Damian Lillard has been loyal to Portland ground for his entire NBA career. The Trail Blazers haven’t had much success or growth in recent years, but Lillard has never even hinted he wants to leave.
Since the franchise blessed the fan base and picked Lillard in the 2012 draft, they’ve only made the conference finals once. Many would have left in frustration at not being able to compete for the title. But not Lillard, who has shown time and time again that his will to stick with Rip City can withstand the sting of repeated failure.
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To show their appreciation for Lillard’s unwavering dedication over the years, the Trail Blazers have offered their ace a new contract that will net him a boon. According to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, the franchise has decided to give him a $100 million contract extension that will match his current deal which runs through the 2024-25 season.
This would keep Lillard in town for the rest of his early years; however, the Blazers wouldn’t want to stop there. The star did not taste the NBA Finals despite having a brilliant individual career. Therefore, the Blazers’ focus this offseason will be to get the ideal assets to complement their ace.
Fans go crazy over Lillard signing extension
The new contract extension will keep Lillard at Rip City until 2027. His signing of this extension speaks volumes about his loyalty to the Blazers.
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Seeing this unfold, fans couldn’t help but go crazy at the thought of Dame getting the massive expansion.
Lillard on the only loyal basketball player alive right now
— RJ 🌬 (@DontMissRJ) June 29, 2022
@Dame_Lillard has been TOO faithful to the @Trail Blazers. Respect loyalty, but if you don’t win, you’re wasting your career in a franchise that can’t even create a winning culture.
— Dan M. Robinson (@igrindmyteeth) June 29, 2022
Portland keeps giving him the bag, hoping Damian will never win anything
— Depressed Mavs Fan (@MavsDepressed) June 29, 2022
Franchise with a bad front office. Good for Lady making money, but this team isn’t going anywhere fast. He would have had a chip if he had left a few years ago. Definitely has loyalty, but I think at this point he knows where he’s at and he’s about to cash in.
—JD Miller (@iM1LLKY) June 30, 2022
Legend of blazers. GOAT jackets. Chief of the blazers. Lock him up for his entire career. Build a statue for this man.
I feel so lucky to have been able to see him play here his entire career. Absolute class act and straight baller.
—Blake Long (@The_blakeshow88) June 29, 2022
Let the man go and give me a chance to get at least 1 ring. He is loyal to the AF!! But this guy’s career is too big not to have at least 1 ring under his belt. Somewhere on the east coast
— Ange Gutierrez (@Anghellic24) June 29, 2022
Deserved. Now can they please get help for my man
— Dilly (@dillyboyq) June 29, 2022
Trail Blazers are already making progress in the offseason to help Damian Lillard
Many players have left Rip City in search of a breath of fresh air, but Damian Lillard has always known where his heart goes. Lillard wasn’t always treated fairly by the Trail Blazers, but his loyalty to the team never wavered. For all his heroic and monumental efforts, he was entitled to demand more of his frankness. Yet the lone wolf walked unescorted, determined to usher in the glory days.
The Trail Blazers, to repay all these elephantine contributions, must present a newer and more ambitious project. And it looks like they have already started augmenting Lillard with the necessary parts.
The Blazers acquired Jerami Grant a few weeks ago. The forward impressed with his dynamic play during his time with the Detroit Pistons. Grant fits the criteria of a big, athletic wing who can score and play lock defense. He has a profile that the Blazers have long wanted to associate with Dame.
Additionally, the Blazers picked Shaedon Sharpe 7th overall in the NBA Draft last week.
Shaedon Sharpe of London, Ont., is something of a mystery because he does something very few players have ever done – go to the NBA without playing college.
But, as Rick Westhead explains, his path so far has never been a straight line. pic.twitter.com/8BBfuvIcLU
—TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 22, 2022
The Blazers also tied Anfernee Simons to the franchise for the next 4 years after he sign a four-year, $100 million contract extension. Last year, in the absence of Lillard and CJ McCollum, the young guard had a stellar season.
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A backcourt of him and Lillard is sure to strike terror into opponents. In addition to Simons, the Blazers have also reportedly re-signed Jusuf Nurkic.
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The offseason has only just begun and the team is still considering several moves. What future for Damian Lillard and Portland? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
