Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard has been a model of loyalty throughout his NBA career — passing up opportunities to team up with other elite players to try to build a winner in Portland. But after another year to forget in Portland, there is some reason to believe this offseason may finally be the time Lillard takes his talents elsewhere. Sportsbooks have dropped the Damian Lillard next team odds, with the Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics currently listed as the biggest threat to getting Lillard out of Portland.
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Damian Lillard Next Team Odds: Nets & Celtics Open As Possible Destinations
DraftKings Sportsbook has the Nets (+1000) and Celtics (+1500) listed as the top two teams to land Lillard. They are followed by the Raptors (+1600), Lakers (+1800), Pelicans (+2500), Clippers (+2500) and Heat (+3000). However, it is the Trail Blazers (-195) who remain the favorites to keep Lillard on the squad. New users at DraftKings can get $150 in bonus bets with any $5 wager!
The Trail Blazers landed the No. 3 overall pick in the NBA Draft Lottery this week. They are rumored to be putting that pick up for sale if they can get some proven pieces to put around Lillard for next season. Lillard has made it very clear in the past that he has no interest in sticking around if Portland opts for youth and enters any sort of rebuild.
“I’m just not interested in that. That’s not a secret,” Lillard said in April when asked about adding another young player, per The Athletic. “I want a chance to go for it. ”
Lillard’s sentiments set up an intriguing debacle for general manager Joe Cronin: either sell and try one last time to build a winner for Lillard, or trade Lillard and use the No. 3 overall pick to position the team for success down the line. The choice is not an obvious one and will probably take some pondering.
But if Lillard does become available this Summer, there will be a long list of teams that will be willing to send a ridiculous haul for his services. As it stands, the Nets and Celtics would be the first teams knocking on the Trail Blazers’ door if/when the team opens trade talks.
Perhaps it is interesting that the Lakers (+1800) are not currently a favorite if Lillard were to leave Portland. L.A. has already built a veteran core around LeBron James and Anthony Davis and would seemingly become a championship favorite with Lillard in the fold. Moreover, LeBron would likely be lobbying for Lillard given their close personal friendship. If there is value in the Damian Lillard next team market, it is with the Lakers at +1800.
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