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Damian Lillard is ready to lead Portland into a new era

By Michael Keenan

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The Portland Trail Blazers selected Damian Lillard with the sixth overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft with hopes that he would be their future franchise point guard.

Not only has he fulfilled these hopes, but he has gotten better and better each year, including his 21.0 ppg, 6.2 ast, 4.6 reb career-best year this past season. However, he has done it all as the team’s number two option, behind superstar forward LaMarcus Aldridge.

This summer, Aldridge opted to leave Portland and sign with the San Antonio Spurs on a 4-year max deal. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Lillard saw three more members of last year’s starting lineup move on and start fresh with new teams. (Wesley Matthews, Nicolas Batum and Robin Lopez).

That leaves the 2x NBA All-Star Lillard and his newly inked 5-year, $120 million contract as the lone starter remaining from last year’s team.

Lillard, nearly 25, is now called upon to lead his team into a new era in Portland, as the face of the franchise and their floor general on the court. The question is: does he have what it takes to successfully lead a team that is entering what looks to be a slight rebuilding period?

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After growing up in a rough neighborhood in Oakland, CA and attending a small college in Weber State, Lillard has been doubted and questioned before. Coming into the NBA, many people wondered whether or not his skills would translate into the league due in large part to the lack of high-level competition in college from the mid-major Big Sky Conference.

Lillard proved his skeptics wrong on his way to the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award in 2013, averaging 19.0 points and 6.5 assists per game.

This upcoming season is the perfect opportunity for Lillard to prove himself once again, this time as a team’s star and number one option. Taking a big step forward would establishing him as a top player in the game at the point guard position and give his team a cemented star to continue building around.

Last season, Lillard posted a usage rate of 26.9 in what was his best season as a pro. This rate is likely to increase significantly following the Trail Blazers’ loss of their other four starters, and Lillard will have the ball in his hands a lot more with opportunities to create for himself and his teammates.

The good news is that President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey and the organization in Portland have done a great job of going out and trying to replace what was lost in free agency. Acquiring guys like Al-Farouq Aminu, Gerald Henderson, Mason Plumlee, Noah Vonleh and Ed Davis will give Lillard some much-needed help. In addition, the Trail Blazers may also look to gain more help via trade thanks to the $25M in cap space they have remaining.

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I believe Lillard is ready to take the step forward necessary for Portland to stay relevant in the West. Though the team may struggle at times due to lack of immediate chemistry or loss of talent, Lillard has the ability to make the players around him better and form a solid core as the year goes on. I expect his points per game to rise by 3-4 points, and his assists by 1-2, which will come with a higher usage rate.

Though a very young team, the Trail Blazers will have a lot of raw talent and athleticism that can translate into future success. With Lillard leading the way and continuing to improve himself and his team, great things could develop sooner rather than later if all goes right.

Lillard has made it clear that his home is in Portland, as his contract is signed through the 2020-21 season without any opt-out clauses attached. He is in it for the long haul and is ready to lead a new batch of Trail Blazers to success for years to come.

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