Why the OKC Thunder Should Avoid Trading for Damian Lillard

Portland's superstar point guard wants out, but Oklahoma City should stay away from making a deal.

Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard is available, but the Thunder should steer clear of the seven-time all-star.

Lillard is one of the best point guards in the NBA and has been for some time. After 11 seasons in Portland, he wants out and would like to go to Miami.

But the Heat have been unwilling to give the Blazers a package they like, so Lillard could be headed elsewhere. Some have speculated that the Oklahoma City Thunder could be a team to watch in the Lillard sweepstakes.

But there are a number of reasons why the Thunder should not engage in trade talks for Lillard.

Lillard’s age and contract make him a hard sell for the Thunder. At 33, not only does he not fit the timeline, but the $216 million he’s still owed would also be a massive blow to the Thunder’s financial flexibility.

Along with Lillard’s age not matching quite right, it may still be too early for Oklahoma City to make a win-now move of this caliber. Adding a player like Lillard could improve the team but could sink Oklahoma City’s future title chances if it goes awry.

It would be wise for the Thunder to hold off on any trade that would send out one of their four core pieces. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is likely off the table, but at least one of Josh Giddey, Jalen Williams or Chet Holmgren would probably have to go to bring in someone on Lillard’s level.

While that would be a fair price for the right player, dealing any of those guys before next offseason would be a mistake. Oklahoma City still has not seen those four play together yet, and after a full season, the hierarchy of those players could become clear.

Gilgeous-Alexander will remain at the top of that ranking, which is part of why Lillard’s potential fit is puzzling. Both players are elite, ball-dominant scorers and could struggle to complement one another.

Lillard averaged 32.2 points last season and has been the indisputable top player for Portland for nearly a decade. Gilgeous-Alexander is in the early stages of that role in Oklahoma City, so adding Lillard could ruffle someone’s feathers.

Neither Lillard nor Gilgeous-Alexander have played next to someone on their current level, so there would be a potentially strenuous adjustment period. Even once they got used to playing together, their dynamic would likely be a “your-turn-my-turn” ordeal.

There are also concerns about Lillard’s availability as he heads into his 12th NBA season. Although some of his missed games were due to the Blazers’ subpar record, Lillard has played just 87 games over the past two seasons. Barely playing half of his team’s games is concerning, but for a team that would be committing so much to him, that is especially problematic.

Lillard is an incredibly talented player who could push a team closer to its goal of winning a championship. But for the Thunder, it would be a smart move to avoid taking that risk.


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Ivan White
IVAN WHITE

Ivan is a sports media student at Oklahoma State University. He has covered the OKC Thunder since 2022 and covers OSU athletics for The O’Colly.