championship-level roster Lillard seeks. You recognize what we name that once you wish to make an excessive amount of cash for a staff to have the ability to afford underneath the present wage cap and tax guidelines? The breaks. 

And robust breaks, they’re. Poor man might need to remain in Portland, the place he supposedly completely loves residing, or worse, go to another staff that is not close to South Seashore to chase his ring, all so the followers that pay his large wage within the first place can elevate his identify of their water-cooler legacy speak. 

I do know. It is a tragedy. 

And but, tragedy was someway prevented when Jimmy Butler discovered his approach to the Warmth, additionally his most popular vacation spot after they had no cap house in the summertime of 2019. Have you learnt how that occurred? The Sixers acquired skinned in a sign-and-trade, they usually’ve been feeling the ache of that one-sided resolution, in a technique or one other, ever since. However hey, Jimmy acquired to go the place he needed to go. Hope it was price it. 

Anybody opposing my considering will certainly argue that Lillard and Butler are two completely different gamers. You recognize what? You are appropriate. Butler has taken his groups method farther than Lillard ever has. Butler was additionally a free agent when he left for Miami, which left Philly with no leverage and ready to take no matter it may get until it needed to lose Butler for nothing. 

The Blazers haven’t got to do this. And why is that once more? Say it with me, class: As a result of Damian Lillard signed an extension to stick with the Blazers via 2026. HE IS UNDER CONTRACT FOR FOUR MORE YEARS. 

So was Kevin Durant when the Nets traded him, you say? That is proper. And what the Nets acquired in return for Durant? An enormous freaking haul headlined by Mikal Bridges. When Tyler Herro turns into Mikal Bridges, or when a 3rd staff will get concerned that may sweeten Portland’s return, give me a name. Till then, cease performing just like the Blazers owe Lillard no matter he needs, irrespective of the price to their followers and franchise.