The Portland Trail Blazers know they need to keep superstar Damian Lillard happy to have any chance of winning anything of note next season and in the foreseeable future. Realizing that may prove to be much more difficult than achieving the goal.
Shortly after head coach Terry Stotts and the Trail Blazers "mutually agreed to part ways," Lillard named Los Angeles Lakers assistant Jason Kidd and Los Angeles Clippers assistant Chauncey Billups as potential replacements. However, Kidd removed his name from consideration over the weekend, and The Athletic's Jason Quick didn't receive much of an answer when he texted Lillard multiple questions about what is next for both player and club on Monday.
"I have no comments about anything," Lillard responded.
Brian Robb of Mass Live recently noted that Lillard signed a supermax extension in the summer of 2019 that links him with the Trail Blazers through the next several seasons and carries a $54 million player option for the 2024-25 campaign. If Lillard isn't keen on Portland's next hire or simply decides he wants to pursue a championship elsewhere, the Trail Blazers distancing themselves from his contract sooner than later could ultimately benefit all parties involved.
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