Blazers news: Billups comments, new Lillard suitor, ‘aggressive’ trade talks

The Damian Lillard trade news is starting to flow more freely, head coach Chauncey Billups had some interesting comments on the Lillard rumors (among other topics), and the Portland Trail Blazers are becoming more “aggressive” in finding a deal for their seven-time All-NBA point guard.

Here’s the latest Blazers news with the start of training camp only 12 days away.

Blazers Coach Chauncey Billups comments on Damian Lillard trade rumors

In an interview with Steve Aschburner of NBA.com, Portland Head Coach Chauncey Billups weighed in on how the Lillard rumors – and the accompanying waiting game – are affecting him and his team:

"Obviously it’s unsettling, it’s difficult. But for me, all I can do, I’m responsible for giving my best to who we have. I don’t know how it’s going to play out. There’s nothing I can do to control it. But I do know who we have on our team right now and who I’ve been working with this summer. Who I’m excited about. All I can really do is pour myself into our guys. And see what happens whenever that happens.Blazers Coach Chauncey Billups on the Damian Lillard trade situation"

Billups also talked to Aschburner about Shaedon Sharpe’s progression, Scoot Henderson’s potential and Jerami Grant, among other topics.

New Eastern Conference team reportedly enters Lillard trade talks

According to Philadelphia 76ers reporter Kyle Neubeck, the Chicago Bulls are the latest team to enter the Dame sweepstakes.

https://twitter.com/KyleNeubeck/status/1704605145613406527

Neubeck claims Chicago is trying to find a taker for Zach LaVine so it can increase its asset pile to make the Blazers a more attractive offer for Lillard. With his injury history and max contract, though, LaVine won’t have many suitors around the league, which makes the Bulls’ effort seem rather futile.

Portland becoming more “aggressive” in finding Lillard suitor

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski continues to be peppered with questions about an eventual Lillard trade, and to Woj’s credit, continues to answer them with relative patience.

He reported that the franchise is scrounging the league to find multi-team trades to maximize its return, adding they have “been aggressive” in the weeks leading up to training camp. The NBA Insider also rhetorically tossed out the most important question of all:

“The question is do they find a deal in the next couple of weeks or do they have to bring Lillard back to camp?”