Damian Lillard 'Waiting Patiently' as Blazers Reshape Roster at Trade Deadline

After the Portland Trail Blazers traded his longtime backcourt mate CJ McCollum on Tuesday, Damian Lillard is going to give interim general manager Joe Cronin an opportunity to keep reshaping the roster ahead of the NBA trade deadline. 

Speaking to NBA.com's Casey Holdahl, Lillard explained he is "waiting patiently" to see what the Blazers are going to look like going forward:

"I’m at peace. I’m doing what I’ve got to do to get myself right and being at home with my family. I’m just waiting patiently to let things unfold and allow him (Cronin) to execute his plan. Once we get there and we see what that looks like and what that is, then I’ll have, I guess, more feelings than I have now, but you’ve got to allow him to do his job and see what that finished product is. That’s just where I am."

McCollum was dealt to the New Orleans Pelicans in a seven-player deal that saw the Blazers receive Josh Hart, Tomas Satoransky, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and three draft picks, including a 2022 protected first-rounder. 

Cronin has been very busy leading up to the deadline. He also moved Norman Powell and Robert Covington to the Los Angeles Clippers for Eric Bledsoe, Justise Winslow, Keon Johnson and a 2025 second-round draft pick on Feb. 4. 

Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Blazers' plan with these two trades is to "fully reshape" their roster around Lillard with the addition of future assets and cap space:

"For me, my heart is Portland Trail Blazer. I want to win it," Lillard told Holdahl. "I know that I have a plan that’s going to put me on my best level when I come back to play."

Lillard hasn't played in a game since Dec. 31. He underwent surgery on Jan. 13 to repair a core injury that had been causing abdominal pain. ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported Lillard was expected to miss six to eight weeks. 

Cronin told NBA.com's Mark Medina that the Blazers are "going to be patient" and make sure Lillard is fully healthy before he returns. The six-time All-Star was averaging 24.0 points on a career-low 40.2 percent shooting in 29 starts prior to having surgery. 

Portland is currently the No. 11 seed in the Western Conference standings with a 21-34 record. The team ranks in the bottom 11 in the NBA in offensive rating (109.8), defensive rating (114.5) and net rating (minus-4.8), per Basketball-Reference.com. 

Lillard has spent his entire 10-year career with the Trail Blazers. He was the No. 6 pick by the organization in 2012 and ranks second in franchise history with 17,510 points.