An NBA reporter claims that Damian Lillard has been urging the Portland Trail Blazers to trade for Warriors star Draymond Green.
Advertisement
The Portland TrailBlazers had perhaps the most active offseason in the entire NBA, going into the 2020-21 NBA season. However, despite the Blazers front office and Neil Olshey’s best efforts in trying to get Damian Lillard help, Portland doesn’t seem to be quite as good as anticipated.
After 7 games, the Blazers are boasting a below .500 record of 3-4, and are fresh off a loss to the Chicago Bulls. The Blazers offense has always ranked in the top 10 ever since Damian Lillard has made his way to Portland.
Their defense however, is where the problem lies. They currently possess the 29th ranked defense in the NBA. With a defensive rating as low as theirs, it wouldn’t matter how high their offensive rating is. They wouldn’t make much noise in the Playoffs if they cannot stop anybody. This is where Draymond Green may come in.
Damian Lillard reportedly wants Draymond Green on the Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers and Golden State Warriors have faced each other in the Playoffs on multiple occasions. Most recently, the Warriors swept Dame and co. in the 2019 WCF.
The two teams have gotten acclimated with one another and so it makes sense that Dame would want a winning player from Golden State.
Sam Amick of the Athletic reports, “If we were handicapping Draymond Green trade destinations if the Warriors decided to blow it up, that’s the one. Damian and his group have been campaigning for that for a couple of years.”
Report: Damian Lillard has lobbied for Portland to trade for Draymond Green ‘for the last couple years’ https://t.co/4pvqrk8HTH
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) January 6, 2021
Draymond Green is a savant on the defensive end of the floor. He is a former DPOY and though he isn’t as athletic as he used to be, he still has some of the highest basketball IQ in the world.
His ability to switch onto any position from 1-5, coupled with his defensive IQ and off ball presence would make him a great defensive anchor for the Blazers.
Golden State however, doesn’t seem to be letting go of their big 3 anytime soon as they have Green locked up on a 4 year/$25 million contract.