Damian Lillard meets with Blazers' owner Paul Allen to discuss franchise direction

What's the story?

Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard met with owner Paul Allen over the team's direction and commitment to being competitive ball club.

In case you didn't know

Nobody in the franchise was informed of the meeting. The team's basketball operations were only later notified by Allen.

Heart of the matter

The franchise guard met the team's owner prior to the Blazers facing the Indiana Pacers at the Moda Center last Thursday. In the meeting, Lillard made his championship aspirations clear and wanted to fulfill those lofty goals with the team while still in his prime.

ESPN's Chris Haynes further reports that the meeting went on for around two hours.

It was Allen's home game in 2018.

As the current payrolls stand, the Blazers are sixth in the league with a roster that is paid $122 million. However, their team success hasn't necessarily translated those dollars to the court. Although, they have made the Playoffs for the last four years but have never advanced past the second round, making it to the Conference Semifinals twice of the four years.

It isn't abnormal for Allen to meet with his players like this. Also an owner of the NFL team - the Seattle Seahawks, Allen has been known to meet with numerous of his marquee players before.

Last week, Damian Lillard told ESPN and made his frustrations clear on not being named in the previous two All-Star games.

What's next?

Through 47 games, the Blazers are 25-22, good enough for the seventh seed in the West. They'll put that record to the test against the third-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night in Portland.

Author's Take

In 2015-16, the Blazers making the Playoffs was considered a success despite losing LaMarcus Aldridge but since then they've failed to improve or take any big leaps like the potential they have shown.