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Damian Lillard and his future with the Portland Trail Blazers will be one of the most talked about topics of the NBA offseason. Lillard has not demanded a trade out of Portland, while the Blazers are willing to continue building around him.
The latest rumors suggest that Lillard's dream offseason has the Blazers signing Draymond Green and Jerami Grant in free agency. Sam Amick of The Athletic reported:
"So, what would it take to convince Lillard that Portland is still the place to be for the rest of his NBA days?
"Here's one solution that is known to be a dream scenario from Lillard's vantage point: Re-sign forward Jerami Grant and add four-time All-Star/four-time champion Draymond Green in free agency."
Draymond Green is expected to opt out of his contract with the Golden State Warriors and become a free agent. However, the Warriors' recent acquisition of Chris Paul could mean that Green will be signed to a new contract.
The former Defensive Player of the Year has been a difference-maker for the Warriors during their four championship runs. He would bring a lot to any team that signs him and would certainly improve the Portland Trail Blazers. They need to work out a sign-and-trade with Golden State to make the move happen, though.
Meanwhile, Jerami Grant had a great first season with the Blazers. He averaged 20.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 63 games. He's an unrestricted free agent but fits Portland and Damian Lillard perfectly. Their partnership just didn't result in a playoff berth.
Damian Lillard unhappy that Blazers didn't trade No. 3 pick
The Portland Trail Blazers had the No. 3 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. The Blazers were linked to trades regarding the selection but ended up drafting Scoot Henderson. The 19-year-old guard plays the same position as Damian Lillard, which could present problems for the Blazers.
According to Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian, Lillard was pretty upset that the Blazers didn't trade the third overall pick. Portland reportedly tried to acquire Pascal Siakam of the Toronto Raptors and Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans, but both teams were asking a lot in return.
Despite Lillard's unhappiness with the Blazers' draft day decisions, the relationship between the player and the franchise remains strong. Both sides recently met to discuss their plans for the offseason. Lillard's loyalty needs to be rewarded, but can Portland do enough to build a contender around him?
