Why Spurs Should Trade for Blazers PG Damian Lillard
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard is officially on the trade block, and all 29 other teams in a perfect world would probably love to have him. The San Antonio Spurs should be included on that list.
While Lillard's top destinations to be traded to are the Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets, there may be reason to believe the Spurs have a chance to pull off an offer.
According to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, Lillard has "deep respect" for the Spurs organization. The Blazers will likely send Dame to the team of his wishes, and while the Heat and Nets are in the lead given their current position towards contention, the Spurs have one thing neither of them have ... Victor Wembanyama.
The idea of playing with Wemby should intrigue anyone, especially Lillard.
From the Blazers' front office perspective, the team also likely sees San Antonio as a more attractive destination given its potential package in return. As KENS5 reporter Tom Petrini points out, the Spurs have 29 draft choices in the next seven years after acquiring boatloads of them in various trades.
Lillard wants the Heat, but the Blazers don't want Tyler Herro, Miami's best player it can offer in a trade because Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo are untouchable. Plus, the Heat can offer lesser picks than that of the Spurs.
A potential San Antonio offer could feature multiple first-round picks from teams that aren't good and some quality players like Keldon Johnson and Tre Jones.
If that's the cost for the Spurs to bring in Lillard, it's certainly something for them to consider.
Lillard turns 33 this month, but he is coming off the best statistical season of his career, averaging 32.2 points and 7.3 assists per game.
While the picks are costly and could turn into perfect pieces to surround Wembanyama with someday, the Spurs still have an excess of selections to use. If San Antonio has the chance to acquire Lillard, it can return to relevancy sooner without sacrificing all of the picks accumulated in the teardown of the roster ... and if the Spurs have a chance to get better without selling the whole farm, they should take it.
You can follow Jeremy Brener on Twitter @JeremyBrener.
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