Portland Trail Blazers superstar Damian Lillard is apparently not opposed to sitting out the rest of the season if the Trail Blazers plan to tank for a high draft pick.
Damian Lillard addressed media today for the first time since surgery.
-He feels good and doctors say all signs are positive
-Hasn’t ruled out returning this season but will depend on where team is at. Seemed open to sitting out year if it’s clear plan is to play for draft pick pic.twitter.com/BfbMVPps6t
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) January 22, 2022
Lillard has been recovering from abdominal surgery, with his absence being one of the reasons that the Trail Blazers are struggling with a 19-26 record.
Not having Lillard in the lineup has stripped Portland of a player who’s achieved superstar status and is more than likely destined for a spot in the Hall of Fame.
One of the main reasons why the Trail Blazers may choose to take the controversial path of tanking is because of the massive challenge they face for the rest of the 2021-22 campaign.
Right now, the Trail Blazers are in position to reach the postseason via the play-in. However, it’s more than likely that any trip to the playoffs would be a short one for a shorthanded Portland team due to the potent teams in the Western Conference.
If Lillard were to miss the remainder of this season, the Trail Blazers would undoubtedly continue to struggle. That would improve their chances for a high draft pick.
Lillard is a highly competitive player who plays to win every time he steps on the court. However, the reality of the situation is that possibly adding a top talent for next season and beyond via the draft may end up making more sense.
Throughout this season, there has been speculation about Lillard’s future with the Trail Blazers. It remains to be seen if he will spend his entire career with the organization.
