Damian Lillard Trade Rumors: Blazers GM Neil Olshey Hasn't Indicated He'll Move Star

The Portland Trail Blazers have reportedly not communicated any willingness to trade point guard Damian Lillard.

Jabari Young of CNBC reported Lillard is expected to see how the Blazers handle this offseason before deciding whether to request a trade. Major changes are expected this summer for the Blazers, who already parted ways with longtime coach Terry Stotts on Friday.

It would be a major surprise if Lillard, who's under contract through the 2024-25 season, made a trade request this offseason. The more likely scenario is the Blazers work to fix the issues on the roster around Lillard, with a larger exploration of his future taking place in the summer of 2022 if those changes do not work.

It is, however, difficult to envision a scenario where the Blazers find a trade that pushes them to the next tier.

CJ McCollum, who's under contract through the 2023-24 season, is their best trade piece, but he turns 30 in September and has never been an All-Star. He's the type of player that teams who are building themselves might look to acquire rather than the centerpiece of a deal for a true second superstar.

The Blazers' cap sheet is clogged, leaving them little maneuverability in free agency. They also owe their first-round pick to Houston, which means they can't trade a future selection until 2023. It seems the best they're going to be able to pull off is additional moves around the margins, adding a free agent for the mid-level exception and perhaps swapping role players for better roster fits.

Trading Lillard is the nuclear option that would reset the franchise, but it may be the most prudent long-term move. The Blazers don't have a clear path toward contention, and Lillard has been breaking his hand against the glass ceiling for nearly a decade and going nowhere.

Portland will understandably hold on to Lillard for as long as he wants to stay with the franchise. That said, the overwhelming odds are pointing toward a divorce sooner than later.