Damian Lillard On Future With Blazers: ‘This Is Where I Want To Be’

The Portland Trail Blazers have suffered yet another early exit in the NBA playoffs with LaMarcus Aldridge and company getting dominated by the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round. Portland was beaten in five games by Memphis with relative ease and now the franchise will have to go back to the drawing board with a lot of players on their roster expected to hit NBA free agency this summer.

Although the future of Aldridge, Wesley Matthews, and Arron Afflalo remains up in the air, the Blazers were able to breathe a sigh of relief when rising star Damian Lillard talked about his future with the team. Lillard wants to stay in Portland long-term saying the following, according to Mike Tokito of The Oregonian:

“For me, this is where I want to be,” Lillard said in his media session following season-ending exit interviews. “So whatever we need to do to make that happen and figure that out, then that’s what I’m going to do.”

With Lillard in the fold for the foreseeable future, the Blazers biggest concern heading into the offseason is retaining Aldridge. Although many anticipated the All-Star forward simply deciding to re-sign with Portland without much consideration for heading elsewhere, the tables have turned with a few teams emerging as potential suitors in free agency.

If the Blazers are intent on building around Lillard, rather than Aldridge and Lillard, the soon-to-be 30-year-old forward may very well sign with another team this summer. Aldridge will demand, and will receive, a max deal where he may end up.

As for Portland, Lillard will likely be the centerpiece moving forward with the Blazers potentially having a much different roster next season.