https://www.nba.com/blazers/forward...th-knew-point-would-be-coming-dont-make-it-no How do you feel about where the team is at right now? Obviously a lot of things are in flux, it seems like there’s still some work to be done, some things still need to come together. Where do you land right now in terms of what you’ve seen? Damian Lillard: Right now, I haven’t had a mental break from being a great point guard, being a leader of a team, trying to keep my body right, having to do all these things to be successful and have our team be successful. I’ve always had that pressure and that burden on me because I’ve always wanted to lead us to success. I’ve had that for 10 years where I’ve felt that way, so having a mental break and a physical break for a real injury -- I was really struggling, more than I even knew now that I’m removed from it -- now I’ve just focused on rehab. I’ve been with my kids every day, taking my son to school, watching my twins, I’m with my wife every day. I’m doing stuff that I have never been able to do, so it’s putting me in a place of peace and appreciation. For me, my heart is Portland Trail Blazer. I want to win it. I know that I have a plan that’s going to put me on my best level when I come back to play. And I want our team to fit that. I’m a huge fan of Chauncey Billups. I love Chauncey, we’ve got a great relationship and I think he’ll continue to grow into the head coach that he wants to be. And I’m a Joe Cronin fan. In his position I think it takes being bold and doing bold things, doing what you see fit and standing on it. He’s told me that our plan is to build a winning team, not to rebuild. Because we had a prior relationship to him becoming GM, I trust his word. I’m at peace, I’m doing what I’ve got to do to get myself right and being at home with my family. I’m just waiting patiently to let things unfold and allow him to execute his plan. Once we get there and we see what that looks like and what that is, then I’ll have, I guess, more feelings than I have now but you’ve got to allow him to do his job and see what that finished product is. That’s just where I am.
Just wanted to say that the previously streaking Pelicans who looked like they were making a serious play in push are now 1-4 since trading for the biggest ballhog in the NBA. Insane how CJ doesn't get called out constantly for how selfish he plays. It's honestly disgusting to watch.
This trade was never going to end well. David Griffin thought he threw himself a life preserver to save his job but he'll be canned by season's end. It MIGHT work well if Zion ever plays for them again as CJ's game complements Zion's but I don't know if he'll ever be back.
Honestly sounds the dude is on the verge of retiring, more than "I can't wait to get back and play basketball again!"
Honestly, it was a decent gamble. All they traded were mid quality role players and a super protected pick. The thing they, and most of the NBA discussion sphere, didn't realize is that CJ is a massive ballhog. The trade could have worked if he took it as a wakeup call and catered his game more to the team but instead, it seems like he sees it as his chance to be the number one guy and he became even more selfish.
