Mr Underrated: Damian Lillard

The league has transitioned into a smaller and faster style. It has become a guards league. Isaiah Thomas and John Wall have taken a leap, while others like Reggie Jackson have struggled to adapt. One that remains underrated in all of this is Portland’s own Damian Lillard.

Amidst the winds about Kyrie Irving came the ridiculous trade idea the Ringer’s Bill Simmons posted involving Damian Lillard:

Before we look into the numbers, not only would Neil Olshey decline this, but he wouldn’t even consider it. Same cannot be said for Danny Ainge though.

Loyalty

Loyalty is overlooked in today’s game, as most players know each other from AAU and social media. The amount of money being thrown around is also a major factor.

They all have a limited shelf life in the NBA where the average career length is 4.9 years. Earn as much money as you can, live lavish, win as much as possible — whatever motives, they should pursue them.

This isn’t to say that loyalty shouldn’t be overlooked.

Isn’t it special when you see players like Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki spend their long careers all with one team? That seems to be a rarity in the NBA due to many variables.

Even Blazers legends like Bill Walton and Clyde Drexler are subjected to this — not Damian Lillard.

Loyalty will cement him as a Blazers legend. He’s the franchise cornerstone that would never make a trade request. He fulfills his contract and relishes in the role of foundational leader.

Sources around the league over and over again report about his leadership. You never hear Lillard complaining about his situation or causing a disruption.

This brings us back to the Lillard-for-Irving mock trade proposal. Dame is the better leader. He is the superior player. He would never walk out on his team, rather he helps them improve.

Kyrie was 4-13 without LeBron James over the past three seasons. Lillard’s made the playoffs in his two seasons as the best player.

Irving isn’t effective with bench units. Lillard is.

Uncle Drew won 31% of his games as the #1 option in the East. Dame won 52% in the tough West.

The Cavs were fine with Kyrie off the floor, whereas the Blazers are worse with Lillard off.

It’s one thing to be effective playing second fiddle to one of the greats in LeBron, but the metrics and on/off numbers don’t lie; Kyrie struggles to be the No. 1 option — Dame doesn’t.

So, tell me, why would the Blazers downgrade from Lillard to Irving again?