Portland Trail Blazers: Grading every free agency move so far
Damian Lillard gets supermax extension
In an era where loyalty seems increasingly hard to find in the basketball world, news that Damian Lillard and Klay Thompson received supermax extensions is comforting.
After teams like the Raptors and Celtics have dealt away beloved franchise players like DeMar DeRozan and Isaiah Thomas, it can be hard to trust the people in suits making these decisions. Likewise, after superstars like Anthony Davis and Jimmy Butler demand trades, it can be very difficult to get attached to your team’s best player.
Luckily, Portland Trail Blazers have no reason to fear. Lillard agreed to a supermax extension that will pay him $196 million over four years, on top of the two years he is still already on contract with the team.
This means Lillard will be a Blazer until 2025 at the very least (barring an unlikely trade). Already one of the most prolific players in Portland’s history, Lillard has the opportunity to potentially go down as the best Blazer ever and join the likes of Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki and Tim Duncan as legendary and loyal franchise players.
At the moment, the primary difference setting Lillard apart from those NBA legends is his lack of postseason success. With all the moves Neil Olshey has made this offseason (and will be discussed shortly), now may be the best time for Lillard to get that ring.
However, the Portland Trail Blazers better hope that this move pays off. Moving forward, Lillard will consume a third of the team’s available cap room and be making approximately $55 million at the age of 34.
It’s virtually guaranteed that Lillard won’t be able to live up to the money at the end of his contract due to old age; but for now locking down one of the greatest players in franchise history makes sense when it comes to winning now, selling out arenas and keeping the fans happy. Let’s just hope Lillard stays healthy and doesn’t become the next John Wall.