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Guard Damian Lillard is putting up monster numbers, but Portland (4-7) is struggling. Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports

Superstar Lillard's prime wasted by Trail Blazers. Here's what they must do.

By Pat Heery | Last updated 11/13/19

In January 2018, the Blazers were struggling to stay afloat in a competitive Western Conference, and their star Damian Lillard was at a career crossroads. His statistics and competitiveness suggested he belonged in the elite tier of point guards with Steph Curry and Kyrie Irving, but his inferior supporting cast prevented him from making a postseason run. So Lillard requested an audience with Paul Allen, the late owner of the team.

With the player empowerment movement under way, and many of Lillard’s peers developing wandering eyes, Allen worried his superstar point guard might request a trade. Instead, Lillard channeled his inner-Robert Frost, took the road not taken, and reiterated his commitment to the franchise. Allen then reassured Lillard the franchise was committed to building a contender around him.

Fast forward to last Friday: With the Blazers facing an insurmountable deficit in the final seconds of a 119-115 OT loss at home to the Nets, Lillard made a three-pointer at the buzzer, giving him a career-high, and NBA season-high, 60 points. After Portland's fourth straight loss dropped it to 3-6, a dejected Lillard told reporters, "It's whatever. Anytime you set records it's obviously good. I guess it's not as fun losing."

Though it only counted as one game in an 82-game regular season, the defeat is a microcosm of Lillard's situation in the Pacific Northwest. Although he played spectacularly, winning the Battle of the Best (Healthy) Point Guards against Irving, Portland will never win a title unless it fulfills Allen's commitment to build a contender. In a season in which Lillard is making a leap to MVP candidate, that's a damn shame.

Through 11 games, Video Game Dame is trumping numbers Golden State's Curry put up during his unanimous MVP season in 2016. He averages more points (32.5 to 30.1) and fewer turnovers (2.9 to 3.3) than Curry did, and his shooting splits (50-39-91 to 50-45-91), passing (6.6 assists per game to 6.7), rebounding (5.1 to 5.4) are nearly the same. His Player Efficiency Rating (30.7) is even on par with Steph's (31.5), which remains the highest for a point guard.

In addition to the statistical bumps, Lillard has also developed into an elite finisher at the rim despite standing 6-foot-2. He shoots over 71 percent at the rim! This kind of efficiency would put him ahead of Curry’s career best (70 percent), James Harden’s best while on the Rockets (68 percent), Russell Westbrook’s best while on the Thunder (65 percent), and Irving’s career best (65 percent). Add the fact that he is making four three-pointers per game, and Logo Lillard is arguably the most lethal weapon on a court. He can score from literally any spot inside the logo. If this is going to be the new normal for Lillard, he’s the best point guard in the NBA and in the conversation as top-10 point guard of all time.

You probably did a double-take and Googled “Best Point Guards in NBA History” after reading that last line because it seemed like hyperbole. But trust me, it’s not. For his career, Lillard has averaged 23.7 points, 6.3 assists, 4.2 rebounds and shot 36.9 percent from three. In the history of the NBA, there are only 12 instances in which a player has matched or exceeded that statistical line in a season. Similarly, Lillard's career stat line for the playoffs (24.8 points, 5.9 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 35.3 percent from three) has only been matched 20 times. He also has made the All-NBA team four times and won Rookie of the Year. Oh, and let’s not forget: Lillard has buried two of the seven walk-off, series-ending buzzer-beaters in the playoffs. Heck, that's already a Hall of Fame resume for Big Game Dame, who's only 29.

After they were swept in last spring's Western Conference finals by Golden State, the Blazers were much more aggressive than usual in the off-season. But their plan is backfiring. After losing Jusuf Nurkic to a broken leg late in 2019, the Blazers traded for an enigmatic big man in Hassan Whiteside. The acquisition of Whiteside, who's not an impact player, meant Portland could not re-sign its longtime defensive-minded forwards (Al-Farouq Aminu and Mo Harkless). The Trail Blazers attempted to address these holes at forward by signing Pau Gasol, sliding Zach Collins to the four and using a patchwork of Rodney Hood, Kent Bazemore and Mario Hezonja at the three. Unfortunately, Gasol hasn’t played a game because of a foot injury, Collins will miss the majority of the season with a shoulder injury, and no wing has stepped up.

Point out a problem, offer a solution. Here's mine: Although it would cost Portland a ton, it must acquire a stellar forward or risk getting buried in the loaded West. Plenty are available. Cleveland's Kevin Love (18.5 points, 12.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists), long linked to the Blazers, would provide the kind of spacing and playmaking from the high post that the Blazers have lacked for years. Oklahoma City's Danilo Gallinari (18.2 points, 4.9 rebounds) would give the Blazers similar kinds of floor spacing (41.9 percent from three this season) and add an assertive scorer skilled at getting to the basket and free throw line. These two would each likely cost a first-round pick or two.

And if the Blazers want to really go for it, they could dangle Lillard’s star backcourt mate, CJ McCollum, or coveted prospect Anfernee Simons in a deal for two-way stud Aaron Gordon of the Magic (13.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and excellent defense). Dealing McCollum for Gordon would cause the Blazers’ offense to drop a little (currently 11th), but it would be an immediate upgrade to their floundering defense (currently 18th). Or Portland could really push its chips to the table and deal McCollum or Simons and picks for Detroit's Blake Griffin (24.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.4 assists last season). A deal for Griffin, while highly risky due to his injury history and cap hit, would nonetheless give Portland two superstars and put it in position to win the West.

Whatever Portland decides, it must make a move soon. Lillard was loyal to the Blazers during his crossroads moment in 2018. Now Portland must hold up its end of the bargain.

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