The Damian Lillard rumor mill is picking up steam after a recent report suggested that the star point guard could force his way out of Portland amid concerns over the direction of the Trail Blazers following the head coaching hire of Chauncey Billups.
The Billups hire has received some backlash, particularly regarding his past sexual assault allegations from 1997.
Billups was reportedly not among the candidates on Lillard's preferred list of options, nor was anyone that the Trail Blazers interviewed for the head coach position.
It is believed Lillard is unsure if the Trail Blazers can build a championship contender, making his departure from Portland a real possibility.
Lillard would instantly become the hottest trade piece on the market as several teams will likely compete in bidding for the 30-year-old All-Star.
Here's an early look at the potential teams that could pursue Lillard:
New York Knicks
Getty ImagesThe Knicks were among the most surprising teams this past season, earning the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference behind Julius Randle. But the Knicks were exposed in the playoffs and if the team wants to be a serious title contender, pairing another star with Randle will be a necessity.
Lillard could be that star, but it will likely have to come at a hefty cost. One, if not both, of RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley would likely need to be required to get a deal done. The Knicks also have multiple first-round draft picks that they could part with as well, so they would be leveraging much of their future and depth for a win-now move in acquiring Lillard.
Philadelphia 76ers
Getty ImagesThe big talk around the 76ers following their surprising ouster from the playoffs at the hands of the Atlanta Hawks is the future of Ben Simmons. The 24-year-old is supposed to be the complementary star to Joel Embiid, but he disappeared in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, particularly in Game 7 when he scored just five points.
It could be best for both Simmons and the Sixers for a change of scenery and what better move could the Sixers make than to make Simmons the centerpiece in a trade package for Damian Lillard?
Pairing Lillard with Joel Embiid would give the Sixers one of the most dynamic duos in the league that has the likes of Kobe-Shaq. Both are primary scorers and legitimate MVP candidates that would cause headaches for opposing defenses as it would take away their ability to double-team Embiid down low.
Simmons alone won't get a deal done, though. It will likely have to require some draft capital as well as another player, perhaps someone like Tyrese Maxey or Matisse Thybulle. Yet, it could be worth it for the Sixers as the Eastern Conference is not very deep and adding another superstar to the team with Embiid could be the difference between them and a championship.
Boston Celtics
Getty ImagesThe Celtics are certainly in the mix for Damian Lillard after trading Kemba Walker to the Thunder, but the cost to get Lillard may be a tough pill to swallow.
We're talking Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart and a first rounder to likely get a deal for Lillard done. Brown, 24, is coming off a career-best season while Smart is one of the best perimeter defenders in the game.
But creating a trio of Lillard, Jayson Tatum and Al Horford could give the Celtics one of the most explosive offenses in the league. It would certainly be enough firepower to compete with the Nets, Sixers and Bucks in the East and make the Celtics a dominant team in the conference and once again competing for a title.
It's a hefty price, but for someone like Lillard it could be worth it for the Celtics.
New Orleans Pelicans
Getty ImagesThere's been recent reports that Zion Williamson's family is unhappy with the direction of the Pelicans, so what better way to change that than to make a move for Damian Lillard?
The Pelicans are certainly loaded with plenty of draft picks, but as far as attaching players to a deal they lack much depth. It may be difficult for them to make a deal for Lillard and keep Brandon Ingraham, who is blossoming into a star of his own.
But adding Lillard to play point with Williamson in the frontcourt would create a dynamic duo similar to a potential Lillard-Embiid duo. Defenses would go mad trying to figure out how to defend them and Williamson has arguably yet to reach his ceiling.
It would certainly make the Pelicans a dangerous team, but would they be dangerous enough to compete for a title?
Dallas Mavericks
Getty ImagesOk, now this is the long-shot on the list, but hear us out: The Mavericks retooled their front office with Nike exec Nico Harrison and Jason Kidd as their new head coach. Kidd happened to be on Lillard's list of preferred head coaching candidates for the Trail Blazers job. Lillard also appeared to endorse Harrison for the Mavs GM job on Twitter, clearly a fan of what he could bring to the table.
Connecting the dots, Lillard seems to like the pieces in place in Dallas. Pairing him with Luka Doncic in his prime would instantly make the Mavericks a super team that could contend for a title.
The problem is the Mavericks really don't have much to offer in terms of a deal for Lillard. Perhaps if Portland loves Kristaps Porzingis, Dallas can use him to match Lillard's salary, but it seems more like wishful thinking than anything else.
Then again, if Lillard really wants to play for Harrison and Kidd, there's always a way to make it happen. So never say never.
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