“Damian Lillard and Zach LaVine would be one the most lethal backcourts in NBA history”: Jay Williams raves about a potential team-up between the Blazers and Bulls superstars

Jay Williams believes a duo consisting of Damian Lillard and Zach LaVine would be one of the most lethal backcourts in NBA history. 

The past 48 hours or so have been brutal for the Portland TrailBlazers organization. After having declared Chauncey Billups as the next, official head coach for the Blazers, a multitude of NBA fans came after Damian Lillard and the Portland-based franchise. 

Billups’s sexual assault case from 2 decades ago had fans puzzled and frustrated at the idea that he can now receive such a high position in a franchise. Damian Lillard was blamed by NBA and Blazers fans alike; an event that irked Dame the wrong way. He released a statement claiming he had no idea about Chauncey’s past and was not involved in the hiring.

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Reports have also come out that there’s a growing disconnect between Damian Lillard and Neil Olshey’s front office. With rumors of a disgruntled Lillard surfacing each and every day, NBA analysts are trying to put together their best versions of a Dame trade. 

Jay Williams wants to see Damian Lillard team-up with Zach LaVine. 

ESPN’s Jay Williams recently came out in favor of Damian Lillard being traded to the Chicago Bulls, to go team up with Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic.

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While this would be one of the most offensively potent backcourts in the league, there are several problems with this trade ever taking place. First on the docket would be to match the salaries. Dame is set to make about $40 million in the 2021-22 NBA season.

With the salary cap at $112 million next season, matching salaries without having to give up LaVine or Vucevic will result in barely any good players remaining on the Bulls. 

Furthermore, if the Blazers don’t receive LaVine, the Bulls will have to give up Patrick Williams. With a star of Damian’s caliber, the centerpiece being Patrick Williams doesn’t seem all to enticing for the Blazers. Damian Lillard would essentially be going into a situation eerily similar to what he has with the Blazers. 

Defense would also be a major issue as Jusuf Nurkic is a far more superior rim protector than Nikola Vuvevic. Though Lillard’s offensive responsibilities will be reduced to give him breathers on the bench, the roster construction will most certainly not be of one that can contend for a championship.