Portland Trail Blazers: Is Damian Lillard worth the supermax deal?
Damian Lillard will be eligible to sign a supermax this summer, but does that mean the Portland Trail Blazers should offer it?
Damian Lillard is still under contract with the Portland Trail Blazers for the next two seasons (after this year), but that’s around the time stars begin to either plan their exit from their incumbent teams or express the desire to sign a long-term extension.
When it comes to Lillard, he has expressed time and time again that he wants to remain in Portland for the foreseeable future. And as he’s eligible for the supermax this summer, there’s already whispers that he might be willing to put ink to paper.
Which shouldn’t exactly come as much of a surprise. After all, which player wouldn’t want to secure $250 million over the course of his next few seasons in the NBA?
More from Sir Charles In Charge
- Dillon Brooks proved his value to Houston Rockets in the 2023 FIBA World Cup
- NBA Trade Rumors: 1 Player from each team most likely to be traded in-season
- Golden State Warriors: Buy or sell Chris Paul being a day 1 starter
- Does Christian Wood make the Los Angeles Lakers a legit contender?
- NBA Power Rankings: Tiering all 30 projected starting point guards for 2023-24
"[via ESPN]That said, these days Lillard is feeling very settled. Whatever frustrations he talked to Allen about have calmed, sources report, and he’s very comfortable with his commitment to the Blazers.The signs are pointing toward Lillard being interested in a Blazers extension offer this summer."
Assuming that he gets named to the All-NBA team this year, he will be eligible for the supermax extension this summer.
The big question, though, is whether the Blazers should go all-in on building around Lillard for the next half decade? While it might sound silly for the Blazers to not be all-in on signing Lillard to a contract extension, it really hasn’t worked out all that great for the Washington Wizards who are probably regretting their decision to sign Wall to the supermax.
Lillard has largely been better than Wall, and certainly much healthier. There’s really no denying that at this point in their careers.
He’s also carried the Blazers to the playoffs in each of the last five seasons. Though, has only been beyond the first round twice. Locking up Lillard would be smart, however. He’s one of the best overall guards in the league when he’s at the top of his game, and is a great first piece to building a championship team.
Next. NBA Mock Draft: Jarrett Culver jumps into the top 5; Cam Reddish falls. dark
But is he worth potentially handicapping roughly 30 percent of the team’s salary cap for the next half decade? That’s ultimately the decision that the Blazers need to decide sooner rather than later, and then potentially be ready deal to with the fallout depending on their decision.