Portland Trail Blazers: The loyalty vs. winning dilemma for Damian Lillard

The loyalty vs. winning dilemma could be setting in for Damian Lillard, as he requested a meeting with Portland Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen

It’s rather difficult to have a career like Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, or Dirk Nowitzki. That is, to have your entire career in one city, playing for one franchise. Well, maybe it isn’t that difficult when you got a ring(s) and were contending for championships with that respective franchise.

Why would you want to leave or play anywhere else?

As fans, we often have mixed emotions when it comes to player loyalty. We respect players who stay with the team that drafted them, but we also want to see our superstars win. So, why do we have such a problem when our superstars want to leave in order to pursue a championship or to go to a winning team?

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When LeBron James left for Miami, the NBA world flipped out. Same thing happened when Kevin Durant chose Golden State. Did we want Paul George to stick it out in Indiana and sign long-term, even though his championship chances were practically nonexistent?

Was it okay for LaMarcus Aldridge to choose the Spurs and for Gordon Hayward to choose the Celtics? Do we want out superstars to go to contenders or stick it out with the team that drafted them?

The answer often depends on how good the team that drafted the player is.

According to Chris Haynes of ESPN, Portland’s Damian Lillard requested a private meeting with owner Paul Allen to discuss the direction of the franchise. You have to wonder if reality is starting to set in with Lillard. The Trail Blazers have been a solid team, a playoff team for the last few years, but they are nothing more than that.

If Lillard wants to get a ring, it will not be in a Blazers’ uniform. It must be frustrating when Portland gives Meyers Leonard a four-year $41 million contract, Evan Turner a four-year $70 million contract, Moe Harkless a four-year $42 million contract, and before he was traded, they gave Allen Crabbe a four-year $75 million contract.

Allotting all this money to these players isn’t going to get you over the hump in the West. Lillard and his backcourt mate McCollum simply don’t have the star power alongside them to contend with the Warriors, Rockets, and Spurs.

Although Lillard seems to have the utmost respect and love for Portland, winning a championship may be the number one priority on his list.

San Antonio is a destination that comes to mind instantly. With ESPN’s Michael C. Wright reporting that Tony Parker is no longer the starter for the Spurs, Lillard would be a really nice fit there.

The days of Tony Parker as the star point guard in San Antonio are over and they need another star point guard to take the reigns. If Lillard requests a trade to a winning organization like the Spurs, you can’t be disappointed in that decision. Reuniting with his Portland teammate, LaMarcus Aldridge, would be fun to see. Plus, it makes things super interesting in the West.

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Although it is awesome to see stars play for one franchise for their entire career, sometimes it just doesn’t work out. Especially in today’s NBA, with the formation of superteams, you almost have to join another squad if you have serious championship aspirations.