Portland Trail Blazers: C’mon Dame, say what you mean!
Do you want the money or not?
Listen, Dame, I understand if you want an extension. The Portland Trail Blazers organization hasn’t given you anything else in all the ten years, and you’ve given them your everything. I think you should ask for more. At the top of the list should be a center, a power forward, and a small forward. Believe it or not, you do have a good partner. He’s another player who played with you and also gave his all. But that’s for another article, and I think I’ll write it.
Enter Woj
Here’s what Adrian Wojnarowski had to say in his ESPN+ column The Portland Trail Blazers’ GM search will shape the future of the franchise — and Damian Lillard:
The prospects of Portland extending Lillard, 31, beyond his $48.8 million in 2024-25 to pay him $51 million at 35 years old and $55 million at 36 threatens to turn an asset of a contract into an albatross. …
Among several top-level GM candidates who fit the profile of Portland’s applicant pool, there’s no enthusiasm to grant Lillard his massive extension contract through the 2026-27 season. In fact, several executives told ESPN they would be far more interested in the Blazers job with ownership’s blessing to move Lillard sooner than later.
It’s a lot to read. I don’t blame you for getting upset about it. If you are upset, Dame, then just say that. You give us, your fans first this, “Gossip may reveal the realities of its subject; it always reveals the bias of the gossiper.”
What?!?!
If that wasn’t enough, you do this:
Can’t say I’m surprised. https://t.co/AwOUKOfGQv
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) December 7, 2021
If you believe this is Woj and Olshey, have the guts to say that to your fans in plain English. It’s sad and makes me sad for you.
It’s not anyone else’s fault that you are 31 and have not won a Western Conference Final (or Eastern Conference Final). This is you, all you, and you’ve had massive opportunities to leave. You wanted to stay in Portland. This type of behavior means what? Says what?
Regardless of Woj talking to Olshey. Is this not the truth? Do you want an extension? With the extension, you should ask for real players…
You and CJ McCollum were named the second-best backcourt in the NBA. Second only to the Splash Brothers, Stephen Curry, and Klay Thompson. The Portland Trail Blazers’ organization should have built around the two of you years ago.
So I wouldn’t blame you if you left. I wouldn’t blame you if you stayed. But whatever you do, Dame, say what you mean and mean what you say.
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What do you think about Damian Lillard’s passive/aggressive comments recently? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.