Dame Dolla is feeling himself — and his team — if the Portland Trail Blazers manage to swing a deal for Carmelo Anthony. And he’s already gotten some attention from some of his competition in the Western Conference.
Lillard and CJ McCollum are trying to convince Anthony that Portland is for him. Now Lillard is taking championships, especially if they can make a trade for Anthony happen. What’s clear is that “roster improvements” are definitely on the mind of Lillard in Portland.
I want to win a championship. I think it’s that simple. Like I just said, I don’t—I’ve been in the playoffs—after my rookie year, I’ve been in the playoffs every year, and the playoffs is fun. I’ve been to the second round twice. Like, just winning one series, I felt good. Winning one series and getting to the next round, and I’ve been sent home twice in the first round. But, for me, I’m invested into each season. I go into each season fully invested and fully committed and fully believing that we gon’ go in here and shock the world.
The point of improving the roster like that is to go and beat the Golden State Warriors. The current NBA champions are the clear favorite in the West for the foreseeable future. Lillard said a his basketball camp in Portland earlier this week that the Blazers can get close to matching the Warriors if they can make some moves this summer. Via UPROXX/DIME’s Ananth Pandian:
“We can compete with anybody in the West, but I think when you get to those teams like Golden State, if we happen to run into them in a playoff situation now—we getting in the paint, and if they want to help off someone like Melo…good luck.”
Enter Draymond Green, who took to Instagram to say Lillard was getting a bit ahead of himself.
Nothing has happened just yet, but it looks like Lillard is very sure this is the right direction for Portland to go. Whether Anthony wants to play in Portland, though, is the only question that matters.
