© Troy Wayrynen | 2019 May 18
The Portland Trail Blazers have the 28th ranked defense in the NBA, and Damian Lillard wants to do something about it.
In fact he’s been wanting to do something about it for awhile according to NBA reporter Sam Amick, who reported on The Athletic NBA Show podcast that Lillard has been lobbying the Blazers to trade for Draymond Green for years.
“If we were handicapping Draymond trade destinations if the Warriors decided to blow it up…that’s the one. Damian and his group have for the last couple years been campaigning for that,” Amick said.
Portland’s lack of defense has been holding them back for a while. Last season, they finished 27th in defensive efficiency, 17th in 2018-19. Green would also provide them with a power forward while Zach Collins recovers from a second surgery on his ankle.
The Warriors moving on from Green at this juncture seems unlikely, however. Green’s return to the lineup has almost instantly turned around the team’s fortunes, starting with his incredible defensive performance vs. the Blazers last Sunday.
Should Golden State’s fortunes collapse before the trade deadline this season, it’s possible they look to make a trade and offload money, especially considering the team’s luxury tax bill is at $147 million.
Green is under contract through 2024 and is due an average of over $25 million per year.